#1 Keon Jones – Richmond 

    Richmond – Keon Jones 4 2-2 12, Desmond Johnson 4 0-1 9, Chris Murray 4 0-0 9, Cameron Thomas 5 2-3 14, Josh Cody 4 2-2 11, Juvares Safford 0 2-2 2, Marquese Hester 3 0-0 7, Kenneth Williams 1 0-0 2, Quavon Henry 6 1-1 14. Totals: 31 9-11 81.

    Franklin Prep  – Sayil 8 4-7 20, Jaelon 0 1-2 1, Tristan 2 0-0 5, Dwight 2 4-4 8, Wonderful 5 2-4 13, Sef 2 5-8 11. Totals: 19 16-25 57.

Three-point goals – Richmond: 9 (Jones 2, Johnson, Murray, Thomas 2, Cody, Hester, Henry). Franklin Prep: 2 (Tristan, Wonderful).

Playing a game for the first time in 18 days, Richmond sprinted past Franklin Prep 81-57 Wednesday, powered by a balanced attack that featured four players who scored in double figures, and two who scored 9 points as the Musketeers improved to 2-4 for the season one week before the beginning of region play. Cameron Thomas and Quavon Henry each scored 14 points, Keon Jones added 12 and Josh Cody chipped in 11 in the win.

Using a tweet from University of Minnesota coach Richard Pitino to make the point, Richmond head Steve Nobles stressed the importance of ball movement to his players Sunday night in a group chat. And he was pleased with the way the team processed the message and put it to work in practice this week and during Wednesday’s game.

“We discussed it Monday in practice, and they were talking about it during practice Monday and Tuesday, so I know it resonated with them,” Nobles explained. “They are – as all in this generation – so enamored with the dribble drive that they lose sight of the ball movement which will create easier dribble drive opportunities.”

The balanced scoring in Wednesday’s win reminded Nobles, one of the area’s longest tenured coaches, of some of his most accomplished teams.

“We had four players in double figures and two with 9,” said Nobles. “We haven’t had that balance since the 2016 and the 2010 teams, when 5 players averaged double figures.”

Richmond (2-4) will have one more chance to prepare for next week’s region opener at Harlem (1-1) Tuesday night. The Musketeers will first travel to Greenbrier (3-5) for a 2:30 P.M. game Saturday. During a season littered with cancellations, Nobles appreciates the opportunity to compete in actual games after going nearly three weeks without doing so.

“Tonight was great to be able to compete against someone other than our own team in practice! Practice is great but we practice to get better in order to play the games,” said Nobles. “The games are the test to see how well prepared we are. Without a doubt being able to play this game and Saturday at Greenbrier will benefit us in preparation for our region. Normally we will play 6 games during Christmas break to stay in rhythm, but with the instability now we were not able to do that.”

Richmond’s game at Greenbrier, if it holds as scheduled, will be the only game out of five that began the week as being planned for Saturday that would be played as originally slated.