Explosive first quarter powers Spartans to RWC-opening victory
The first quarter of Richmond’s 46-33 victory over Oak Grove Tuesday night was the best quarter Richmond varsity girls basketball coach Kaylee Vantrump has seen her Spartans play all season.
Vantrump saw the Spartans bolt to a 7-0 lead in the Richmond Winter Classic opener at Richmond High School. She also saw Oak Grove cut the lead to 7-5 about midway through the quarter with a two-point bucket and free throw by junior forward Riley Beard, who led all scorers with 16 total points; and a twopoint bucket by first-year high schooler Jaelyn Wyman.
And then, Vantrump saw Richmond erupt with a 17-0 run to close the quarter. The run helped the Spartans withstand being outscored 28-24 the last three quarters.
Execution of a recently installed press was key to the quarter, Vantrump suggested. Turnovers were another factor.
Or in Richmond’s case, a lack thereof. Unofficially, Oak Grove committed 12 first-quarter turnovers. Richmond committed only one.
“We’ve had a team goal of really…