LYNNVILLE, Tenn. – Richland took a nine point lead in the first two minutes of the first quarter in Friday night's contest against Community to set the tone for the remainder of the game. The Vikings fought hard to catch up and cut the deficit as close as six in the third quarter, but never gained the high ground, losing by 14 points, 57-43.

     The Raiders quickly pushed up the score leading by as much as 13 points in the first quarter making the Vikes hustle to keep up their own scoring rally. Carter Edwards hit a hot streak during the first period and connected with 12 of Richland's 21 total points for the quarter. Jaxson Williams hit two hard fought baskets to collect four of the Vikings nine first-period points. Community found themselves playing catchup for the whole quarter and were behind by 12, 21-9, at the buzzer.

      The second quarter was all about defense and low scoring for both teams. Richland played the waiting game starting this period and used time on the clock to try to find their shots, only scoring 10 points in the period. Karson Boyce tagged two buckets for four of Community's points. Moe Berman connected on a three for his only points of the game while Austin Stickler and Jonathan Lawell hit for  two and two consecutively to account for all of the Vikes 11 points for the quarter, going to the halftime locker room trailing by 11, 31-20.

      Williams' swished in a triple for Community at the five-and-a-half-minute mark of the third term pulled the Vikings to within seven points, 31-24, and Stickler tagged a shot from under the boards for two to pull Community to 31-26 which was as close as the Vikings got all game. They only scored eight during the quarter and could not pull ahead of Richland despite holding the to only scoring five. At the end of the third Vikes were still trailing 36-28.

       The Raiders went on a scoring spree at the beginning of the fourth quarter and grabbed 11 of their total 21 for the fourth quarter to push their lead at the four minute mark to 47-28. Edwards scored six of his total 10 in those first minutes for Richland and ended the game with 23 points. Williams pulled up at the three point key and dropped in two more for six of his total 14 points for the Vikings for the game. Charlie Haskins added five of his eight total for Community, but the Raiders held the Vikes to only 15 points for the quarter. In the end the Raiders had pushed their lead again and won the contest by 14, 57-43, against Community. Vikings Boyce ended the game with six points,  team mates Stickler, Lawell and Landon Berman collected four apiece.

        Community Vikings will play at home on Tuesday in a district contest against Cannon County.