Rickards boys basketball downs Godby, focusing on one game at a time ahead of postseason

There is a certain expectation that comes with wearing a Rickards basketball jersey.

A dedication to the game, effort and relentless defense is expected in pursuit of a state championship.

Those expectations were on full display Friday night as Rickards beat Godby 66-58, the team's third straight win and fifth in the last six games. Sweeping the season series over the rival Cougars gives the team a boost in confidence ahead of the postseason.

"A state championship is the ultimate goal, but we are trying to take these games one at a time," junior forward Benjamin Plummer said. "First thing is the district championship, which is right around the corner. So we trying to take care of that."

Plummer had one of the game's biggest highlights with a breakaway dunk in the second quarter, which elicited a huge reaction from the Rickards bench.

Despite the energy and momentum swing it gave the Raiders, Plummer said the team avoids getting too caught up in the moment following big plays, helping maintain and capitalize on the momentum it gives.

"We try not to get in our own heads too much with the big plays," Plummer said. "We just keep our composure and stick together and play as a team."

As the season has rolled on, the Raiders have been playing with more consistency in all areas of the floor. From getting back to a full, healthy bench, to players stepping up in big moments, Rickards is finding its rhythm.

A veteran presence

Rickard's top scorer Randall Pompey has been one of the staples of the Raider basketball for the last few seasons, with the senior now taking on a veteran role among a younger team.

With only two other seniors on the roster, Travis Morris and Chadwick Ellenwood, the Raiders are a younger group that is still learning the ropes of varsity basketball. With reps the most important factor in developing a team, Pompey said practice has been crucial in continuing to find consistency.

"It all starts in practice," Pompey said. "Our coach [Eli Bryant] has been telling us that we have got to be more consistent in practices and games."

Looking to help lead the Raiders to a state title in his senior season, Pompey said he's most focused on doing whatever the team needs him to do to win, while also savoring every moment on the court.

"It's my last year I got to enjoy it, man," Pompey said. "I got to go out there and cherish every moment I got in my last season."

Strength in numbers

One of the strengths of Rickard's team is its depth.

Getting winning contributions from those who start or come off the bench, Raiders head coach Eli Bryant said he views his team as having "nine starters". Focusing on defensive intensity from the bench, Bryant feels Rickards has a winning combination.

"We can go to the bench and the defensive effort does not drop," Bryant said. "That's what I look for most out of the bench because I'm not too crazy about scoring from the bench because we're not going to the bench until someone gets tired."

A key moment for Bryant this season was when junior Romie Cosby volunteered to come off the bench for the Raiders. Labeling himself as a "spark" off the bench, Bryant feels Cosby's selflessness allows for the team's chemistry to continue to grow.

"You got a guy that unselfish to want to come off the bench to help the team, I can't say enough about Romie being a team player," Bryant said. "He does whatever this team needs him to do."

For Plummer, the depth of the squad and the selflessness of players sacrificing playing time to prioritize winning comes from the team's connection.

"Everybody on this team has been playing together since the ninth, 10th grade. So we are all friends and homeboys, we all been joking around with each other since we were 14,15,16 years old," Plummer said. "So when we get on the court together we have fun, it's just enjoyment."

Liam Rooney covers preps sports for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at LRooney@gannett.com or on Twitter @__liamrooney

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Rickards boy's basketball defeats Godby, set for deep postseason run