The ERHS boys’ basketball team picked up their first victory of the season Thursday night, defeating the Suitland Rams by a score of 86-83 in front of a home crowd. The victory propelled the Raiders into the win column after they suffered a loss to DeMatha to open the season.

    The Raiders got off to a hot start, putting forth a tenacious defensive effort early in the game to help carve out a 10 point advantage over the Rams by the end of the first quarter. This start was paced by junior guard Ishmail Jabbie and senior guard Andre Fox with 5 and 8 points, respectively, in the opening period.

    “It’s important to start strong every game, so that was good,” said head coach Brendan O’Connell. “I thought we really came out with a lot of intensity.”

    The second quarter would prove to be even more dominant for Roosevelt. The Raiders lit up the scoreboard with 33 points, and led by as many as 26 points within the period. Suitland narrowed the gap to 20 points before a jumper at the halftime buzzer by Andre Fox stretched Roosevelt’s lead to 22 at the break.

    “We passed the ball really well,” O’Connell commented on the Raiders’ run to end the half. “And our defense was outstanding too.”

    Suitland, led by forward Gerard Gray, mounted an impressive comeback in the second half, with a furious bout of scoring in the fourth quarter, dwindling the Raiders once-mighty lead to a meager 84-81 advantage with under a minute left to play in regulation. But Roosevelt weathered Suitland’s final effort and pulled through for an 86-83 victory.

    “Suitland’s a really good team,” O’Connell said. “We knew we weren’t going to beat them by 20, so I was proud of the way we withstood their run and won the game.”

    Though not the prettiest of victories, the Raiders will take it, as the win evened their record at 1-1, and provides some momentum as they prepare to take on the rest of their schedule.

    “It’s a real energy-booster,” said junior forward Quincy Winstead. “We needed this win. We were real anxious to get out there after a big loss like that, and this win really gives us a lot of energy going into our next game on Friday.”

    The Raiders take on High Point High School on the road Friday, before returning to Roosevelt for two home games next week.

LEADING SCORERS

Eleanor Roosevelt: Andre Fox 38, Bryant Best 13, Larry McCan 11

Suitland: Gerard Gray 34, Darryl Smith 17, Darrencio Daniels 13