Brayden Monnin led the Raiders with 15 points. (Press Pros Feature Photos By Julie McMaken Wright)
Russia kept pace with Richmond Heights for three quarters but came up empty in the fourth and lost 65-52. This marks the Raiders’ second consecutive state appearance, but also second consecutive semifinal loss to the Spartans.
Dayton, OH – It was a game of “almosts” for the Russia Raiders. They almost got revenge in a state semifinal rematch against Richmond Heights. They almost took the lead about half a dozen times. They kept Richmond Heights within striking range for almost four full quarters.
Alan Brads writes OHSAA sports and sports at large for Press Pros Magazine.com.
But unfortunately, “almost” doesn’t count for much in basketball. For the second year in a row, the Richmond Heights Spartans topped Russia in the semis.
The Raiders’ 29-game season concluded with just its second loss. deja vu must’ve hit pretty hard for the Raider faithful, which were out in force at UD Arena. Much like last year, Russia entered the fourth quarter in a battle with the state’s best Division IV basketball team, just to watch the Spartans run away with it in the final eight minutes. A year ago, it was 66-51, this year, 65-52.
Richmond Heights now faces Berlin Hiland as heavy favorites in pursuit of a three-peat championship. That’ll be deja vu all over again.
Anyone who has watched enough Russia basketball knows the fourth-quarter run can’t be chalked up to depth or stamina. Russia has an excess of both. But having played an independent schedule largely consisting of Division I and II teams, the battle-tested Spartans turned it up down the stretch.
That’s not a knock against Russia or its schedule, which had plenty of formidable opponents.
Russia’s Ben York finished with 12 points and three triples.
“That’s a tough team,” Richmond Heights Coach Quentin Rogers said. “It was a tough game, physical game. Russia is battle-tested. They’ve been here before.”
But the constancy of four-quarter battles clearly served Richmond Heights well. They fended off Russia, almost undeniably the state’s second-best Division IV team, and they did it without Dorian Jones, who led the game in points when he fouled out with six minutes left.
After a rocky start where the Spartans disrupted Russia’s offense with steals and a litany of blocked shots, the Raiders recovered, tying the game three times in the first half. By game’s end Russia had forced five ties, but never once climbed over the hump to take the lead. Every time the Raiders landed a punch the Spartans wasted no time in swinging back.
A few times Russia went to the free throw line with a chance to snag the lead, but on par with a 6/13 day from the stripe, they never converted enough in those moments to capture the elusive lead.
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In the opening minutes Richmond Heights bounded to a 14-5 lead by doing the things Russia usually does to its victims. They forced turnovers, sped up Russia’s offense and swatted shots. Then they sprinted the other way, knocking down buckets with just two or three passes per possession.
Brayden Monnin found Felix Francis for an alley-oop dunk.
“What they’d do, block our first eight shots or something like that?” Coach Cordonnier said, slightly exaggerating, but not far off. “But we calmed down after the first three or four minutes of the game.”
It looked bleak early, but after having a taste of their own medicine the Raiders settled into their half-court offense, which set off a chain reaction of success.
Knocking down some threes and even finding a few open layups out of half-court sets forced Richmond Heights out of their transition offense. The Spartans didn’t adjust well to the change of pace and kept trying to score with just two or three passes, but to no avail.
Richmond Heights’ Jones kept the Spartans from spiraling out of control by notching 16 points on 6/7 shooting in the first half, including a spectacular four-point play right after Russia had tied it for the first time at 21.
With four seconds left in the half and the score knotted at 29, the Raiders got two foul shots but missed both and committed a foul on the rebound. Richmond Heights, in the bonus, knocked down two free throws and stole the momentum that could’ve been Russia’s.
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Richmond Heights threw another twist at Russia, coming out in zone defense at the top of the second half. Their long wingspans prevented Russia from moving the ball how they wanted, but the Raiders moved the rock carefully all night, even against the zone. They turned the ball over just nine times, a far cry from last year’s 22. After a timeout to put together a zone offense, Brayden Monnin found Felix Francis for an alley-oop dunk to break the ice against the zone.
Braylon Cordonnier tosses in two of his eight points.
Jones sat most of the third quarter with four fouls, but DeErick Barber Jr. and Demaris Winters Jr. stepped up, combing for 19 points in the second half.
Russia’s Benjamin York swished a three to at the start of the fourth to tie it at 42 – the last time the game would be tied.
After a couple of threes gave Richmond Heights the lead, they clutched onto it tightly by doing what Russia couldn’t, hit free throws. Nine out of 10 went down for the Spartans in the fourth quarter.
With about a minute left Russia accepted their fate – they’d done everything they could, which was quite a lot. They kept pace with a wicked-fast and athletic squad that outpaces Division I schools. They outrebounded a tall team with plenty of bounce. They came back from an early deficit by staying calm and knocking down huge shots. And that was almost enough. Almost.
A week ago Cordonnier said he wasn’t sure if they would beat Richmond Heights, but he knew he’d get 32 minutes of fight from his squad. They played true to his word.
Russia Raiders – 2024 State Runner-Ups show their appreciation to their hometown crowd for their love and support.
“Our guys all day long just battled, and battled, and battled,” Cordonnier said. “They just didn’t come out on top again. I know they’re disappointed, but I’m not disappointed, our community isn’t disappointed, they’re as proud as they can be for the product that these guys put on the floor each and every night.”
The community proved that by showing out and comprising the vast majority of some 5,020 fans in attendance, knowing beforehand that a loss may come against what has quickly become a Division IV dynasty.
Hayden Quinter helped provide some much-needed stability on the defensive end.
Seniors Monnin, Francis, and Hayden Quinter finished their decorated careers with a fight. Monnin led the Raiders with 15 points, Francis scored 12, and Quinter helped provide some much-needed stability on the defensive end.
They graduate as two time-state semifinalists in basketball, and share some state appearances in cross country and baseball as well.
When asked to reflect on their 27-2 season and careers that included two trips to state, the same thing came to mind for Francis and Monnin: Brotherhood.
“We’re gonna have these friendships and bonds that we built playing basketball together for the rest of our lives,” Francis said.
Monnin spoke on the depth of multiple classes during Russia’s two-year run.
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“Having all these guys is what’s made us better,” Monnin said. “We have a bunch of guys that could start on multiple teams… Our relationships together are what’s helped us get here the past two years.”
Coach Cordonnier likes to say he has seven starters. Even with graduating three from the starting lineup the talented junior crop gives the program plenty of cause for optimism moving forward.
That brigade of juniors includes four of Coach Cordonnier’s “seven” starters. Today York stood out with 12 points and three triples.
Plus, for what it’s worth, they’ve arguably been the best Division IV team not named Richmond Heights twice in a row, and next year they’ll play in Division VII while the Spartans go to Division VII.
Maybe next year that gang of juniors can lead Russia past “almost,” and become Ohio’s first Division VII state champions.
Too many lanes to the rim….Richmond Heights looks for points or an open man during Friday’s Div. IV semi-final.
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