The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Richmond Heights takes down St. Edward
Throughout the season, two-time defending Division IV state champion Richmond Heights has battled injuries and a rigorous schedule in which they’ve played nearly every game on the road and against some of the best teams in the state of Ohio and from outside the state.
But home court and a now-healthy roster have paid great dividends for the Spartans.
In front of an overflow crowd on Feb. 16, Richmond Heights defeated visiting St. Edward, 66-50, to win its seventh straight game and improved to 12-8 on the season.
The Spartans have not lost since falling to Lutheran East, the top-ranked team in Division III, on Jan. 7. The win marked three straight against the Eagles, a Division I powerhouse. Richmond Heights went on to win the state title after each of the previous victories.
Six-foot-five junior Dorian Jones scored a game-high 15 points, which included a pair of dunks and a trio of 3s. Six-foot-5 senior Hosea Steele added 14 points.
“Communication, trusting in our teammates, staying locked in,” Jones cited as keys to the victory. “We didn’t come out with intensity the way we’re supposed to, but last home game of the season, we had to go out with a big one.”
Neither offense could get much going early against the varying defenses both employed. Senior guard Tavin Shaw tied the game for St. Edward, 12-12, with a bucket early in the second quarter.
But a triple by Jones, a pair of baskets off of turnovers by seniors Braylen Salters and Tyson Garner, and a Salters 3 made up a 10-0 run that put the Spartans up, 22-12, with 4:40 left before halftime.
Trailing at halftime, 2716, St. Edward rallied to within 31-26 in the third quarter, thanks to 3s by seniors Ricky Bussey and Angelo Kulacz that capped a 10-4 run, but Richmond Heights responded with a 12-2 run to regain control.
Senior Mike McWilliams sank three corner triples in the third quarter for Richmond Heights, and Steele, Jones, and 6-foot-6 senior Jeremy Wilson each connected from outside in the frame, which ended with the Spartans ahead, 49-37.
St. Edward, which was coming off of a huge victory over Brecksville-Broadview Heights on Feb. 13, fell to 13-8. Senior Brian Sullivan and 6-foot-7 junior Max McClellan paced the Eagles with 10 points each.
“You have to give them credit, they made their open shots, especially in the third quarter,” St. Edward Coach Eric Flannery said. “After the third quarter, we were down 12 and had gone 6-for-6 from three. I thought we were going to have a chance in the fourth quarter to make a run.”