Richmond Heights used a 13-0 second quarter run to pull away from Bristol in a 66-34 win in Tuesday’s Division IV regional semifinal at Canton’s Memorial Field House.
Despite turning the ball over 11 times in the first half, the Spartans recovered in time to put away the Panthers, who closed out the regular season as the state’s sixth-ranked team.
“On tape, I saw how hard they play,” Richmond Heights coach Quentin Rogers said of the Panthers. “I put that in there, in bold letters, they play hard, non-stop. I don’t think we executed like we should’ve, the game plan in the beginning. A lot of that was jitters; they probably had jitters, too. That probably was more of the turnovers.”
As dominant as the Spartans were in the closing minutes of the second quarter, they were even better in the third when they outscored Bristol, 23-6.
Richmond Heights blocked 11 shots and forced 26 turnovers in the game.
“We teach everybody all five positions, defensively. That’s why we’re able to switch and rotate like that,” Rogers said of the Spartans’ defensive activity. “We circle the leading scorers. That’s who we attack first, then we try to apply pressure on the other ball handlers.”
The Spartans were just as effective on the offensive end of the court.
Jevontae Jones led all scorers with 15 points while Anthony Maxie and Jamarr Talbert also scored in double figures with 12 and 11, respectively. In all, eight different Spartans scored in the game.
“That’s what we talked about earlier in the year, was five guys averaging double-figures,” Rogers said of his team’s balanced scoring. “It can be anybody, any game. That’s what we tell them, just move the ball.”
The Spartans advanced to Friday’s regional championship game against New Middletown Springfield.
Richmond Heights 66, Bristol 34
Richmond Heights: Houston 5, Jones 15, Adio 8, Maxie 12, Carter 7, Talbert 11, Hickerson 3, Martin 5
Bristol: Elza 9, Durst 5, Stephens 4, Mooney 4, Wiebe 2, M.Church 10, N. Church 2.
Richmond Hts. 12 20 23 11 — 66
Bristol 8 7 6 13 — 34
Free throws: Richmond Heights 8 of 12, Bristol 6 of 6; 3-pointers: Richmond Heights 6 (Adio 2, Carter, Talbert, Hickerson, Martin), Bristol 2 (Elza, Durst); Rebounds: Bristol 21 (M.Church 6), Richmond Heights 34 (Jones 8); Assists: Bristol 6 (Wiebe 3), Richmond Heights 13 (Houston 5)
