Rayen can't contain Harding's strength

The visiting Raiders took care of business, 78-50.
By JIM FLICK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Warren Harding basketball team controlled Friday's game against Rayen from the start, putting the game out of reach with a 19-0 run at the start of the third quarter.
Four Harding players scored in double figures on the way to a 78-50 victory.
Pat White led the Raiders with 12 points. Aaron Elder contributed 11 points and Keelyn Franklin and O'Dell Eargle knocked in 10 points each.
Troy Rice led Tigers with 12 points while Justin Queener added 11 points and Jamayle Roland contributed 10 points.
All-around fast start
Harding (14-6, 7-0 in the Steel Valley Conference) started fast, running out to a 12-3 lead in the first quarter. Besides shooting well, the Raiders also played strong defensive, blocking five shots in the period.
Rayen (3-17, 1-7) recovered a bit to narrow the lead to 16-8 at the end of the first period. But Harding increased the lead to 11 points at halftime, 29-18.
But the third quarter is when the game really fell apart for Rayen.
After halftime, Harding increased the defensive pressure with a full-court press, forcing Rayen into turning over the ball and taking hurried shots that often missed.
Rayen's mistakes played into the Raiders' strengths, as Harding compiled a 39-26 lead in rebounds for the game and a 21-15 edge in turnovers.
Harding outscored Rayen 23-9 in the third quarter to take a 52-27 lead.
With the game pretty well decided in the fourth quarter, Rayen, playing its last home game, cleared the bench.
Too late
The Tigers scored 23 points in the fourth quarter, its highest-scoring quarter of the game, but Harding continued to dominate the game.
The Raiders scored 26 points in the final period. Damian Eargle, O'Dell Eargle and Roddy Fuller grabbed seven rebounds each to lead the Raiders' defensive efforts.
On offense, the Harding players shared the ball, racking up 19 assists. Rayen players were credited with only seven assists.
"Rayen is very athletic," Harding coach Steve Arnold said. "That worried us."
Despite holding an 11-point halftime lead, Arnold said, "In the first half, we missed some easy shots. At halftime, we told them to relax."
Arnold admitted that his decision to switch to zone defense with a full-court press is what led to his team breaking the game wide open.
Harding's defensive prowess wasn't unexpected, Rayen coach Jason McCray said after the game. "I knew coming into the game that they're very athletic."
McCray praised both the Raiders' skill and his own players' effort.
"I was really pleased with the effort they [the Rayen players] gave," McCray said. "They've shown they can compete."