Harding romps over East, 88-52

By Chuck Housteau

WARREN - The Warren Harding High boys basketball team eas missing its two biggest stars from last season’s Division I State final four team, but it was hard to notice Friday during Harding’s easy 88-52 opening season win over East.

With Desmond Jackson and Sheldon Brogdon lost to graduation and playing at Division I universities this year, a new set of players are poised to lead the Raiders this season.

Fred Williams and Angel Gonzalez are the heir apparents to take over the leadership roles for Harding and they showed their leadership skills and basketball talent on opening night before a packed Harding High gymnasium in Warren.

Williams scored 12 points and handed out five assists while Gonzalez poured in 10 first half points and grabbed 5 rebounds to lead the Raiders.

“I’m one of the leaders of the team now,” Williams said. “Dez [Jackson] and Sheldon [Brogdon] are going to be missed alot — they made me a better person — so now its my time to step and lead the team.”

The Raiders are transitioning a lot of new faces into the lineup and Williams and Gonzalez will play a key role in molding the Raiders into another state championship caliber team.

Returnee Kennis White, a Western Michigan recruit, led the Raiders with 18 points and 10 rebounds while 6-foot-7 sophomore Shaheed Davis came off the bench to score 14 points.

“You never know what to expect in the first game,” Harding coach Steve Arnold said. “Our kids were a little jittery.

“I think we had maybe 15 turnovers, but overall it wasn’t a bad first game at all.”

East (0-1) came out ready to challenge the defending regional champs and gave the Raiders a battle in a pretty even first quarter.

The Panthers shot well and didn’t turn the ball over in the first eight minutes and trailed just 21-19.

“Warren’s a very very strong team,” East coach Mark Cherol said. “They showed it tonight. We just couldn’t bang with them on the boards after the first quarter and then their pressure hurt us.”

The Raiders defense kicked in during the second quarter and forced East into eight turnovers.

Gonzalez got two steals and scored three baskets early in the quarter as Warren opened with a 15-2 run that gave the Raiders 36-21 lead.

Williams scored 7 points in the period and transfer Dominique Murray scored four of his seven points.

“We stress defense in practice,” Gonzalez said. “Everyone knows that we have to play defense strong and everyone knows that they have to contribute.

“I think we played well for our first game.”

As good as the Harding defense was, the offense was even better.

Twelve of the 13 varsity players scored and Harding outrebounded East, 56-24. The Raiders connected on 52 percent of its shots (38/73).

“We’ve made a great effort in practice to go to the offensive glass,” Arnold said. “A lot of kids tend to watch their shot and think it is going to go in but we emphasize getting after it on the offensive end.

“One of the foundations we work on in our program is to be unselfish so the kids play that way and we’re still getting to the point that everyone can contribute.”

The Raiders pulled away in the second half and opened up a lead of 70-41 after three quarters before the junior varsity players for both teams finished up the contest.

Jarelle Burt and Justin Brown led the Panthers in scoring with 13 points apiece. Norman Johnson chipped in with nine points.