Harding drought over

By Joe Scalzo

Raiders win,

53-38, to gain

first state trip

since 1966

CLEVELAND — With the game over and Warren Harding fans in full celebration mode, Raiders coach Steve Arnold went over to the end of his bench to the player with crutches under his arms and a black No. 24 jersey on his back.

He lifted him to his feet and watched Sheldon Brogdon limp over to his teammates, crutches under his arm, smile on his face.

And as the Raiders surrounded him, the fans started chanting “Sheldon Brogdon! Sheldon Brogdon!”

On Feb. 3, many people thought Harding’s chances of advancing to Columbus ended when Brogdon and his 20 points per game disappeared with a season-ending ACL injury.

But on Saturday night, appearing at his first game since knee surgery, Brogdon watched Harding pull away for a 53-38 victory over North Ridgeville in a Division I regional semifinal at Cleveland State’s Wolstein Center.

It’s the Raiders’ first trip to Columbus since 1966.

“I’m proud of them,” said Brogdon, a Youngstown State University recruit who wore the net over his neck afterward. “I was always confident in them.

“They worked too hard in the summer [to fall short].”

Saturday’s game was close through three quarters, with Harding hold a slim 31-30 lead until senior Fred Williams hit a 3-pointer in the corner at the buzzer for a little breathing room.

The Raiders’ defense did the rest, holding the Rangers scoreless over the first 5:36 of the fourth quarter to grab a 45-30 lead and end the (once considerable) suspense.

Senior Desmar Jackson, a University of Wyoming recruit, scored 23 points to go with nine rebounds, six steals and three blocks for the Raiders (22-2), who will meet Columbus Northmoor in a Div. I state semifinal Friday at 5:15 p.m. at the Schottenstein Center.

“I thought that we could get it done,” Arnold said. “But again, you lose a 20-point scorer and people question it.

“And I’ll tell you, our players questioned not themselves, but there was a time where you say, man, you lose 20 points but not only 20 points but also the presence of Sheldon on the court,” Arnold said. “He means so much to our program.

“But that’s why you’ve got to give those guys a lot of credit. To lose a player like Sheldon and get to Columbus, that’s special.”

Ridgeville (20-5) was in the regional finals for the first time in school history but didn’t play like it, dictating tempo for the first quarter en route to a 10-9 lead.

Senior Drew McGhee, a 6-foot-10 St. Francis (Pa.) recruit, had five blocks in the first eight minutes and was doing a good job of scoring inside when he was open and dishing it out when Harding doubled down.

But the Raiders kept attacking the rim and McGhee was hit with his second personal foul with 4:47 left in the second quarter.

Although Harding led just 24-22 at the half, the Rangers were never again able to dictate tempo and dominate inside. McGhee spent much of the second half in foul trouble, as did senior Keene Cockburn (team-high 15 points).

Once the Rangers began missing outside shots, they had no chance.

Ridgeville finished with 20 turnovers — Harding had just nine — and was outrebounded 44-38. Fred Williams and Angel Gonzalez each had 11 rebounds for Harding and the duo combined for seven steals. Williams also had 16 points.

“I don’t think we were able to hit shots in the fourth quarter; that hurt us,” Ridgeville Bill Noggle said. “And we had some key turnovers in the fourth quarter and that just snowballed.

“They’re a very well-coached, disciplined, very good team. We can’t allow that to happen because they’re just going to be like sharks in water and go after us. And that’s what happened.”

One year ago, Harding was denied a trip to Columbus with a controversial overtime loss to Lakewood St. Edward. That loss drove this year’s motto, Unfinished Business.

“It’s still about unfinished business,” Fred Williams said. “We’ve got two more games to go get.

“We’re gonna go get those games.”

scalzo@vindy.com