Harding surges in celebration game

February 25, 2012 at 12:08a.m.

WARREN

Moments after Steve Arnold coached his final home basketball game, the Warren Harding High coach reflected on his 10 years leading the Raiders’ boys program.

“It’s been a great ride,” said Arnold after Harding’s 84-76 victory on Friday against Cleveland Heights. “But it can’t be over.”

After the game, Harding’s basketball boosters celebrated Arnold for his 187-43 record, capping a night of honors that included Senior Night and Warren Mayor William Franklin presenting Harding graduate Mario Manningham a key to the city to mark his Super Bowl victory three weeks ago with the New York Giants.

“Man, to have former players, come back, it’s special,” Arnold said.

The Raiders (17-3, 10-2 Lake Erie League) said the pregame hoopla was a little distracting and contributed to their falling behind 25-15 late in the first quarter.

“We started off a little too slow tonight, a little too anxious to play,” said senior Jesse Hardin who led the Raiders with 24 points. “The second half came and we toughed it out.

“They came out strong and we just had to come back and punch them in the mouth and play harder than they did,” Hardin said.

The Tigers (15-4, 9-3) held off the surging Raiders in the second quarter. Two late baskets by Marcus Bagley at the end of the half gave the Tigers a 47-41 lead and inspired a pep talk from the most popular former Raider in the house.

“He came in and told us to pick it up,” said senior Rashid Gaston of Manningham’s halftime pep talk. Gaston scored 15 points and contributed four rebounds and two blocks.

Arnold said his message at the break was simple.

“At halftime, I told them that we got ‘out-toughed,’ “ Arnold said. “In the second half, I think we ‘out-toughed’ them.”

Late in the third quarter, the Raiders tied the game, 62-6, on one of Hardin’s nine baskets. Moments later, senior Delshawn Bell stole the ball and made a lay-up and the Raiders maintained the lead throughout the fourth quarter.

“It was a very entertaining basketball game,” Arnold said. “It was back-and-forth, back-and-forth. Our transition defense which we work on every day wasn’t very good — they got way too many lay-ups.

“I thought we had the heart of a champion in the second half.”

Senior Shaheed Davis contributed 17 points, five rebounds and two steals.

“It’s special,” Davis said. “We wanted to make his last game [here] a good one.

“He’s like a father figure — without him I wouldn’t be able to do most of the stuff I do,” Davis said. “I felt like I owed this to him.”

Also scoring in double figures for the Raiders was senior Arthur Cook with 16 points.

Bagley’s 28 points led the Tigers who were without point guard Tyree Gaiter who recently suffered a broken wrist. Najeeb Johnson scord 18 points while Delaunte Davis netted 12 and Camerin Cross 10.