Culver’s huge game powers Harding to OT win over Mentor


By Curtis Pulliam

cpulliam@vindy.com

Solon

With three-and-a-half minutes left in the fourth quarter Warren Harding’s Derek Culver had one thing on his mind.

“We knew it was all or nothing,” said the sophomore.

With that in mind Culver and the Raiders rallied from a nine-point deficit to defeat the Mentor Cardinals 76-69 in overtime in a Division I district semifinal at Solon High School.

“I was so proud of our kids’ mental toughness,” said Raiders head coach Andy Vlajkovich. “We never quit.”

The Cardinals led 55-46 when Harding’s comeback began.

After two consecutive jumpers by the Raiders, Shondell Jackson hit a 3-pointer from the corner to cut the lead to two.

Shakem Johnson hit a layup with 2:37 left to knot it up at 57.

Mentor’s Micah Potter hit a hook in the lane with 23 seconds left for a 63-61 lead.

Johnson came up big again with a layup to tie the game with 14 seconds left.

The game went to overtime tied at 63.

And that’s when Culver took over.

The 6-foot 10-inch player scored on three consecutive possessions for the Raiders and gave them the lead for good.

“Any time you are in an overtime game the first two possessions are the most important,” Vlajkovich said. “He did a great job of establishing some inside position and I was really proud of his effort down the stretch.”

Culver thought it was his job to take control.

“Yes, I felt like I had to take the initiative to put my team’s best foot forward,” Culver said.

Culver battled Potter all night.

“That was a good battle,” Culver said. “It was just two good players trying to go at it.”

Culver finished with 26 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks. Gabe Simpson had 15 points and Johnson added 14.

Mentor’s Joey Zaugg had a team-high 22 points.

Even though Culver had a big game Mentor head coach Bob Krizancic believed it was his team that lost the game.

“I thought that turnovers were the key to the game,” he said. “We just can’t turn it over, especially with the lead late.”

The game started off fast-paced as the Raiders (20-5) decided to push the ball up the floor. Harding jumped out to a 23-11 lead after one quarter.

“We were hoping for a game in the 70’s for sure,” Krizancic said.

The second quarter belonged to the Cardinals as they had the full-court press frustrating the Raiders.

The Cardinals (15-10) cut the Raiders’ lead to three by halftime.

The Raiders managed only one field goal and five points in the second quarter.

“We just ran our stuff better [in the second half],” Vlajokovich said. “Sometimes not everything out there is explainable.”

Culver seemed to be exhausted and thrilled after.

“I can’t say I’ve played like that in a long time,” he said. “I didn’t expect that from myself but it brings out the best in you when the game is on the line.”

The victory puts the Raiders in the district final against top-seeded Shaker Heights at 7 p.m. Saturday.

“Our goal is to beat Shaker,” Vlajkovich said. “I don’t think our kids are satisfied yet and I’m not satisfied yet. I want to win a district championship.”

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