Raiders growing up

January 9, 2019 at 12:10a.m.

CANFIELD

In the final seconds of Tuesday’s All-American Conference Red opener, Canfield’s Jake Kowal launched a 3-point try that hit the rim and bounced to a Warren Harding player. A basket would have tied the game; instead, the Raiders’ D’Muntize Owens went on to make four free throws to secure a 53-48 victory.

Harding coach Gabe Bubon was pleased with how his inexperienced players found a way to hang on.

“We’re still learning how to finish games,” Bubon said. “Four weeks ago, we would have blown that game, there’s no doubt in my mind.

“But they are getting more comfortable in those situations. We had a rough spot earlier in the year, they seemed to have bounced back pretty well.”

DeAveion Burgess led the Raiders with 17 points and Dom McGhee scored 15.

“This was very fun,” Burgess said. “We kept it together. It’s a real big win for us.”

Canfield started strong. Aydin Hanousek’s basket gave the Cards (5-6, 0-1) a 10-5 lead.

Then the Raiders (5-5, 1-0) surged with a 10-2 run.

In the second quarter, McGhee’s 3-pointer gave the Raiders a 22-14 lead. Then it was the Cards’ turn to finish a quarter strong. Their 9-2 run made it a one-point lead at halftime. Conor Crogan nailed a 3-pointer right before the break.

“This team, they are going to battle, they are always going to battle to the end,” Canfield coach Todd Muckleroy said. “We’re not going to let them quit.

“And they don’t.”

The Raiders were poised to run away when Burgess hit a 3-pointer late in the third quarter for a 37-30 lead. But the Cards closed the quarter by scoring five of seven points.

“They were running the ball pretty well,” Burgess said of the Cards. “Off our offensive shots, they rebounded real well.”

With 3:36 to go, Elizah Smith restored Harding’s seven-point margin with a basket that made it 47-40. McGhee hit two free throws for a 49-42 lead.

Canfield wasn’t finished as Hanousek made a free throw and Crogan connected for a 3-pointer to reduce Harding’s lead to 49-46.

Bubon said it was time for Owens and McGhee to take charge.

“I told them big-time players make their shots at the end of the game,” Bubon said. “And they did.”

Kyle Gamble scored 18 points lead the Cardinals. Crogan finished with 11. Hanousek scored seven points and contributed 11 rebounds and two blocks.

“Kyle Gamble did a nice job for us, but unfortunately, it’s a team effort,” Muckleroy said. “We’re built to be a team that’s not going to have one major scorer. We need several guys to get into double figures.”