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Springfield plans slow, steady approach against Richmond Heights
Tigers hoping to force high-flying Spartans to play at their pace
By Brian Dzenis
Springfield liked running teams off the floor all season, but that mentality has to change tonight.
The Tigers (21-5) will face Richmond Heights in a Division IV regional final at the Canton Fieldhouse and they won’t try to get into a track meet with the Spartans.
“Their team is a lot faster than ours, so we want to slow down and play at our pace,” Springfield senior forward Shane Eynon said. “We want to control the pace, like slow it down and take our time. We want to control the ball and make good passes, take good shots — and don’t make bad shots and stupid turnovers.”
Richmond Heights (20-6) arrives in Canton as a favorite to not just win the region, but also the state. They’ve played tough competition such as Lorain, Toledo Whitmer and Cleveland Heights Lutheran East.
But Spartans coach Quentin Rogers was dismissive of that sentiment.
“I don’t let [my players] get caught up in that. At the end of the day, those are just opinions,” Rogers said. “There are basketball teams that people thought were going to do this or that and they’re not around by now and that’s in multiple divisions across the state.
“You have to play the games. Somebody’s prediction just means they like your team.”
The reasons media across the state like the Spartans is their offensive balance and athleticism. Four of their starting five — guards Curtis Houston and Gbolahan Adio and forwards Jevontae Jones and Jamarr Talbert — all average in double figures for scoring. So does junior guard B.J. Carter, Richmond Heights’ sixth man.
“There’s really no key guy. Every game can be somebody else’s game,” Rogers said. “Offensively and defensively, everybody can have a hot hand. It’s a team thing.”
The Spartans’ ability to run and play above the rim convinced Springfield head coach Steve French to slow things down.
“I think you have be selective. If you have opportunities in transition, then go on a run. We have to rebound and we’ve seen how they can really get back on defense,” French said. “We really have to slow them down in transition. They play really good when the opposing team plays bad. We have to make them earn it in a half court-type setting.”
The Tigers have been leaning on Eynon recently as he’s coming off a 24-point, 13-rebound performance in a 62-50 win against Greenwich South Central in regional semifinal Tuesday night.
“It’s a game of positioning. I know if I get in good position, my guards will get me the ball inside and if they come and double up, I’ll just kick it out to them for a 3 or an open shot,” Eynon said. “If I’m in a good positioning against them, it’s just be a couple fakes and I’ll be set.”
The winner of tonight’s game faces the winner of Convoy Crestview and Toledo Maumee Valley Country Day next Friday in the state semifinals.
“We’re just playing our best basketball right now and that’s what you have to do once you get in the tournament. We know that we have what it takes to beat this team and we’re pretty confident going into [tonight].”