Richmond Heights' scrappy defense sends it past Bristol, 66-34, in D-IV regional semifinal

CANTON, Ohio — Richmond Heights is one step closer to Columbus.

One major reason: coach Quentin Rogers' Spartans are not taking any opponent for granted, which led to their 66-34 win Tuesday night vs. Bristol during a Division IV regional semifinal inside the Fieldhouse at Canton McKinley.

Rogers said he wrote in bold letters in his scouting report, "They play hard."

Bristol proved Rogers right early, but the Spartans' length and athleticism proved too much for the Orwell Grand Valley District champions to handle. Bristol (21-5) briefly held a 2-0 lead, but was never in front again.

"I don't think we executed like we should have in the beginning," Rogers said. "A lot of that was jitters. They probably had jitters, too."

It showed in a sloppy performance in which turnovers outnumbered rebounds for much of this regional semifinal. Through three quarters both teams combined for 41 turnovers to 38 boards.  By game's end, that changed (55 rebounds to 49 turnovers).

More of the mistakes came on Bristol's part with 29 turnovers.

"We played all right defense," Richmond Heights junior Jevontae Jones said. "We were just trying to be long, play the passing lanes and do what coach says."

That allowed the Spartans (20-6) to create transition baskets and a blitz on the scoreboard. Bristol fell into a double-digit hole just under the three-minute mark in the second quarter. Richmond Heights' lead grew to 37 points in the third quarter.

"We just try to listen to what coach says and execute the game plan," said Jones, who scored a game-high 15 points with eight rebounds and two blocks. "Every time we execute the game plan, we do our job, we get the win."

Additionally, junior forward Anthony Maxie added 12 points and two more blocks. Sophomore guard Jamarr Talbert finished with 11 points.

Their defensive effort sends the Spartans to Friday night's regional championship back at the Fieldhouse against Springfield, which advanced with a 62-50 win vs. Greenwich South Central.

In the semifinal, that effort held prolific Bristol senior guard Gage Elza to just nine points.

A 6-foot guard, Elza was an Inland District first-team selection and averaged 26.2 points per game. He broke a 52-year-old school record with 49 points in a game, but never found a comfortable rhythm.

"We circle the leading scorer," Rogers said. "That's who we attack first. Then we try to apply pressure on the other ball handlers."

Rogers could throw any of his five players on the floor at Elza, whether it be Jones or Talbert, senior point guard Curtis Houston or junior Gbolahan Adio.

"We teach everybody all five positions, defensively," Rogers said. "That's why we're able to switch and rotate like that."

Add B.J. Carter and Isaiah Martin off the bench, and he has more options. Rogers said he wants activity, but stressed he wants to see more by Friday.

Otherwise, a quick trip to the bench could be in store for any player not applying defense to the coach's liking.

"Our defense is good, but it could be way better," Talbert said.

"We've got to pick it up a little bit more," Jones added, "but we're going to get there."

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