Russia shooting for gold and perfection

11 seniors will play their last game on Ohio's biggest stage (All photos by Cara Daugherty)

When the high school basketball season tipped off in November, Ohio welcomed a new era unlike any other in OHSAA history. As we head into the state finals this weekend, Russia fans will say farewell to an era unlike any other in school history. The 103rd annual boys state championships begin on Friday. The Raiders will be in the state spotlight on Saturday at 5:15 versus the Cornerstone Christian Patriots.

Stroh Center was perfect for the state semifinals

Seven divisions, state semifinals at smaller venues, and two weekends for the state tournament. Now that this inaugural season is coming to a close, even the basketball purists have to admit the changes are good. Over the years I've personally witnessed numerous state semis at St. John Arena, the Schottenstein Center, and the University of Dayton Arena. There was no more electric atmosphere than last Friday night at Stroh Center in Bowling Green. Crowded, loud, and zero AAU teams taking advantage of divisional enrollment counts. Reports are similar from other parts of the state. Exactly the way it should be. Reminiscent of those regular season league rivalry nights when the gymnasium attendance exceeds the maximum capacity sign. The weeklong wait for the finals at UD Arena is appropriate too, deservingly giving 14 teams the opportunity to prepare for their one shining moment. Contrary to the Gen Z cliché that everyone gets a trophy, only seven of the almost 800 schools will call themselves champions this weekend. Less than 1% is rare air. 

I attended a class reunion last summer in my hometown of Ft. Loramie. One of my classmates who roots for the Redskins asked me, "are you Russia people about out of athletes yet?" Much to his displeasure, I informed him the upcoming Class of 2025 was still really good. I just didn't realize the 11 seniors on this year's basketball roster were going to be this good. It should come as no surprise. I've documented their athletic success on these pages before. If this is your first time reading my blog, the class has been part of eight total state tournaments, including three straight in basketball. Their hardwood record the previous three years is a mind-boggling 80-6. These boys are the last members of a culture changing phenomenon that began at Russia in 2022 during their freshman year. That's when the Raiders won a state baseball championship and raised the bar of expectations that's continued to carry on for every other boys sport at Russia. Golf, cross country, and just as impressive as the baseball team, has been the basketball program. It's a four-year run that will be talked about for ages.

Russia players claim they play better when the rowdy Raiders are loud 

If you're not aware, a program with 11 seniors is an anomaly. That's because most players can predict their futures in the first couple years of high school. If five or six classmates already have more talent, that equates to years of tough practices making the starters better and minimal floor time on game nights. Most other classes might think, ain't nobody got time for that. However, if you've recently heard the Russia starters talking to the press, leaders like Braylon Cordonnier and Vince Borchers are quick to tell reporters those "scout team" seniors are the reason for the Raider's success.

Speaking of Braylon and Vince, calling them leaders doesn't do justice. Those two titans will forever be debated among the best to wear a blue & gold uniform. If Russia suddenly started a ping pong team, they'd both figure out a way to beat everyone. Braylon's heroic 29 points at Friday's state semifinal versus Arlington vaulted him into 3rd-place on Russia's all-time scoring list. Vince recently broke Russia's single season steals record and might also unofficially be the first pure point guard to lead the Raiders in total rebounds.

Senior sharpshooter Jaxon Grogean

Then there's the supporting cast of four that have assisted in all 28 wins and could be MVP's at a lot of other schools. Benjamin York's regional final performance with a game-high 18 points wasn't what Botkins planned for, but just what Russia needed for a state berth. Dominic Francis is a human highlight, thrilling crowds on both sides of the floor all season with acrobatic layups and dunks. One of those slams went viral on social media with 3.5 million views. Anytime I watch Zeb Schulze play, I envision him clocking in at practices in work boots and carrying a lunch pail. That's just me, but it's obvious his teammates trust him for his workmanlike performance every time he takes the court. Finally, here's something you need to know about Jaxon Grogean. At a pre-state tournament pep rally, Jaxon was summoned to the free throw line during a shooting contest. His coaches confidently directed him to back up from 15 feet to 30 feet from the basket. With no stretching or warm-up, Jaxon swished a three-pointer that would've made even Steph Curry proud.

Head coach Spencer Cordonnier ended his postgame press conference after Friday's state semifinal win talking about the past. He said he not only wanted a state championship for these guys, but wanted it for anybody that's ever put on a Russia uniform. The program has been close before. Raider fans remember the heartbreak of losing the 2002 state finals. This year's players remember the disappointment of the 2023 and 2024 state semifinals. Yep, it's going to take a helluva effort to beat Cornerstone Christian and OHSAA all-time leading scorer, Quinn Kwasniak. How many opportunities in history does Russia get to finish 29-0 and earn all-time win #1000? Just one. See you Saturday.

Coach Spencer Cordonnier with his two All-Southwest Co-Players of the Year, Vince Borchers and Braylon Cordonnier

Russia hoping third time's the charm

The Raiders are state bound for a third consecutive year

While the University of Dayton campus was enjoying an early St. Patrick's Day celebration last Saturday, across town at Wright State University's Nutter Center there was a sea of green-clad Russia students cheering for their Raiders and a little luck in the D-VII regional championship. Turns out the Raiders didn't need any luck at all and simply did what they've been doing for a while. That is, pounding an opponent into another lopsided victory and their third consecutive berth to the state tournament. The unlucky competitor for the third time this season was the Botkins Trojans, this time by the final score of 58-30.

This Friday will be the fifth different venue
Russia has played at in six tournament games

The 28 point win was the closest contest Russia fans have witnessed this postseason. Their four previous tournament wins had margins of 39, 38, 43 and 58. In fact, head coach Spencer Cordonnier's program is playing even better on the tournament trail than their 22-game regular season schedule, when Russia's average point spread was only 25 points per game. Some folks are already even debating if the 2024-25 Raiders are the best team in Shelby County Athletic League history, or if their current 27-0 record might deserve an asterisk after OHSAA's expansion to seven divisions and a softer-than-usual SCAL. 

Let's squash that latter argument right now. The single change Russia made to their regular schedule this season was canceling a date with Ansonia, who was in rebuilding mode and finished this year with a tournament loss to the Raiders and a record of 1-22. To fill that open date, Russia added D-VI Coldwater from the mighty Midwest Athletic Conference. When the regular season ended, the Raiders had beaten six of the top seven schools from the MAC. Along the way, they also won the Piqua Holiday Tournament over two D-IV & D-VI opponents, and a marquee matchup at Ft. Loramie's MLK Classic versus D-VI Tri-Village. As for questioning the strength of the SCAL, the league did advance three of their seven teams to the regional finals in D-VI and D-VII. Case closed.

Anna flexed their SCAL muscle when the Rockets made the D-VI regional finals

Now, lets talk about that elephant in the room. This is Russia's third straight trip to the state tournament in basketball. The previous two trips ended at the state semifinals. It's also the eighth time in the previous nine sports seasons that Russia High School has qualified a boys team to an OHSAA state tournament. Yes, you read that right: 2025 basketball, 2024 cross country, 2024 baseball, 2024 basketball, 2023 golf, 2023 baseball, 2023 basketball and 2022 baseball. Each of the 11 seniors on Russia's current basketball roster have all been to multiple state tourneys. Most notable are Braylon Cordonnier making his seventh appearance and both Vince Borchers and Zeb Schulze making their sixth. Even more remarkable, Braylon will be a starter in all seven of those appearances. However, as this historic era of senior talent approaches graduation, naysayers are pointing to the seven previous state trips and just the one baseball title from 2022. Make no mistake, Raider Nation is well aware and hungry for another championship. Actually, after tasting all that success, Russia is starving for another championship.  

Arlington star Calvin Willow (#35) was an 

AAU teammate with several Russia players

The Raider's opponent in the semifinals this Friday will be the Arlington Red Devils (24-3). Arlington High School has only eight more boys than Russia High School. The Red Devils have also been to the state tournament just once before and lost in the semifinals. That was 2012 when they fell to Berlin Hiland, who later won the title over Jackson Center. Those are two schools Russia folks know well. Yep, this won't be another rematch versus Richmond Heights. This year's semifinal is what a small school state tournament game should be.

What else is in the scouting report if you're a Russia follower? Arlington has a really good head coach named Jason Vermillion. Coach Vermillion has led the program for 27 seasons and tallied 435 career wins. He also has a senior son on the team named Jase Vermillion who was 1st-Team All-Blanchard Valley Conference. Jase had 10 points in their regional final win on Saturday over Delphos St. John's. There's another Red Devil that's really tall. Like 6-foot 10-inches tall. He's a junior named Calvin Willow who won the 2024 D-III State High Jump as a sophomore. Calvin had a game high 22 points on 11-for-14 shooting in that win over the Blue Jays. Most of the Russia starters know Calvin. Calvin knows most of the Russia starters. Lets repeat it again: This year's semifinal is what a small school state tournament game should be.

In Arlington's postgame press conference on Saturday, Coach Vermillion was asked by a reporter if their state tournament berth was the proverbial icing on the cake or if he felt like they still had a job to do? The coach said after being down there in 2012, "we're going to make sure we approach this the correct way and why not try to get the game." Russia coach Spencer Cordonnier is probably thinking the same thing. Why not, after all, there's a pot of gold waiting at the end.

Division VII

State Semifinals

• Willoughby Cornerstone Christian (20-8) vs. South Webster (22-3), Friday, Ohio Dominican University, 7 p.m.

• Arlington (24-3) vs. Russia (27-0), Friday, Bowling Green State University, 8:30 p.m.

State Championship: Saturday, March 22, at University of Dayton Arena, 5:15 p.m.

The Raiders will see you at Stroh Center in Bowling Green (Picture by Cara Daugherty)