Your 2021-22 Russia boys basketball team

 Raiders Preview

Russia boys basketball fans will recognize a lot of familiar faces when the 2021-22 Raiders take the floor this season. Graduated from last year is one starter in Jonathan Bell, along with Austin Cordonnier and Nick Caldwell off the bench. Back are six Raiders that logged full-time varsity minutes last season, as well as some experienced junior varsity players. The 2020-21 team finished 11-14, which included a sectional tournament title before falling in the district semifinals. Head coach Dave Borchers and assistant Spencer Cordonnier begin their fourth season with new JV coach Cody Anthony. All three are Russia alumni and former players for the Raiders. Joining them will also be freshman coach Mick Leffel.

Three seniors top the roster in Patrick Bohman, Jordan Meyer and Sam York. Bohman will play his first season of high school basketball after last competing in junior high. The four-sport athlete has been a superstar on Russia's bowling team the past three winters and will split his talent handling both rocks his final year. Meyer returns after contributing in 24 of 25 games last season, averaging 3.5 points per contest with a high of 10 points at Houston. The durable veteran has a proven ability to get hot from behind the three-point line or bang under the basket when needed. York spent the bulk of his time last year on JV and will be used to compete with some of the more physical players in the area this season. Rumors from the Raiders weight room include Sam tossing up more iron than anyone, which will make him tough to keep off both the offensive and defensive boards.  

The junior class is stacked with a couple two-year starters, a single one-year starter, and one newcomer. Xavier Phlipot's first varsity assignment was opening night of his freshman year guarding eventual SCAL Player of the Year, Aidan Reichert of Jackson Center. Phlipot has been a staple in the lineup ever since and last season averaged 6.0 ppg with a high of 17 versus Newton in the first round of tournament. Zane Shappie also began his varsity career early as a freshman and quickly turned into a dynamo point guard that can pass, shoot and play defense. Shappie was the second leading scorer last year at 9.0 ppg and his high was 15 in the first game of the season against Ft. Loramie. Ben Bohman debuted with the varsity late in his freshman year and developed into a sophomore starter, exciting Raider fans with his beefy post presence. Bohman was the team's third leading scorer at 6.5 ppg with a high of 16 points twice, most notably in a big win at Versailles. The final junior, Ross Fiessinger, should find more minutes on varsity this year after developing his game last year primarily on JV. Fiessinger has an eye for the basket and is especially accurate when getting to the free throw line.

Two sophomores made a big splash last year as freshman and expectations have only grown coming into this season. Hayden Quinter used a farm boy's work ethic to play in all 25 games and lead the Raiders in scoring at 12.5 ppg. Quinter scored 22 points or more in four contests with a team-best 29 points at Newton during the regular season. Brayden Monnin surfaced on varsity just a couple games into the schedule and became a quick substitute off the bench averaging 6.0 ppg with his season high of 18 points versus Anna. The lanky guard with long arms can also give opponents fits with his defense.

In four November scrimmages this preseason, a few additional and younger Raiders have been mixed in with the varsity as the coaches digest their talent pool. It all gets real on Friday night when Russia opens the regular season at Ft. Loramie. Unlike last year's restricted crowds and quiet gyms, fans of the blue & gold have traditionally filled the stands with both adults and students cheering loudly for their Raiders. You can bet that will be the case this season.