It's a long journey to 1000 wins

Russia fans have witnessed 23 wins so far in 2024-25

The box score from win #500 on 2-24-1995

In the midst of all the excitement surrounding Russia boys basketball this season, most Raider fans may not realize a historic milestone that's fast approaching. After last Friday's tournament victory over Ansonia, the program notched all-time win #994. It took 58 years of pioneering to earn the first 504 W's and just the previous 30 years to add the next 490 and counting. With the possibility of six tournament games remaining this postseason, the team could hit the magic mark of 1000 on March 22nd if they win a state championship. 

According to the OHSAA record book only two other schools in our talent-loaded, four-county area of Shelby, Darke, Auglaize and Mercer have reached 1000 boys wins heading into this year. Those schools are both St. Henry and Ft. Loramie. On another note from the girl's record book, Ft. Loramie just became the only school in Ohio history to reach 1000 wins with their district championship victory last Saturday. 

The first Russia boys basketball team hit the hardwood in 1937 and finished 0-10 that inaugural season. The following school year they finished 0-13. It wasn't until their third season on December 1, 1939 the 0-2 Raiders finally recorded the program's debut win over Perry Township (Pemberton), who had been playing basketball since 1923. Below is the report as it appeared in the Sidney Daily News.

Russia tallied four victories in 1939-40 with trailblazers named 

Marion Grillot, Quintin DeBrosse, Tom Francis and Ken Borchers

The season highlights since win #1 have been plentiful. In 1948 Russia won their first Shelby County League championship with an 8-0 record and 17-6 overall record. The following season in 1949 their success continued, as the Raiders won another SCL title and finished 20-4. 

Russia piled up the wins for two seasons with shooters like Wayne Groff (#3) and Jerry Bohman (#11), who were the top two scorers in the Shelby County League in 1949

After 1949 it would take 53 years until Russia achieved their second 20+ win season. It happened in 2002 when fans recall that Raider-mania energized the entire community. The team amassed a then-record 24 wins and finished as Division IV state runner-up to Delphos St. John's. 

The program broke their 2002 record win total in 2023 with 25 wins and again in 2024 with 27. Beginning with that '02 campaign, Russia has racked up 20+ win seasons in nine of their last 24. 

Win #944 was a memorable one at the 2023 regional championship

To read more about Raider lore and memorable moments, hunt down a copy of the book "A History of Clair C. Naveau Gymnasium" distributed in 2024 by Brad Francis. It's a wonderful account of nostalgic games and a comprehensive list of achievements and statistics. 

For the past 88 years, generations of Russia families have all contributed to those 994 wins and counting. Whenever the program finally does reach 1000, fans might celebrate with simply a smile or perhaps an icy cold fish bowl at Russia Inn. If that milestone happens this March, bet on the fish bowl!