CANTON — Richmond Heights needed some time to get the offense flowing. The Spartans trailed Canton Central Catholic for the majority of the first half.
Then DeErick Barber took over. His quick six points tied the game, then he found Demarris Winters for a pull-up jumper for the lead, and they didn’t look back.
Richmond Heights took a 77-59 win and advanced to its seventh straight regional final.
The Spartans return to Canton Memorial Field House on March 9 to play Lutheran East in the regional final at 1 p.m.
The Spartans took the lead early in the first but the Crusaders quickly drew even. They used control inside to help bolster the advantage.
The Crusaders had 13 rebounds in the first half to just seven for Richmond Heights. Coach Quentin Rogers knew that.
“We try to get five guys to the glass,” Rogers said. “There are times that some of the players deep don’t make the cut and they did a good job of boxing out. That’s where the little passes and stuff get off for easier buckets.”
With Richmond Heights down seven midway through the second quarter, Barber took the game into his own hands.
He hit a 3-pointer from the right side of the top of the key and was fouled for a four-point play. He then had a cut to the basket off of a turnover that pulled Richmond Heights within one.
Barber found Winters on the ensuing offensive possession. Winters got a defender to bite and took a dribble to the right for the uncontested jumper, and the lead at 38-37.
“I saw they had the big man in and he started to move around,” Barber said. “So I started having work with Mekhi (Asberry) for his shot. And then when they subbed, I realized that they were flowing more and that created lanes for me. Eventually I knew it was going to open up so I just had to wait and go with the flow of the game.”
Dorian Jones and AJ Adio made 3-pointers to finish the half with eight Spartans makes from deep.
Richmond Heights controlled every part of the game in the second half to wrap up the victory.
Asberry, a freshman, was a difference-maker. He finished with a game-high 22 points and had five 3-pointers.
He has adjusted to his role with his ability beyond the arc and on the drive, as he had a pair of strong baseline cuts from the corner.
“He’s in the gym every day working hard,” Barber said. “We’ve believed in him since day one. Everyone’s been working with him and telling him that we need him to step up. As a freshman, there’s going to be those growing pains, but you take those lumps and get through it. Right now he’s at the point where he’s through it and showing what he can do.”
Barber finished an assist short of a double-double with 14 points. Jones added 17, Winters had 10 and Joey Emory had 11.
The Spartans clamped down on defense as well, limiting the Crusaders to 20 points in the second half, equaling what they put up in the first quarter.
Their defense is pressure-heavy, with multiple defenders on ball and rushing teams through their sets. Canton Central Catholic weathered the storm in the first half.
But the Crusaders couldn’t keep it up for the second half. Rogers said the defensive game plan comes with the issue of foul trouble but that’s a sacrifice the team is ready to make.
“We started this way and want to stay like it consistently,” Rogers said. “We try to work everything so that at this point it’s muscle memory. They just do everything this point of the season and just ends up being second nature. That’s what you want, especially with this point in the season.”
Canton Central Catholic was led by Luke Vlacovsky with 18 points and Lance Vlacovsky with 15.
The score
Richmond Heights 77, Canton Central Catholic 59
