(1) Cornerstone Christian vs (1) Russia
What: Division VII state championship
When: 5:15 p.m., March 22
Where: UD Arena, 1801 Edwin C Moses Blvd., Dayton
Records: Cornerstone 21-8, Russia 28-0
Cornerstone’s path: Def. Waterloo, 80-37, def. Sebring McKinley, 75-37, def. Wellsville, 86-45, def. BC Western Reserve, 84-44, def. Hillsdale, 81-59, def. Warren JFK, 42-32, def. South Webster, 66-58
Russia’s path: Def. Ansonia, 86-28, def. Bradford, 61-30, def. Cincinnati College Prep, 83-45, def. Botkins, 58-30, def. Northside Christian, 55-16, def. Arlington, 61-44
For the record: For the third time in school history, Cornerstone is playing for a state championship. In the 2016 state championship game, the Patriots beat Lincolnview, 72-54, for the title and fell in Marion Local, 52-51, in double overtime. The Patriots have been strong on the offensive end with an average of 73.4 points per game. The Patriots’ offense has gone through the state’s all-time leading scorer Quinn Kwasniak, who is averaging 37.1 points per game. He has also become a strong passer with 7.7 assists per game, to go with an inside game, averaging 8.1 rebounds. But the pieces around him have also taken a step this season. Hudson Funk averages 9.9 points and is also strong from beyond the arc with 60 made 3-pointers. Darrien Davis works the glass well with 12 points and 8.8 rebounds. Carter Sims has also been an inside force with 6.4 rebounds as well. … Russia fell to Richmond Heights the past two seasons in the semifinals. It’s the Raiders second trip to the state title game. The last was in 2002. Defense is where the Raiders hang their hats, having held teams to an average of 35 points, with no team breaking 50 points this season. The one that came the closest was St. Henry, which had 49 in the season opener Nov. 29. They are led by Braylon Cordonnier with 15 points per game, closely followed by Vince Borchers at 13.5 and the pair of Benjamin York and Dominic Francis at 11 each. The consistency of good looks has helped Russia, as they shoot 50% from the field. Its control of the glass has also been otherworldly, as the Raiders have never been outrebounded. That type of glass control control has always led to teams hanging banners, and Russia’s been able to do that for years but want to transition that to a state championship one, rather than regionals and state appearances.
