With Josiah Harris back at full strength, Richmond Heights cruises past Cornerstone Christian

The West Virginia commit returns to the starting lineup and dominates on offense and defense in the Spartans' 83-63 win.

Author:
Ryan Isley, SBLive Sports
Publish date:
Mar 4, 2022 10:07 PM EST

By Ryan Isley | Photos by Jeff Harwell

NORTON, Ohio — If Richmond Heights wants to make a return trip to Dayton for the state semifinals, they need a healthy Josiah Harris.

If Friday was any indication, the Spartans have just that.

Harris, a 6-foot-7 senior who averaged 19.7 points per game this season, had missed five games before returning to action in a 70-34 win over Cuyahoga Heights in the district semifinals.

In that game, he came off the bench and scored 10 points in just over 10 minutes of action.

Things were back to normal for Harris in Friday’s win, as the West Virginia commit returned to the starting lineup and played all but the final minute in an 83-63 win over Cornerstone Christian in the OHSAA Division IV district final.

“You have to account for him,” Richmond Heights coach Quentin Rogers said. “It may not be him necessarily scoring, it’s just that you have to concentrate on someone else now maybe scoring. It’s really big to have him.”

Harris showed right out of the gate Friday that he was ready to go, scoring 12 of his game-high 22 points in the first quarter, including a dunk for his first two points of the game. He finished with seven dunks on the night.

“I’m happy to help my brothers out,” Harris said. “It’s just a blessing to get this (win).”

It wasn’t just on the offensive end where Harris was a catalyst for the Spartans. His return on the defensive side of the floor was just as important.

He took the challenge of guarding Quinn Kwasniak, who entered the game as one of the most prolific 3-point shooters in a single season in Ohio history, having hit 108.

While Kwasniak led the Patriots in scoring, he didn’t get any of his points easily with Harris draped all over him.

“Coach Q since my sophomore year has been preaching defense,” Harris said. “It’s just coming to show right now.”

When Harris wasn’t chasing Kwasniak around, he was busy in the middle showing his versatility and making things difficult for Cornerstone Christian's post players.

“Defensively, he is just as effective in the game — rebounding, guarding guards or guarding bigs," Rogers said. "He’s a very versatile defender.”

Harris is also afraid to give up his body to dive for a loose ball or set a screen when needed.

When Cornerstone Christian tried to take him out of the offensive flow, he set up his Richmond Heights teammates.

“I had to do all the little things since they were playing me like that,” Harris said. “Setting screens and diving for loose balls, just trying to make winning plays.”

As for the ankle that kept the Northeast Lakes District Division IV player of the year out five games and had him see limited action earlier in the week?

“It’s sore, but I’ll take a little ibuprofen,” Harris said. “It’s cool.”

The next challenge for the Spartans is a regional semifinal game at the Canton Memorial Fieldhouse at 6 p.m. Tuesday against Castalia Margaretta.

It’s a familiar place for Richmond Heights, which has been in the regional finals each of the past three seasons.

The Spartans were the state runners-up in 2019 and a state semifinalist last season. They were still alive in the regional finals when the 2020 season was cut short by COVID-19.

But this season the Spartans have only one thing in mind — cutting down the final net.

“We know what we’re coming in here to do,” Harris said. “We aren’t playing any games. We are just coming to win the state championship. It’s all business.”

And business is good with Harris back in the lineup.

“Now we’re back rolling like we’re supposed to be,” Rogers said.