It took 4 years in the making, but the Raiders finally erased a 17 year drought to win the IHSAA 2A Sectional 42 Championship. The Raiders took full advantage of hosting the Sectional at Cardinal Ritter by winning 3 straight games by double digits. This was the 3rd year under Coach Williams four year tenure that the boys basketball team has reached the championship game and the third time was certainly a charm!
The draw had Cardinal Ritter facing 3 teams with a combined record of 52 - 17, while they entered Sectional play with an 11-12 record. However, the tough schedule Coach WiIliams put together more than prepared the team to compete for a championship. In the opening round on Tuesday, March 3rd, the Raiders faced Herron-Riverside, who entered the tournament with a 21-1 record. In that game, Devin Bolden led all scorers with 21 points on 8-11 shooting including knocking down his first 3 pointer of the season. He also had two monster blocks that set the defensive tone for the game. Senior Cheick Wade chipped in with 14 points followed by fellow senior Rylan Coleman's 11 points, 4 rebounds, 5 steals, and 4 assists performance. 7 of the 8 players that entered the game reached the scoring column. The 61-49 victory advanced the Raiders to Friday night's semifinals.
Waiting for Cardinal Ritter in the Semifinals was Park Tudor, who received a first round bye based on the IHSAA's blind draw format. The Panthers also played a tough schedule and entered the game with a 14 - 8 record and were undefeated in their conference, so they had plenty to be confident about. However, they didn't have a matchup for Junior Devin Bolden who erupted for 33 points on 16-21 shooting (1-2 from beyond the arc) and 19 rebounds. He was followed by the hot shooting from Cheick Wade who was a perfect 3-3 from beyond the arc and 7-10 overall on his way to 18 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Your Raiders walked away from this game with a 66-51 victory setting up a much anticipated rematch from last year's Sectional Championship game against University. The Trailblazers knocked off Cardinal Ritter last season and advanced all the way to the State Championship game losing a close contest to Manchester High School.
In the championship game, Cardinal Ritter jumped out to an early lead holding University to 9 points in the first quarter. We extended that lead to enter halftime with a 30 - 19 lead. Due to foul trouble, Cheick Wade's cramping calf, and the Trailblazers holding Devin Bolden well below his average, they were able to shave a 20 point lead down to 9 entering the 4th quarter. However, Senior Rylan Coleman stepped up big with a career high 24 points on 8-12 shooting (2-3 from the 3 point line), and made all of his free throws in the 4th quarter to close the game out and give the Raiders a 71 - 56 victory and the Sectional Championship. This game proved that the Raiders have a complete team and very strong guard play. The trio of Rylan Coleman, junior Thomas McDowell III (16), and Cheick Wade (15) combined for 55 of the teams 71 points to lead the way. They also played outstanding defense, limiting the stellar guard play of University's Trio of talented guards. While he didn't score, senior guard Anthony Anuka played a major role on the defensive end drawing the assignment of the Trailblazer's leading scorer who fouled out of the contest midway through the 4th quarter. Despite finishing well below his scoring average, Devin Bolden finished with 16 rebounds. The win now sets up Cardinal Ritter for a Regional Championship game on Saturday, March 14th at Greenfield-Central High School against the Triton Central Tigers, who enter the game as the 3rd ranked team in 2A with a 22-3 record.
Devin Bolden set several milestones during the week. He now holds the single season rebounding record (333) and moved up to #2 on the school's career scoring list (1,266 points). He also has the career rebounding record at 809 and counting and over 100 career blocked shots. He is currently shooting 73% from the field for his career which is also a school record. Cheick Wade is now only 3 points away from 1,000. This will be the first time that two players have passed the 1,000 point mark in the same season and the first time that two 1,000 point scorers played together for Cardinal Ritter.
