Boys Basketball: Medina Christian Academy outmatched in loss to Richmond Heights

RICHMOND HTS. — It has been quite a ride for Medina Christian Academy's boys basketball team. From a new gym to its first home OHSAA tournament game, the Knights have finished every game with smiles all around. A Division IV, Northeast 2 Sectional final matchup Friday with defending state champion Richmond Heights was no exception. The Spartans took home a 92-32 win and advanced to play Berlin Center Western Reserve in the district semifinals Monday, while the Knights closed 10-14. An inaugural season full of lessons came to an end, but for R.J. Walgate, Jason King, Isaac Radke and their teammates, it was all about the ride. "Look at the checklist and the things we checked off: new gym, first year in the OHSAA, tournament win at home," Walgate said. "I know this isn't the way you want to go out, but it shows us where we have to get better at. It is a new era of MCA basketball, and I can't wait for the next few years and to get started." Walgate led the Knights with 11 points on a night where the outcome was never in doubt. The Spartans are one of the best teams in Ohio and among the favorites to win this season. Throw in the Knights missing starter Sam Dorman and sixth man D.J. Reidl and the uphill battle became harder, but Medina Christian was more concerned with how far it has come as opposed to the final result. "We just came a long way," said Radke, who had four points, six rebounds and three assists. "We used to be a school that had a graduating class of four. Now we have a graduating class of 37. It felt like we were actually competing. We are starting the foundation." The foundation is solid, with just Radke graduating. The 2024-25 roster will still be a young with just one senior, three juniors and a large sophomore class. Medina Christian has never shied away from playing up — the Knights dropped out of the Lake Effect Conference to do so — and picked a spot on the bracket to help the team grow. "We have a young team this year," said King, who had nine points and three rebounds. "We all learned a lot from the teams we played and the teams we got to compete with. We could have played a lot worse teams and had a better record. This year was about building for the future." The Knights got their first tournament win over Leetonia in the sectional semifinals, and that meant a lot to the players and fans. "It was amazing," Walgate said. "First of all, I love the way our school came together for that home game. That was the best atmosphere we've had." Richmond Heights was led by Mike McWilliams' game-high 21 points, while point guard DeErick Barber Jr. controlled the offense with 13 points and a game-best eight assists. Contact Chad Grant at sports@medina-gazette.com.Richmond Heights 92, Medina Christian Academy 32 Division IV, Northeast 2 Sectional Final MEDINA CHRISTIAN&emsp;6 8 9 9 — 32 RICHMOND HEIGHTS&emsp;23 31 27 11 — 92 Medina Christian — Isaac Radke 1-2-4, Jason King 4-0-9, R.J. Walgate 5-1-11, Cooper Bolon 1-0-2, Nick Malicoat 1-0-3, Caden Dyer1-0-3, Landon Moyers 0-0-0, Noah Landers 0-0-0, Liam Saragian 0-0-0, Adam Collier 0-0-0, Simon Hornyak 0-0-0. TOTALS: 13-3-32. Richmond Heights — Demaris Winters Jr. 4-0-10, Hosea Steel Jr. 4-1-9, Jeremy Wilson 3-1-7, Braylen Salters 7-0-16, DeErick Barber Jr. 5-0-13, Tyson Garner 2-3-7, Mike McWilliams 8-0-21, Tristan Kyle 1-0-2, Chevy Dozier 0-0-0, Joey Emory 2-0-5, Ty Harrison Jr. 1-0-2. TOTALS: 37-5-92. 3-point goals — Dyer, King, Malicoat, McWilliams 5, Barber Jr. 3, Salters 2, Winters Jr. 2, Emory. Rebounds — Medina Christian 20 (Radke 6), Richmond Heights 21 (Steel Jr. 5). Assists — Medina Christian 6 (Radke 3), Richmond Heights 22 (Barber Jr. 8). Records — Medina Christian (10-14), Richmond Heights (13-9).