It’s Cornerstone Christian’s third trip to the state championship game in school history, and it’s on the quest for a second championship trophy. Of the 14 teams that are in the state championship games, two teams are undefeated. One of those teams is the Patriots’ opponent for the Division VII state championship, the Russia Raiders. On the season, the Raiders are 28-0 and are in the state round for the third straight year and fourth in school history and are 92-15 over the last four years. The past two seasons, they fell to Richmond Heights in the semifinal both times, 66-51 and 65-52, respectively. This season, Russia got over the semifinal barrier, beating Arlington, 61-44, to advance to the University of Dayton Arena. The school has an enrollment listed of 51 boys, and the Raiders have been homegrown. Head coach Spencer Cordonnier mentioned it’s rare for the school to see families move into the district. In the furthest back run to the state round for the Raiders, the 2001-02 season, four families had kids playing in the title game that are also playing in this year’s final. While the Raiders play with a typical six-man rotation, the 11 players on the team have been playing together since grade school. Many started in third grade and have one final shot to cut down the nets. The Raiders are led by Braylon Cordonnier, averaging 15 points and a four-year starter. He is one of three strong shooters for the team. The scoring for the team is also very well dispersed. Vince Borchers is averaging 13.5 points, Dominic Francis and Benjamin York are averaging 11 points each and Jackson Grogean, who is the sixth man for the Raiders, averages six with 30 made 3-pointers. Experience has also been a major factor for the Raiders, with Borchers and York being three-year letterwinners and Francis being back from last season’s team. Zeb Shultzy also averages four points and four rebounds. The emphasis has been on the boards for the team, as no team has been able to outrebound the Raiders this season. On the year, they are also shooting 50% from the field, 68% from the free-throw line and averaging 62 points per game. The closest margin of victory for them this season was an 11-point win over Botkins. Russia has posted over 70 points five times and average 30 rebounds a contest. In the semifinal against Arlington, Braylon Cordonnier had 28 points and the Raiders had 32 team rebounds, 17 of which were on the offensive end. The offense has been strong, but the defense is where the Raiders have laid their bed, and control the defense is where they’ve been the strongest. It’s holding teams to 35 points a game, and no team has posted over 50 this season. The closest has been 49 in the season opener to St. Henry. The only other teams to eclipse 45 on the season were Troy Christian (46), Tri-Village and Cincinnati College Prep (45). While the rotation may be short, the work of the rest of the team all season long has been intricate to the team’s success. The Raiders’ starters have made sure that the rest of the team gets its flowers as well. The work that players such as Micah Grieshop, Landon Pleiman and Landon Monnin have put in have sharpened the defensive end and pushed the team to the state final for the first time since 2002. In that game, Delphos St. John’s defeated the Raiders, 74-64, on the back of 27 points from Nate Klaus and 15 from Mike Anthony. Russia was led by Dane Borchers with 19 and Josh Cordonnier with 18. Russia led, 48-41, going to the fourth, but a 33-point fourth from the Blue Jays propelled them to cut down the nets. ...read more read less