RUSSIA, Ohio — A small-town high school basketball team is making some big moves. Russia’s boys' basketball team are in the OHSAA finals for the first time since 2002. When take the court this time, they’re bringing the support of the whole community with them.
In a small Ohio town, often mistaken for another country, there’s one thing everyone in Russia can get behind: basketball.
Just watching the high school players brings Augie Cordonnier to tears.
“It does bring a tear to my eye," he said.
As a former player himself in the 50s, he’s been a fan of his home team ever since.
He couldn’t hold back when he found out the undefeated Russia boys' basketball team is going to the state finals after appearing in the state’s final four the last two seasons.
“Very proud, very proud. It never gets old, the fact that it’s three years in a row. Believe me, it’s just as exciting now as it was the first time," said Augie.
It’s a basketball legacy carried through his family and the village of some 700 people.
“The whole community, regardless if they live here or they were born and raised here and then moved away, they are all coming back for this," said Barb Cordonnier, who's a parent to the head coach and has a grandson on the team.
Even the mayor is planning for a big win.
"We're having a party in our pavilion after the game Saturday, and we'll have to see how the game goes but we're very confident and we think they can do it," said Village of Russia Mayor Terry Daugherty.
It’s that support that players say is their motivation.
“It feels good because our community has been there all year supporting us, and we'd like to get it done for them, especially because last year we fallen short. So, it'd be good to get a win for them," said Russia basketball player Vince Borchers.
It would be a victory Augie has been waiting for.
“We wanna go all the way now," he said.
Russia will take on Cornerstone Christian school on Saturday. The game starts at 5:15 p.m. at the University of Dayton Arena. You can watch this game as well as all the other games this weekend on Spectrum News 1 by clicking here.
