Harding tops Fitch to close regular season on high note

Raiders rally from early deficit to defeat rival Falcons 55-45 in regular-season finale

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The Warren G. Harding Raiders finished the regular season on a high note, rallying from an early deficit to defeat rival Austintown Fitch 55-45 in their All-American Athletic Conference (AAC) finale. After falling behind 8-2 early, Harding went on a 31-4 run spanning the first and second quarters to take a commanding 39-17 lead at halftime. The Falcons made a second-half push, but the Raiders held on for the victory.

Why it matters

This win caps a strong finish to the regular season for Harding, which has won 13 of its last 16 games after a 1-3 start. The Raiders will now host Massillon Perry in their playoff opener, looking to build on this momentum. For Fitch, the loss is their third straight by double digits, but the Falcons will look to regroup as they host North Royalton in their postseason matchup.

The details

Harding fell behind 8-2 early, but a pair of 3-pointers from Cayden Reed and Akeelha Barnes sparked a 12-3 run to end the first quarter. The Raiders then scored 19 unanswered points to start the second quarter, part of a 31-4 run that gave them a 39-17 halftime lead. Fitch made a push in the second half, cutting the deficit to 14 points, but Harding held on for the 55-45 victory.

  • Harding finished the regular season on Wednesday, February 19, 2026.
  • The Raiders will host Massillon Perry in their playoff opener next Wednesday.

The players

Warren G. Harding

The high school basketball team representing Warren, Ohio, which plays in the All-American Athletic Conference (AAC).

Austintown Fitch

The high school basketball team representing Austintown, Ohio, which also plays in the AAC and is a rival of Harding.

Frank Caputo

The head coach of the Warren G. Harding basketball team.

Akeelha Barnes

A player for the Warren G. Harding basketball team who scored a game-high 24 points in the win.

Amiya Harris

A player for the Austintown Fitch basketball team who scored 11 points in the loss.

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What they’re saying

“We came out strong in the first half. Really happy with our energy.”

— Frank Caputo, Head Coach, Warren G. Harding (tribtoday.com)

“Every time we play them, they always do a really great job with their press. It affected us a lot down the stretch there.”

— Frank Caputo, Head Coach, Warren G. Harding (tribtoday.com)

“This is definitely something you can build on. We can build on this in our next four or five practices while getting ready for North Royalton, who's a really good, upcoming team. They play a lot like Harding does, so this was a very good test for us tonight.”

— Dan Horacek, Head Coach, Austintown Fitch (tribtoday.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.