More than eight months have passed since Warren G. Harding’s 2024-25 season ended, but a sour taste has lingered with the Raiders.

Sixth-year head coach Keelyn Franklin said immediately after the season finale in March that the defeat, a 52-51 regional semifinal loss to Massillon Perry on game-winning Panthers three-pointer just before the buzzer, was the “most painful” of his career. And while he said he hasn’t broached the topic with his 2025-26 team, the Raiders’ coaching staff has been consistently reminded of what they accomplished earlier in the year and, frustratingly, what more they could have accomplished.

“It’s funny, because I actually talked to the coaches – we have our district title in our coaches’ office – and I was talking to them, I said, ‘You know, it’s time to put this

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