Sandusky looks to break regional curse

SANDUSKY — It's hard to believe: Sandusky's boys basketball program has never won a regional game. The Blue Streaks have played in regional tournaments 10 times, and all 10 trips have been one and done. They'll get a chance to break the curse Thursday at Bowling Green State University when they face Lutheran West in a Division II regional semifinal. "It's just something special, especially for the youth that we have to be able to experience something like that," Sandusky coach DeMar Moore Sr. said. "I just want these guys to understand that this is a moment for them to be loose, play free. We don't have anything to lose." Of course, none of those past trips have a direct impact upon this one. The most recent was 2017, when Sandusky fell to Wauseon. The first was in 1955, when Mansfield knocked the Blue Streaks out of the postseason. In between, they've played close games — a 45-43 loss to Toledo Libbey in 1961 — and blowouts — Lakewood St. Edward got them 76-55 in 1998. Moore Sr. played in a pair of regional losses, scoring a combined 27 points as a sophomore and junior. In that 1994 loss, Orlando Pace led the Blue Streaks with 23 points in a loss to Columbus Eastmoor. Freshman coach Darvio McDaniel played in one, too, scoring a team-high 16 in a 1991 loss to Lancaster. "That's where our careers ended," Moore Sr. said. "We shared that with our kids to get them to understand that they have a chance to really do something special here." This year's team has already, in one way, set itself apart in Sandusky history. The district final victory over Lexington was the Blue Streaks' 24th of the season. That's a new single-season record, one better than the 23 wins by the 2019-20 team. "Record-wise these guys have proven that they're the best team that Sandusky has had, and to win that game would be even more icing on the cake since we've never done it before," Moore Sr. said. Standing in the way of this Sandusky team is a 22-3 Lutheran West team from the Chagrin Valley Conference's Metro Division. The Longhorns feature a pair of 6-foot-6 twins, Matt and Josh Meyer. Both had double doubles in their district championship win over Akron East — Matt with 12 points and 10 rebounds, Josh with 11 and 10. They were led by 24 points from Jason Levis as they pulled away from Akron East, 62-45. "They've got some really good guards," Moore Sr. said. "They like to get after it and bring pressure. We're a lot alike in a lot of ways." Sandusky has won 20 consecutive games, the second-longest streak in program history (the 1992-93 team won 22 in a row). The Blue Streaks' only loss was Dec. 15 in Tiffin. Since then, they've used a starting five all capable of scoring in double figures and a defense that is right in the opponent's face for 32 minutes to avoid any subsequent losses. "We're gonna have to be mentally tough," Sandusky senior De'Mar Moore Jr. said. "We've got to have a lot of heart. We've got to have a lot of fight… Overall, we've got to stick together and have the brotherhood that we always preach about and have heart to come out with this victory." On Thursday at 6 p.m., Sandusky's players will take the court for the biggest game of their careers. It's one that the Blue Streaks who have gone before them, ones on the sideline now or in the stands or watching from afar, will be watching closely. This might just be the Sandusky team that can seize a regional win. "I explained to them how Lutheran West was ranked above us all year, so people think they're better than us," Moore Sr. said. "If we don't think so, let's go out and prove it. There's nothing we can say. We just have to go out and prove it." --- Sandusky regional semifinal history 1955: Mansfield 86, Sandusky 73 1961: Toledo Libbey 45, Sandusky 43 1967: Elyria 70, Sandusky 65 1968: Toledo Central Catholic 60, Sandusky 50 1991: Lancaster 62, Sandusky 55 1993: Toledo St. John's 88, Sandusky 70 1994: Columbus Eastmoor 66, Sandusky 58 1998: Lakewood St. Edward's 76, Sandusky 55 2015: Parma Holy Name 65, Sandusky 57 2017: Wauseon 54, Sandusky 33