SBC title clashes highlight weekend slate

The Sandusky Bay Conference Lake Division girls basketball title has run through Bellevue. The Lady Red have won 14 consecutive league championships dating back to the days of the Northern Ohio League. On Saturday against Norwalk, Division IV No. 1 Bellevue finds itself in a must-win situation just to claim a share of a 15th-straight title. The junior varsity game is set for 11 a.m., with the varsity to follow around 12:30 p.m. at Bellevue High School. "That's how we like it," said Bellevue coach Kory Santoro after the Lady Red pounded Division VI No. 2 Margaretta on Tuesday. "We're not a stranger to this. This will be our 15th straight year playing for a championship. It's not new to us. It's not new to fight for a title at the end of the season. We'll be ready." Bellevue and the Division III No. 7 Truckers are both 20-1. The Lady Red's lone loss came to Norwalk on the road Jan. 4. Bellevue (8-1 SBC Lake) forced 22 turnovers — 20 in the first three quarters — but couldn't sustain a 30-25 lead after three quarters. Norwalk (9-0 SBC Lake) didn't score for nine minutes, but a 13-4 scoring run put it up 38-34 in the fourth quarter. Bellevue standout Kaitlyn Turinsky scored twice in a row to tie the game with 1:25 remaining. Norwalk's Trinity Lazzara was off on a 3-pointer, but senior Lucy Schlotterer was there for the easy rebound and basket with 1:03 left for a 40-38 lead. Bellevue missed on its next possession, only for the Truckers to turn the ball back over. But out of a timeout with 31.6 seconds left, the Lady Red missed a 3, and Lazzara grabbed the rebound and was fouled with 5.4 seconds left. She split the pair, and a last-chance heave by Bellevue to the 6-foot-3 Turinsky near half-court was swatted away as the game and Norwalk snapped a 15-game losing streak to the Lady Red. "We didn't shoot the ball very well," Santoro said Thursday. "That was the worst game we've played all year. We shot 23 percent from the floor and you're not going to beat anybody playing like that. We had a lot of great looks and shots we normally make. We've improved a lot from that point." Bellevue is averaging 57.9 points per game while allowing 35.4 per contest. Hailey Rees leads the Lady Red with 15.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.2 steals and 2.2 assists per game. She was held to five points in the first meeting at Norwalk after she picked up two quick fouls in the first quarter. Turinsky adds 11.5 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.8 blocks and 2.8 steals per game. She had 11 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks in the first matchup with the Truckers. Also for Bellevue, CJ Savage adds 8.1 points per game, while Turner adds 6.5 points and Ellie Freitag adds 6.6 points and 2.9 steals per contest. Savage had 12 points in the loss at Norwalk and has made 48 3s this season. "We're going to their place and we're the ones in the driver's seat, so it's a totally different atmosphere and a mindset," Norwalk coach Kyle Brubaker said. "We're really trying to let the girls know we're going in there with nothing to lose. We're the ones that should be confident, loose and free." Lazzara scored 15 points for the Truckers in the win over Bellevue. Koenig had eight points and Emmie Leber added seven. For the season, Koenig is averaging 15.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.5 steals per game. She has also made 103-of-129 free throws (80 percent). Leber averages 14.1 points and 7.7 rebounds, while Lazzara is averaging 10.5 points and 3.8 rebounds per contest. Alyssa Gruhlke added 5.1 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. Norwalk is averaging 54.2 points and allows 38.7 per game. The Truckers have also set a program record for wins in a regular season, eclipsing a 19-3 season just two years ago. That Norwalk team lost at Bellevue, 43-42, on a buzzer-beater by Rees; then again at home in the regular season finale, 39-36. Each game cost the Truckers a share of the league title with Bellevue, but they went on to reach a regional title game. "We don't look at it as revenge," Santoro said. "Winning a league title is one of our goals. That's what we want to accomplish. We have a lot of goals and that's the first one." The game will serve as the final regular-season home game and Senior Day for Rees, Brooke Brown, and Audrey Turner. "Hailey, Brooke and Audrey mean a lot to this program," said Santoro, who is in his 11th season at the helm of Bellevue. "They don't want to be the class that breaks the streak. They're used to playing high-stake games. It's nothing new for them." SBC Lake BoysSandusky is still in prime position to capture the outright SBC Lake championship. The Blue Streaks had a chance last Saturday against crosstown rival Perkins, but came up short, 72-58. Now, the Blue Streaks (11-6, 7-1) travel to Tiffin Columbian (9-11, 4-4) with a second opportunity to finish the deal. Sandusky topped the Tornadoes 72-69 in the first meeting Jan. 3. After that night, Columbian won six of its next seven games including four in a row. Since then, Columbian has lost close games to Bellevue (52-48) last Saturday and Anthony Wayne (62-49) on Wednesday. "I'm very excited," Sandusky coach DeMar Moore said. "It's another opportunity to compete for a championship. These kids work hard every day and they deserve this." The Blue Streaks are averaging 69.1 points per game. Jason Henlon leads Sandusky with 17.9 points per contest while Kobe Brown adds 12.9 points a night. Amir Aaron chips in 12.7 points per game. SBC BayThe SBC Bay Division girls championship was decided Thursday when Margaretta topped Willard 44-26 to win the title outright. But, the boys title is up for grabs Friday when Huron (13-5, 7-1) welcomes in Division V No. 8 Margaretta (18-1, 8-0) with a chance to draw even in the league standings. "We are excited to get to compete against a well-coached basketball team that is having a really nice year," Margaretta coach Steve Keller said. "I told the guys enjoy the moment and play in the moment." Margaretta was victorious in the first meeting against the Tigers 54-39 on Jan. 3 in Castalia. That was the Polar Bears' season-low in points until a 73-44 loss to Division V No. 6 Canton Central Catholic this past weekend at Battle at the Berkey. "Tomorrow night is going to be a snapshot of why high school athletics are so important to kids, coaches and communities," Huron coach Toby Miller said. "It is rare anymore to bring people together to work toward a common goal. (Friday), you will have two programs who have successfully done that all year. What an opportunity for everyone involved. "This is why you play the game." SBC RiverDanbury's girls team still has hopes of a league title, but will need help. After topping Woodmore on Thursday, the Lakers sit at 18-3 overall and 15-2 in the league. Gibsonburg (16-5, 16-1) clinched a share of the league title by virtue of a win over St. Mary Central Catholic on Thursday. Danbury will need to top Calvert (18-3, 14-3) on Saturday afternoon and need the Golden Bears to get tripped up by Woodmore (15-6, 12-5) later that evening. On the boys side, Old Fort (16-2, 15-0) can clinch at least a share of the league title Friday at Hopewell-Loudon. The Stockaders have a pair of wins over Tiffin Calvert (16-3, 13-2), who sit second in the league.