Sandusky gets another shot at Aiken

Sandusky and Cincinnati Aiken are located about four hours apart, but the Division III state semifinalists know each other well. The Blue Streaks and Falcons played twice last summer — at a camp at Ohio Dominican University and at Midwest Live at the Cedar Point Sports Center. Aiken — Sandusky's final four opponent at 3 p.m. Sunday at Wright State University's Nutter Center — won both meetings. "We were banged up at Ohio Dominican and I think they got us by four," Sandusky coach DeMar Moore said. "At Midwest Live, we were up 15, 20 and ended up losing by like six. It was me; I think we got tired. I kept us in the press and they ate it alive. "Our guys were down after that game. They were really upset. I told the guys that it'd be nice to see these guys at state, and here we are." Aiken, ranked No. 2 in the state by MaxPreps, brings a gaudy 26-1 record into its matchup against the No. 8 Blue Streaks. The Falcons' only loss this season was in mid-February, by two points to Trotwood-Madison. Aiken got some revenge by hammering Trotwood 71-50 in a regional final last Sunday. Senior guard Jaiden Arnold, who will play college ball at Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne, leads Aiken with 19.5 points per game. He adds 4.6 assists per outing. Senior guard James Burnett averages 17.5 points and 5 rebounds and junior guard Antwan Hinton contributes 10.2 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. Tayvon Smith, a 6-foot-6 big man, grabs 6.7 rebounds per game. "They got really good guards and can get to the basket," Moore said. "(Arnold) is a player. He's quick and can shoot it. He can get to the basket at will. We definitely have to know where he is at all times and kind of limit his touches and ability to create because a lot of their offense goes through him. "They got a big in the middle who is very solid. He can score with either hand and shoot the 3 a little big." Aiken trailed Trotwood 22-19 at halftime in its regional game at Xavier University. The Falcons dominated the second half to win the second regional title in program history. "We've been the best third quarter team in the state all year," Aiken coach Derrell Black told WCPO.com. Arnold scored 16 points and had four rebounds, two assists and two steals in the regional final. Burnett added 15 points, four rebounds, three steals and two assists. "Preparation is everything with us," Arnold said. "We just fought hard. We knew what we wanted. We just executed. We bounced back for sure and got the win." Sandusky will head to Dayton on Saturday and stay overnight at a hotel north of downtown. They will have a shootaround at a junior high Sunday before heading to Wright State in suburban Fairborn. The Blue Streaks (19-7) defeated a pair of top-7 teams — Lutheran West and Lima Shawnee — to claim their first regional title. Now it's on to another highly ranked opponent. "Our kids are really locked in," Moore said. "They're still even keel like they've been since sectionals." Sandusky starts five seniors who have played together for years. Jason Henlon, a 6-1 guard, leads the Streaks with 17 points per game. He also averages 5 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 2.4 steals. Kobe Brown (13.1) and Amir Aaron (11.3) also average double figures in scoring. Aaron scored 11 points in the fourth quarter of Sandusky's come-from-behind win against Mansfield Senior in the district semifinals. Aa'Zoriyon Bonner (7.6) and Azarieon Arrington (7.3) round out the starting lineup. Juniors Dale Johnson and Anthony Redding have provided key minutes off the bench. Senior Maky'Veon Lately rounds out the eight-man rotation. The Streaks beefed up their schedule this season with a run at a state title in mind. "Coach Moore gave us a tough schedule because he wanted to prepare us for moments like this," Redding said. "We're in the top four. Everybody doubted us." Added Bonner: "We want to be more than just regional champs. It's definitely a big thing, but that's over now. We want to be state champs."