Sandusky uses strong second half to sink Scott

SANDUSKY — Sandusky needed this. The Blue Streaks opened their basketball season with road losses to a pair of quality teams in Margaretta and Lexington. Sandusky played its only home game this month Friday against winless Toledo Scott — a team the Streaks expected to handle. But Sandusky led by only four points at halftime. Things changed in the second half. The Streaks scored 20 points in the third and fourth quarters and pulled away for a 65-40 win at the Big House. "We did a really good job of coming out in the second half and sharing the ball," Sandusky coach DeMar Moore said. "We got it to the post quite a bit. When we get it down low we're pretty good." Anthony Redding, a 6-foot-6 senior, did the most damage. He finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds — his first career double-double and a career high in scoring — and was an efficient 10 for 13 from the field. "I've been wanting that (double-double) my whole high school career," Redding said. "I'm real glad — all glory to God. "Coach Moore says I need to use my length more and get rebounds. I started doing that and my teammates started trusting me with the ball." Sandusky led just 25-21 at halftime against a team that came to town averaging only 27.6 points per game. Redding started a 9-0 run out of halftime with a steal and layup. Ahmaj Woolfork added a layup and one off a turnover and Redding converted on a nice assist from Camrion Jones. Dale Johnson, who scored 14 points in the game, scored on a baseline drive to give the Streaks a 34-21 lead just two minutes into the third quarter. Whatever Moore said at halftime stuck. "We had a talk about playing defense and things like that," Moore said. "I think our guys responded in the second half, which I appreciate. We're inexperienced, and to see growth from the first half to the second half is a good thing for us." Added Redding: "We were like 'we're better than this.' We started passing the ball and making the extra pass. We trust in each other." Sandusky took a 44-27 lead late in the third quarter when Redding scored off a no-look pass from Jones. Daishun Brown's 3-pointer with six minutes to play — the Streaks' first 3 in the game — stretched the lead to 50-29. An 8-0 run, capped by a Redding hoop, gave Sandusky its largest lead at 58-31 midway through the fourth quarter. Redding scored 14 points in a dominant second half. "He's coming," Moore said. "He played a heckuva game tonight. He was all over the boards and got some easy baskets when we needed them. He was being active inside. "We've been stressing for two or three years now to get him to use his length. He's starting to figure it out. When he plays long like that he's pretty good." The win was therapeutic after the Streaks' 69-67 loss last Saturday at Lexington. Seven Allen hit the game-winning 3 after it appeared that he double-dribbled. "Really big. Anytime you can get a win it's a big deal," Moore said. "Coming off two losses, to finally get one under our hat is really good." Sandusky shot 50 percent from the field to improve to 1-2. "We needed it real bad to get us a little kick-start," Redding said. "Hopefully we can start winning from here." The Streaks tip off Sandusky Bay Conference Lake Division play at 6 p.m. Saturday at Norwalk. The Truckers are 0-3 and have been outscored by an average of 25 points. "Looking forward to it. The Lake Division's a grind," Moore said. "Playing at Norwalk is always tough. We just have to come out and start fast and see what happens." SCOTT (0-6) Gucci Pope 5 2-2 12, Rashad Reed 4 0-0 9, DeMarcus McClure 3 0-0 6, Amare Overton 3 1-1 7, Braylon Ballard 0 0-2 0, Andrew Baker 2 0-2 4, RaShawd Rice 1 0-0 2. TOTALS 18 3-7 40 SANDUSKY (1-2) Anthony Redding 10 0-0 20, Dale Johnson 5 4-6 14, Ahmaj Woolfork 3 1-1 7, Camrion Jones 3 0-0 6, Kymirr Hunter 3 0-0 6, Daishun Brown 2 0-0 5, Camren Daniels 0 2-2 2, Javian Williams 1 0-0 2, Raymond Peake 1 0-0 3. TOTALS 28 7-9 65 Scott 10 11 6 13 — 40 Sandusky 15 10 20 20 — 65 Three-point goals: Scott 1 (Reed); Sandusky 2 (Brown, Peake)