Last Second Tip Pushes Shelby Past Sandusky

A wild fourth quarter in the Division II Bucyrus Sectional Semifinals saw #10 Shelby erase a late deficit in the final minute to stun #6 Sandusky with a 61-59 upset victory.

After trailing 11-8 heading into the second quarter before trimming the lead to 29-28 by the half, the Whippets continued to stay within striking distance throughout the second half. The Blue Streaks carried a 44-40 advantage into the final frame before a Shelby charge put them in front by a pair of scores to begin the closing minutes.

Led by junior guard Tahj Staveskie, who scored a game-best 18 points, Sandusky came roaring back with a 10-1 spurt to reclaim the lead but back to back Whippets 3-pointers cut the deficit back down to a single score. Then with his team down by a point with under 20 seconds to go, Shelby junior Grant Gossom tipped-in a Uriah Schwemley miss for the game-winning basket to secure a spot for the Whippets in the sectional final.

Schwemley and T.J. Pugh each poured in 16 points to carry Shelby’s scoring load while Cody Lantz added 13 off the bench.William Simpson was the lone Blue Streak to join Staveskie in double-figure scoring with a dozen.

Shelby (12-11) now advances to face #3 Vermilion (17-5) for the sectional title.