Part III: Great Moments Shaw Cardinals Sports History

Here's our trip in time to look at some of the best moments in Shaw High School sports history. More to come in this series as we explore the rich tradition of boys and girls athletics from East Cleveland, Ohio's only high school.

Baseball

June 5, 1931

Shaw splits double-header against Chicago school

Shaw took on Lane Technical high school in a double header af League Park. That's right, you read it right. Shaw played in a professional stadium against a team from Chicago. The Cardinals won the first game 4-2 as pitcher Norman Smith only allowed three hits.

Smith tried to win to games in one day as a pitcher but Shaw dropped the second game of the day 9-4. The loss marked the final game coached by Shaw's Bill Councell. Smith went on to pitch in the minor leagues in 1934.

Boys Basketball

March 4, 1978

Shaw wins district title behind Tyrone Crawford's jumper

Shaw improved to 22-1 and became district champs after an 80-77 win over John Adams. Tyrone Crawford, who scored 24 points, hit a 20-foot jumper with 54 seconds to go to put Shaw ahead at 78-77 during the tense contest.

Shaw was down 27-16 points at the start of the second quarter but by the start of the fourth it led 58-57. The Cardinals defeated Adams who won the district in 1977, with 20 points from Bob Smith and 16 points apiece from Patrick Peacock and Bill Anderson.

January 23, 1988

Rival Cleveland Heights takes a 24-point loss

Despite an first quarter hip injury, Reggie Kemp posted a game high 23 points in an important home win over Cleveland Heights. Shaw needed the win to stay ahead of Shaker Heights in the Lake Erie League race for first place. Shaw went to 11-3 overall.

Shaw was up 51-44 late in the third before it went on a 10-0 run to take the game. Kemp also led Shaw with 11 rebounds. He got scoring help from Rod Flannigan (15) and Maurice Harvey (12).

Girls Basketball

March 3, 1987

Ladybirds blasts Heights in district semis

State power Shaw girls basketball squad whipped Cleveland Heights 73-49 to earn a trip to the district finals. Shaw left the game 22-1, while the Tigers finished their season 12-11. Guard Holly Thompson dropped a game best 22 points. Her front court star teammates Janel Tilghman and Sharmella Walker posted 19 and 18 points respectively.

Shaw jumped out to a 20-8 lead in the first quarter and kept its foot on the gas. Point guard Desiree Alexander had eight points and caused problems on defense along with Thompson, which made it hard for Cleveland Heights to bring the ball up the court.

Football

September 14, 1979

Storrs comes through in clutch of Shaw's 21-20 win over Tech

After leading 14-8 at halftime, Shaw found itself down 20-14 in the fourth quarter. The Cardinals fans didn't need to worry as running back Tyrone Storrs scored a 28-yard rushing touchdown with 23 seconds left to lead the red and black to victory. Storrs ran for 232 yards on 32 carries. He also scored on a 42-yard run in the first quarter.

Storrs' second touchdown tied the score at 20 before Gerald Bryson nailed an extra point for the 21-20 Shaw win.

Located in East Cleveland, Ohio, Shaw High School has one of the most long lasting but underappreciated sports histories in all of the United States.

From being the only school in the state of Ohio to have a stadium that hosted actual NFL games to all of the athletes from the 1800's to the present that have gone on to lead productive lives and make history along the way, Shaw sports has a decorated past that most schools could only wish to own.

We invite you to enjoy this continuing series that will introduce you to some of the greatest athletes to ever call themselves Shaw Cardinals. Feel free to join the Shaw Cardinals Sports Group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/810810319312653/