Part X: Great Moments Shaw High 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.

Football

October 24, 2008

Cardinals top Euclid 34-23 to stay unbeaten

Wrapping up the first undefeated regular season since 1993, Shaw stopped rival Euclid which fell to 7-3. The Cardinals started the scoring with a 56-yard pass from Lorenzo Taylor to wideout Darwin Cook in the first quarter.

Shaw went down 13-6 before tying it up 13-13 when running back Deon Stafford scored on a 14-yard rush in the second quarter. Euclid reclaimed the lead at 16-13 before Shaw scored on a 12-yard pass as Taylor found Cook for a second touchdown score to go ahead 20-16 after the extra point in the third quarter.

"Nobody gave us a chance to beat Euclid," Cook said. "I'm so proud of my teammates." The Cardinals rallied to win one for their head coach Rodney Brown whose two-month old niece had recently passed away due to crib death.

The win marked only the fourth time in school history that Shaw completed a regular season without a loss.

Girls Basketball

December 26, 1986

Lady Birds whoop on Glenville 75-43

Junior power forward Janel Tilghman scored 20 points and hauled down 19 rebounds, leading Shaw to a 32-point win over Glenville. The victory was sweet for the Lady Birds after losing to the Tarblooders in 1985 by 31. Shaw improved to 9-0, dropping Glenville to 2-7.

Shaw point guard, Desiree Alexander, also a junior, posted 20 points, six steals and four assists. Sixteen of her points came in the second half. The Lady Birds trailed late in the first quarter 15-14, but went on a 15-0 run which found them ahead 29-15 in the middle of the second quarter.

Center Sharmella Walker scored 16 points and guard Holly Thompson finshed the game with 10 points as well for the Lady Birds.

December 17, 1988

Shaw keeps Shaker Heights winless

Behind frontcourt standout Torris Moore's 16 points, Shaw mauled last place Lake Erie League foe Shaker Heights 63-46. Guard Shirelle Kaiser scored 14 points and post player Londa Byrd dropped in 11 points as the Lady Birds stretched a nine-point halftime lead to 14 after a dominant third quarter. The win improved Shaw to 6-3 and 3-2 in the LEL.

December 28, 2004

Strong second half leads to win over West Geauga

After a 22-22 tie at halftime, Shaw used a half-court press to defeat West Geauga 46-30.

Shaw went on a 14-0 run in the third quarter led by 6-1 center Wakesha Seawright. She scored eight of her game leading 21 points during that stretch as she and her teammates broke the spirit of their opponent. Shaw limited West Geauga to 1-13 shooting in the third.

Along with her 21 points Seawright grabbed 14 rebounds and blocked three shots.

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/