Shaw Sports History Vol. 3: Girls Basketball Icons

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.

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/

ASIA POLK – A-Train's Championship Ride

A graduate of Shaw’s 2002 class, Asia Polk was one of the most versatile players in the school’s girls basketball program post-2000. At 5-8, the high IQ player had the ability to help her team from the perimeter to the post if needed. During her senior season she led Shaw to a 20-4 record and a district championship win for the first time since 1988. Only she and junior Christina Aden had varsity experience, as this was the final Shaw team to qualify as far as the regional semifinal as of 2019. Polk was honorable mention All-Ohio before continuing her career on the junior college level at Cincinnati State. During her two years there she helped guide the program to two Ohio Community College Athletic Conference Championships.

CRISTINA ADEN – All-Ohio Scoring Machine

Shaw 2003 graduate Christina Aden was a graceful and athletic scorer during her years as a Lady Cardinal. She led Shaw to back-to-back Lake Erie League titles during her junior and senior seasons as well as a district championship in her third season. Aden ended her days at Shaw as its all-time leading scorer in girls basketball with a total of 1,454 points. She was voted the Lake Erie League Player of the Year, Northeast Lakes District Player of the Year and was All-Ohio first team. She continued her collegiate career at Howard University where she averaged 10.3 points per game in 76 contests.

JIHAN WILLIAMS - JJ leads Shaw to LEL 3-Peat

Jihan Williams competed for Shaw from the 2001 -2002 through the 2003 - 2004 seasons before playing her senior year at Glenville. Williams was Shaw’s best front-court player of the decade helping the Lady Cardinals to three consecutive Lake Erie League titles and a regional semi-finals appearance during her freshman season. During her junior year at Shaw she was voted first team All-Lake Erie League, second team All-District and was named Plain Dealer Player of the Week, March 4, 2004.

Williams’ transfer coincided with the departure of legendary coach Edith Spivey, which was bad timing for the Shaw girls program which went nine years before it won another league championship. After high school Williams went on to be named All-American honorable mention at University of Charleston in 2009. She finished her career with 1,304 points and 1,012 rebounds while helping the school to two appearances in the NCAA Tournament.

Shaw Sports History is brought to you by Track Stars App. Click the links below to download the world's first video streaming app for women's track and field for iPhone and Android users.

Track Stars App, available for iPhone and iPad users https://apps.apple.com/us/app/track-stars/id1489617224 

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Check out the previous volumes at the following links:

Shaw Sports History Vol. 1: Football Icons

https://vocal.media/stories/shaw-sports-history-football-icons-vol-1

Shaw Sports History Vol. 2: Basketball Icons

https://vocal.media/stories/shaw-sports-history-vol-2-boys-basketball-icons

Stay tuned as we have so many more stories coming that celebrates and informs readers about popular and forgotten legends of Shaw High School.