2019 – 20 League Preview: Sandusky Bay Conference – Lake Division

The Sandusky Bay Conference – Lake Division is an athletic conference spanning schools from Sandusky, Seneca, Huron and Erie Counties. The high schools comprising the league include Bellevue, Clyde, Columbian, Norwalk, Perkins, Vermillion and Sandusky. <strong> </strong> <strong>5 Players to Watch:</strong> <strong>(schools are as of last year – unless PGH is 100% certain that a player has enrolled elsewhere)</strong> Casey Santoro – Bellevue Cory Santoro – Bellevue Marissa Esposito – Sandusky Gabby Turner – Bellevue Elena Barber – Norwalk &nbsp; <strong>4 Thoughts:</strong> Bellevue returns Casey Santoro, last year’s conference player of the year. Casey is already a 2x 1^st-team All-Ohioan and 1000 point scorer who is committed to play collegiately at Kent State. The good news for Casey is that she has plenty of help – her sister Cory, an All-Ohioan in her own right – and athletic wing Gabby Turner are also back for Bellevue, making them the clear favorites in the Lake Division of the Sandusky Bay Conference. Bellevue has their eyes on a trip to the state Final 4 this year – after losing to Toledo Rogers in the regionals during 4 of the past 6 seasons, including a tough 59-37 defeat last March. With former Rogers standout Zia Cooke now at South Carolina, this may finally be the year that Bellevue makes that trip to Columbus. Kaia Woods will assuredly be one of the Sandusky Bay Conference’s top players once again in 2019-2020, however her surroundings will be much different. Woods, an All-Ohio performer and 1^st-team All-SBC pick a year ago has transferred from Columbian to Hopewell-Loudon – a brand new member in the River Division of the SBC. Columbian’s head coach, Erin Reed, has also departed – being replaced by Amy Cooper. Despite all of the new faces, Hailey Cooper and the Tornadoes – the largest school in the entire SBC – will do their best to continue their winnings ways. Perkins, another team that is traditionally strong, will need to replace some outstanding players in their own right. Olivia Howard, Nancy Siegel and Aleena Winston all graduated last year, leaving Perkins with some holes to fill. They will start with 6’0 sophomore Kelley Baker, along with Avery Bing, Breena Jenkins, Demi Aaron and Abriye’ Skelton. Da’Shanti Miller and Marissa Esposito are back for another season, providing a formidable scoring duo for Sandusky, as their team tries to get over the .500 mark this winter. <strong> </strong> <strong>3 Big Games: </strong> Margaretta @ Bellevue on December 17^th Perkins @ Sandusky on December 20^th Hopewell-Loudon @ Columbian on January 16^th &nbsp; <strong>2 Fun Facts: </strong> With 328 points on the season, Bellevue graduate Carly Santoro scored more points than any other women’s basketball player to wear an Ohio State Buckeyes uniform last year. Carly was a 3x All-Ohio selection at Bellevue, earning 1^st-Team honors during her senior season. Sandusky, Norwalk, Columbian and Bellevue are all relatively new additions to the SBC, joining the league in 2017. Clyde joined the conference during its second year of existence in 1949 and later, Perkins joined in 1972. <strong> </strong> <strong>1 League Champion Prediction:</strong> Bellevue