Shermans’ 4th Final Four Appearance Brings Back Memories of 1995 Season
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With their 66-44 win over Hartley last Saturday, Unioto advanced to the State Final Four for the first time since 1995. While fans of the current Shermans team prepare for the State Semifinal, their advancing has also conjured up some old feelings, due in part because of Thursday’s opponent: Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary.
The two schools met at Ohio State University taking the floor of St. John Arena on March 17, 1995. The Shermans led for nearly the entire game, but the Irish tied it with 38-seconds remaining. They took the lead on two free throws with 16-seconds on the clock. The Shermans led for 31-minutes, 44-seconds.
St. Vinent-St. Mary won 47-43. It’s something that still stirs up members of the ’94-’95 team.
“That sting never quite goes away” Natalie (Miller) Stulley told Litter Media. Stulley led the Shermans with 18-points and 16-rebounds against the Irish. She was a junior that season and said losing the lead was the “toughest part to swallow, even three decades later.”
The Tanks’ leading scorer, Aubrey Eblin was held seven points below her average, with 16.
Stulley, is now an Intervention Specialist for Unioto Elementary is also the sister of current Head Coach and six-time Scioto Valley Conference Girls Basketball Coach of the Year, Jeff Miller.
The Irish rode a string of 24 straight wins entering the contest and were making their second Final Four appearance in three seasons.
Gina (Schauseil) Seel said “Throughout the whole game, I just kept thinking, Oh my gosh, we’re doing this. We are beating them.” Seel added warming up for the game took a moment to adjust to the game’s surroundings. “I remember shooting around on the St. John Arena court, looking up in the stands in awe, playing them on St. Patrick’s Day, and all of their fans were wearing leprechaun hats… It was just a surreal feeling. The court felt much bigger than I was used to. It was really overwhelming, and I just remember trying to soak it all in, but at the same time, we had a big game to play.”
It was the third time Cyndy Driggs led a Shermans team to the Final Four. Her 1987 and 1989 teams worked their way to the State Championship those seasons finishing with two State Runners Up trophies.
“Jerry and I were very blessed to coach this team and be a part of the Sherman Nation” Driggs told Litter Media. “This team, which was not ranked in the State, had a remarkable resiliency, strong competitive spirit, and a will to win that evolved because they cared so much about each other.”
About the photo: The 1994-95 Shermans with their hardware from their State Semifinal run. Submitted photo
To reach the Final Four, the ’95 Shermans came from 20-points behind to beat Wheelersburg 57-54) then edged Heath in the Regional Final (46-44). Driggs pointed to the win over Wheelersburg to when they coined the moniker “pure grit” for their effort. “They played with ‘pure grit’ in the Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary game as they held this team to their lowest point total all season” said Driggs. “The blessings of being part of such a caring team is what I remember most.”
“Coach Driggs was tough, no doubt” said Seel. “She could be very intimidating, but we also had her amazing husband (Jerry) as the assistant coach, and he would smooth things over a lot of the times. But she instilled in us hard work and grit gets things done. It was a job, it was hard, but the rewards were so worth it. She was a great coach.” Driggs will be inducted into the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association’s District 14 Hall of Fame this year.
“Coach Driggs and Jerry poured their entire hearts into us” added Stulley. ‘They worked us hard, I mean hard, but they believed in us even harder. They taught us a lesson I carry into my own home today: Team is 100% the priority. They coached us to accept your role with zero hesitation, do your job to the best of your ability and believe and support each other through everything.”
Heidi (Ford) Beam was the lone freshman on the ’95 team and understood her role. “I remember the feeling of wanting more opportunities of playing time on that court, but you have to remember that your role on this team is still incredibly important even if it feels like you’re not contributing on game day”, said Beam. “Everyone is a vital piece of the puzzle that make up the team and each have contributed to its success. They have pushed the starters in practice, helping prepare them for these games, and played a key role in getting to this point. Continue to be the teammates the starters can rely on by offering encouragement, support, and the energy they need all game long.”
Nikky (Steinbrook) Cutright said the whole experience was amazing. “Dinner with teammates, circling up to kick the hacky sack, and feeling all of the support of our community were the things I will never forget.”
Sherman Nation is doing the same for today’s team which’ll take to the floor of the Nutter Center Thursday at 1pm to determine who’ll play for the D-III State Championship.
Driggs has observed the current Shermans and said “This year’s team has put in the hours of hard work required to be successful against some of the best competition in the state.” She says the Scioto Valley Conference Champs have the intangibles of selflessness and togetherness that go into championship teams. “They are battle-tested and ready for the fight.”
When asked if the ’95 team had words of advice for the ’26 Shermans, Seel said “Go out there and remember who you are. Your sisterhood, your trust in one another, your love for the game, and each other – I honestly have no doubt you can take it all the way.”
Stulley is still looking for payback. “We’ve been waiting 31 years for this. We are so incredibly proud of how far you’ve come and the heart you’re playing with. We support you, we believe in you, and we know you have exactly what it takes to finish the job.”
Beam advised “Take in EVERY moment! Enjoy the attention, the excitement, and the experience that comes with this incredible journey! These are memories they will forever hold onto.”
Cutright added “My wish is for you to get out there and make them remember U!”
“The shock of losing has stayed with me all these years”, said Seel. “That season with these girls and the tournament run was one of the best times of my life.” Today’s Shermans (25-2) are led by Milee Smith’s 24.9 ppg. Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary (21-5) is averaging 56.3 ppg. Unioto averages 61.4 ppg. Both teams are allowing just 38 ppg. The winner will play either Chaminade-Julienne or Copley Friday at 3:45pm at the University of Dayton Arena.
