Newark grad J.T. Shumate ends prolific run at Toledo

On Mar 15, 2023

J.T. Shumate wrapped up an outstanding college basketball career Tuesday in front of a national TV audience.

Shumate, a Newark graduate, matched up favorably to Michigan star Hunter Dickinson as Shumate helped Toledo hang tough in a 90-80 loss in the first round of the NIT. Shumate totaled 19 points, hitting four 3-pointers, including one just before the first-half buzzer to lift the Rockets into the lead, and grabbed seven rebounds.

Shumate, one of the most efficient players in the country, helped Toledo earn the Mid-American Conference regular season title during a 17-game winning streak. He was named to the all-MAC first team after receiving second-team honors a year ago.

Newark graduate J.T. Shumate recently was named to the Mid-American Conference first team. He helped Toledo win the MAC regular season championship.

Shumate, who played two all-conference seasons at Walsh before three seasons at Toledo, averaged 16 points and nearly five rebounds per game. He shot 54% from the field, 40% from 3-point range and 87% from the foul line.

Katie Shumate, J.T.’s sister, was named to the all-MAC third team, leading the Kent State women’s team to its first 20-win season in a decade and a berth in the WNIT, where the Golden Flashes visit Syracuse on Wednesday night.

Katie Shumate, who has been at her best down the stretch, including back-to-back double-doubles in the MAC tournament, has averaged team bests of 12 points and 7 rebounds per game, shooting 42% from the field and 79% from the line and adding a team-high 34 steals.

Gabby Stare, a third Newark graduate, was named to the Great Midwest first team after earning second-team honors each of the last two seasons for the Ohio Dominican women. Stare led the conference in scoring at 20.5 points per game for the Panthers, shooting 48% from the field, an eye-popping 51% from 3-point range and 81% from the foul line.

Watkins grads earn conference honors

Emily Irwin’s all-around exploits helped the Baldwin-Wallace women’s basketball team to the Division III NCAA Tournament.

The Watkins Memorial graduate was named to the Ohio Athletic Conference first team, averaging nearly 12 points and more than an assist and a steal per game. She led the team with 45 3-pointers and erupted for a career-high 29 points in an OAC semifinal against Marietta.

Lauren Denison, Irwin’s Watkins teammate, was named to the North Coast Athletic Conference second team, also helping Ohio Wesleyan reach the NCAA Tournament. Denison averaged nearly 12 points per game and ranked among the NCAC leaders in 3s with 55 and 43% shooting from the floor.

Koker sets new standard

Sydney Koker made quite an impression during her first season at High Point after transferring from Ashland.

Koker, a Northridge graduate, leaped the equivalent of better than 5-feet-10 to raise her school record and win the high jump during the Big South indoor championships, helping the Panthers earn the team title.

Burgess competes on big stage

Watkins graduate Ashley Burgess earned her first trip to the NAIA national indoor track championships as a member of Mount Vernon Nazarene’s qualifying 3,200 relay.

Burgess was a part of the Cougars’ foursome, which finished 17th in a time of 9:39.28 after previously qualifying with a school-record time of 9:26.23. Burgess also ended the season as the program’s record holder in the 600 and joined Johnstown graduate Lily Scarberry on the program’s record 1,600 relay.

Payne providing pop

Megan Payne is in the center of the action for the Otterbein softball team.

The Northridge graduate totaled three hits, including a pair of doubles, and three RBI for Otterbein in a 10-9 victory against Misericordia in Kissimmee, Florida, and she had a hit and two runs scored the next day in a 6-1 victory against Roanoke. The Cardinals visit Denison for a doubleheader at 3:30 p.m. Thursday.