This week in Blade sports 10, 20, and 30 years ago, it's now March, so we'll start with the high school basketball playoffs, where the Libbey and Whitmer boys marched to Columbus. In Bowling Green, the Falcons won a MAC basketball title and the Bobcats a state hockey crown. The Toledo Storm stayed hot, and finally, a pro bowler from Perrysburg attempted to find his game during the PBA Tour's biggest event, held here in Toledo.
■ March 5, 1998: Power play goals lift Storm — The Toledo Storm escaped with a 4-2 victory against Hampton Roads, thanks to a couple power-play goals, one short-handed goal, and a 53-save performance by goalie Nick Vitucci, who was brilliant while watching his team get outshot by a 52-22 margin in Norfolk, Va.
■ March 6, 2008: BGSU captures MAC crown — The Bowling Green State University women’s basketball team ended the regular season on a nine-game winning streak with a 69-54 win at Akron. A previous share of the Mid-American Conference title is now an outright championship for the Falcons (24-6, 13-3 MAC).
■ March 7, 2008: Cowboys ride Buford in win — William Buford scored 26 points despite foul trouble as the Libbey boys basketball team got past Columbus Eastmoor 59-50 in a Division II regional semifinal. “I’m just happy we came out on top,” said Cowboys coach Leroy Bates, who picked up his 250th career win.
■ March 8, 1988: Perrysburg bowler attempts to find game — Perrysburg’s Don Genalo lost his way on the bowling lanes recently. Genalo has not won on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour since his championship at Windsor in July, 1986. “Last year was a bad one for me,” said Genalo, 30, who won only slightly more than $28,000 in 1987. “I’ve been struggling.”
■ March 9, 1998: BG wins state hockey title — Bowling Green had a miracle rally in the high school hockey state championship game, then capped it with a rebound goal by sophomore Rob Ellis just 39 seconds into overtime to stun Shaker Heights 5-4. “That’s the best moment of my life,” Ellis said after the Bobcats (22-7-1) defended their title at the BG Ice Arena.
■ March 10, 2008: Cowboys state bound — The Libbey boys basketball team had more than enough firepower left after William Buford fouled out with 20 points in just 21 minutes in a Division II regional final. In the end, Libbey beat Lexington 65-51 as the Cowboys (23-2) earned their fourth trip to the state semifinals.
■ March 11, 2008: Panthers still on prowl — The Whitmer boys basketball team is crashing the Division I state tournament. The never-say-die Panthers kept their Cinderella run alive by shocking previously undefeated Canton Timken 62-47 in a regional final in Akron. The Panthers (20-5) controlled it from start to finish.
—Compiled by Tommy Gallagher
First Published March 5, 2018, 1:00 p.m.
