Perfection: Unioto ends regular season at 22-0

Some would say that perfection is only a dream outside of reality. Some have even went as far as saying that being perfect is simply impossible.

The 2014-15 Unioto Shermans boys basketball team begs to differ.

After beating Scioto Valley Conference foe Huntington, on their senior night, the Shermans capped off a perfect 22-0 regular season; becoming the first area boys basketball team to finish with an unblemished record in 32 years.

Bishop Flaget's 1983 team was the last to churn out perfection during the regular season. 2014-15 Co-SVC Player of the Year and Shermans' guard Nick Corcoran knows that all too well.

Corcorans dad, Nick Sr., was an anchor of that '83 team while his uncle, Paul, also suited up for the Panthers that year.

"We don't really talk about that," Corcoran said. "This year has been crazy though. We looked ahead from a couple of years ago. We saw a bright future. Undefeated? We didn't really see that coming completely but we knew we had the talent to do so."

Shermans' head coach Matt Hoops — who notched his 100th career victory earlier this season — has been the mad scientist behind the successful experiment all year long. As usual, Hoops' classy demeanor gave all of the credit to his kids.

"It's a huge accomplishment," Hoops said. "But I really don't think we're standing here undefeated if we hadn't have lost that Minford game last year (in a sectional championship contest). That allowed us to grow up over the summer, understand what we had to do to get better to get to this point right here. Would I have ever guessed that we would have won all 22? No. Did I think we had the chance? Yes. But our players stayed hungry from (the loss to Minford) on to get to this point."

While last year's 47-38 loss to Minford early in their tournament run was a huge factor in making up the identity of this year's Shermans, they can also point to several other characteristics as well.

Unselfishness

If you've watched Unioto play this year, you've already figure out that they can pass the ball extremely well. In fact, four separate Shermans are averaging two or more assists per game.

That type of play has risen them to new heights and goes a long way in putting together an unscathed season.

"The biggest reason that we are undefeated is because we are unselfish," Hoops said. "These guys are the most flat out talented basketball team I've ever coached. They're also, without a doubt, the most unselfish team I've been a part of."

Corcoran concurred.

"We don't like to think about individual accomplishments or even the record," he said. "We don't try to give anybody in particular the ball to score or anything like that. It just happens. I guess I'm just fortunate to be a part of the team."

Senior leadership

Along with Corcoran, the Sherman' remaining three seniors — Nick Overly, Alek Adkins and Kyle Strange — have also been a huge part of the 2014-15 run.

Corcoran has averaged 15.5 points per game this season while Overly has chipped in with a modest 14.8. Strange, who is the proverbial motor that keeps the Shermans' engine running, has continued to provide a spark of energy while averaging just over seven points and 2.5 assists per contest. Adkins — the sixth man off the bench — could be a starter anywhere else in the county. But he has accepted his role and helped his team to get where they are.

"It's a tough accomplishment to go 22-0," Overly said. "When you have so many wins and you're ranked so high, everyone is targeting you. We have found a way to win every single game. We've learned from our mistakes and gotten better. It's a great feeling as a senior. Especially to be the only team in school history to do this. When you're younger, you don't feel like you have as huge of a part on the team. This year is our last. We either get the job done or that's it for you."

Adkins echoed those statements.

"The 22-0 record means a lot. It's unreal that we could do that," he said. "I think we all go into games knowing we can win. Our main focus though is to just be 1-0 after every single game. Some people find it difficult to have energy coming off of the bench but it's what I've always done. Watching my teammates gets me pumped up. I want to do my part as well."

Perseverance

As expected, the road to 22-0 certainly wasn't a cake walk by any means for the Shermans. There were multiple times during the stretch where Unioto found themselves engaged in a close battle.

For example, their perfect record was in jeopardy Jan. 10 at home against the McClain Tigers. After three quarters, McClain held a 52-49 advantage. The Tanks, however, had an answer to the tune of a 28-9 fourth quarter run to seal the victory, 77-61.

Or there was the SVC contest against Southeastern , also in January. The Panthers took a 35-33 lead into halftime and went into the fourth quarter trailing the Shermans by just four, 54-50. But once again, the Tanks had answer as they went on an unprecedented 30-0 scoring run to win, 84-54.

On Feb. 7, Unioto traveled to Miami Trace and found themselves in a dogfight from the beginning. Trace led 52-51 after three quarters and was in the game until the final buzzer. But the Shermans, as all good teams do, found a way to grit out a win, 75-70.

"It's been a lot of fun," Strange said. "We play for one another. We've played together forever, especially the seniors. It's always just one team together. We're in it together. That's what has really made it a great year. I love it."

Bigger goals in mind

Now that the 22-0 mark is a thing of the past, the Shermans have only added to their resume with two more wins in the postseason — over Gallia Academy and Washington Court House — on their way to 24-0 and a sectional championship.

They ended the season on a 27 game winning streak inside the conference and a 35 game winning streak during regular season play.

Having said all of that, they're not quite done yet.

"We have bigger things in mind than SVC and sectional championships," Adkins said. "We've got our eyes on districts, regionals and making it to Columbus. That's our main goal."

Strange had the same goals in mind.

"We just have to stay calm, cool and collected and take it one game at a time," he said. "Our goals stay in place obviously. We want to just keep going and go as far as we can."

The ride will continue at 7:00 p.m., March 7 at the Convocation Center in Athens on the campus of Ohio University. There, the top seeded Shermans will take on the No. 2 seeded Athens Bulldogs (19-2) in a Division II district semifinal.

"We scrimmaged Athens in the summer and we were up big in the first half," Corcoran said. "I think we're talented enough to take them. At all times, we have five people on the floor who can play well. We've got depth and if they're short one or down any, we'll take advantage of that."

"We're going to have a huge challenge on our hands," Hoops said. "I almost feel like we still have something to prove. Athens is battle tested and they've been there before with their great athletes. Winning breeds winning and that basketball team is a winning team. But Unioto is a winning basketball team as well."

Derrick Webb is a Gazette sportswriter and can be reached at dwebb@chillicothegazette.com. Follow him on Twitter at @dw1509.

2014-15 UNIOTO SHERMANS BY THE NUMBERS

11: Unioto has beaten 11 different opponents this season by more than twenty points.

13: The 50-34 win over Washington Court House Saturday secured the school's 13th sectional championship.

27: The Shermans are on a 27 game winning streak inside SVC play.

35: The Tanks ended their season on a 35 game winning streak during the regular season, dating back to 2013-14.

116: Career wins under head coach Matt Hoops' belt after the Tanks' sectional title win over Washington Court House.

73-20: The Shermans' record since Overly, Corcoran, Strange and Adkins have been a part of the program.

1: Unioto High School has won one district title in boys' basketball, in 1991. They'll be looking for their second.