The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
IT’S THE HOTTEST TICKET IN TOWN
Fans line up for tickets for Lorain Titans’ state semifinal basketball game
At 8 a.m. March 20, fans of the Lorain High School Titans were waiting with excitement to purchase tickets for the Division I boys basketball state semifinal in Columbus.
The Titans will play No. 2 Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller Crusaders at 5:15 p.m. March 23, in Value City Arena at the Jerome Schottenstein Center at the Ohio State University.
Lorain advanced to the semifinals March 17 by beating Toledo’s St. John’s Jesuit 47-44 in a regional final at the University of Toledo’s Savage Arena.
Fans waiting to purchase tickets at the school’s Athletic Department, 2600 Ashland Ave., displayed excitement on their faces.
About 30 to 40 people filled the athletic department, one after another, to buy multiple tickets as they went on sale.
Marnie McCardle, athletic department secretary, sold tickets the morning of March 20. She said this year fans have a chance to pick where they want to sit,
The Titans will play No. 2 Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller Crusaders at 5:15 p.m. March 23, in Value City Arena at the Jerome Schottenstein Center at the Ohio State University.
rather than buying a general admission ticket.
The school has 1,800 tickets for the game, and they are selling quickly, she said.
McCardle is not from Lorain, but said she has been with the high school for two years.
People in Lorain are excited and they love basketball, she said.
“With all of the uncertainty that’s going on in the district, it’s really nice to have something positive to rally around to,” McCardle said.
Elizabeth Long of Lorain is a graduate of Admiral King High School and purchased tickets for her daughter Amayah, 10, and herself.
“I’m proud of all the boys because we are the underdogs,” Long said.
She said Amayah plays basketball and attends Toni Morrison Elementary School in Lorain.
Dave and Terry Walter of Amherst are Titans fans and also will travel to Columbus for the game.
They said they have no ties to the team, but followed head varsity basketball coach John Rositano since he coached their daughter’s basketball team at Marion L. Steele High School in Amherst.
The Walters said they have attended almost every Titans game since.
“We just like to watch good basketball,” Dave Walter said. “Lorain, historically, has good basketball teams.”
Because Lorain plays in a very competitive league with young players, he said it’s a great surprise to see how far the Titans have come.
The Walters attended the last two games against St. Edward and St. John’s and said it was huge they beat each team.
Dave Walter said he’s glad there are only two games left in the season because he doesn’t know if he can take anymore after being a nervous wreck over the past weekend.
Bryan Koury, Lorain High athletic director, said he believes 400 to 500 tickets for the semifinals game have been sold so far, between online sales and tickets sold at the school.
Several fans bought tickets through Ticketmaster the morning after the regional championship game March 17, Koury said.
It will be a great experience for the athletes and students, he said.
Koury brought out photos of some of the current Titans players when they were very young.
He said most of them have been playing together since they were younger.
“That’s what makes this special,” Koury said. “We know that winning basketball with your teammates is exciting, but what’s even more exciting, is when you’re able to do it with the people you grew up with.”
Traveling to Columbus and the experience is equally important as playing the game, he said.
Tickets at the high school are $10 and are available from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. March 21.
They are also available from 8 a.m. to noon March 22.
Athletic apparel for the achievements of the Titans also will be sold.