Region 24: Harbor Beach 55, Sandusky 45
Like this photo from Quad N Productions? View and purchase any of their photography from the 2026 Winter Season here.
Pirates Fend Off Sandusky Surge, Return to Regional Championship Game
March 03, 2026 — MHSAA Region 24 Semi-Final — Cass City, Michigan
Sandusky threw everything they had at Harbor Beach, but the Pirates leaned on their senior leadership to forge a path back to the regional title game for the second year in a row. Harbor Beach defeated Sandusky, 55-45 on Tuesday, March 03, 2026 at Cass City High School. The Pirates now face off with International Academy of Flint for the regional championship on Thursday.
Harbor Beach used a 7-0 run over three minutes in the first quarter to extend their lead to 14-5 and then another 8-0 run in just over two minutes in the second quarter to lead by ten points with less than a minute to play in the first half. After a Brandon Shampo bucket with 33 seconds left, a buzzer-beating tip-in by Benson Harper was counted as the half expired to put the Pirates up, 29-19. Skiler Kruse was a dominant force inside through the first two quarters, scoring 16 of Harbor Beach’s 29 first half points.
Only Harper along with Kruse scored for the Pirates in the third quarter, outscoring Sandusky, 11-8 to lead by 13 points, 40-27 at the end of the third quarter. The fourth quarter damage was done from the free throw line for Harbor Beach, going nine of 12 from the line, along with baskets from Kruse, Luke Bischer and Matt Geiger. Despite a late push from Sandusky, led by Jack Betts, Harbor Beach would hold on for a ten-point victory, 55-45 — the Pirates’ third victory over the Wolves this season.
Harper led all scorers with 23 points on the night, while Kruse finished with 21. Sandusky’s offense was paced by 19 points from Betts and 11 from Shampo. Sandusky finish their season with a 16-8 record for Dan Hale’s first season as head coach, securing the school’s first district title since 2016 — Hale’s senior year of high school. Harbor Beach now faces Flint International who defeated Reese in the first game on Tuesday, 57-49.
Watch the complete broadcast on the NFHS Network (subscription required)
