DaytonDailyNews.com

DAYTON — Josh Storms, who has been attending Sinclair Community College on and off for four years, attended his first school basketball game Wednesday night.

In fact, he sat through two of them, skipping an early evening English class to make it.

"I'll be honest with you," Storms said. "I came for the book thing."

Storms came for just a chance at winning a quarter's worth (about $500) of books. First, he had to be chosen to take a half-court shot at halftime of the women's game against Edison State. Only if he made the shot would he get the books. He was one of five shooters.

Storms banked it in from halfcourt. He was the only person to make the shot.

A similar promotion was held at halftime during the men's game that followed. Five more shooters took aim. Storms' basket was not duplicated.

Likewise, the games were split with Edison Community College of Piqua. The Sinclair women's team won the first game 68-43, then the men relinquished a 20-point lead to lose 80-77.

Alter graduate Autumn Heflin scored 16 for Sinclair, while Danielle Roe of Springfield South scored 14 and contributed eight assists in the women's game. Gail Hartings of St. Henry led Edison with nine points.

In the men's game, a 66-46 lead was not enough as Edison secured a 70-68 lead on Dusty Birchler's (Wayne) 3-point shot with 2:22 to go and the visitors were almost done with an incredible 26-2 run.

Cody Anthony of Russia scored 26 for Edison and teammate Paris Harris of Alter added 23. Dunbar's Mark Anderson led Sinclair with 27.

By the time Storms took his shot — the last of five participants in the first competition — more than 500 of the eventual 687 people who turned out made themselves at home in the comfortable downtown Sinclair gym. The venue seats about 1,250 for games that usually draw only about 200.

Sinclair also bused in pep bands from Central State and the University of Dayton to perform on a night students were requested to wear white shirts. White hand-towels were handed out for students to wave, and a free pizza party was held during halftime of the men's game.

Assistant athletics director Jack Giambrone initiated an idea that "would showcase the college, our student athletes and our athletic program."

He made sure other big games weren't played on the same night.

"We're trying to promote this place to kids," Giambrone said. "You know, we're bigger (in total student) population than Wright State and UD together."

Storms, from Germantown and a 2004 Valley View grad, is studying aviation tech and wants to be a Naval aviator. Since leaving Valley View, he has taken time off to work as well as study, and expects to complete his education at Ohio State beginning next fall.

He says he will attend future Sinclair games.

That's good news for women's coach Jeff Dillon.

"I've been here five years," Dillon said. "I've never heard that much noise."