Rams show resolve, defeat Dunbar

     In the "Rematch" between Dunbar and Trotwood, after the first half it looked as if the Wolverines would be headed towards a huge win, as they outplayed, outscrapped, and beat the Rams at their own game.

Amir Foster, Amari Davis, Torrey Patton lead Rams to big W

 
    Dunbar star Forward Terrance Landers Jr. was housing the Rams, and with freshman sensation Amari Davis in major foul trouble (3 in the 1st quarter) it looked a little shaky for the #1 seed in the Region in the Nutter Center.

   The Wolverines held a 40-32 lead at half, and was brewing with confidence, as they had shaken the Rams with a mixture of D, aggressive offense, and good coaching.

      However, midway through the 3rd quarter, the Rams D bucked up, and the offense put on a flurry (9-0 run) within a 2 minute span to turn a 7-pt deficit into a lead.
 

#1 ranked Amari Davis shoots over Chris Jackson 

The Rams never looked back, en route to winning 71-64.

   While Dunbar kept the game in striking distance until the last seconds, & had chances to seize the moment, they couldn't quite match their excellent play in the 1st half.
   The Rams were led by Combo Guards Amir Foster (16) and Torrey Patton (21), as Foster started the run with a steal and thunderous finish to ignite the Rams.

      Foster said, "We gotta win all the 50-50 hustle plays," in regards to the extra effort he displayed in his game changing play to leap and snatch the steal, break out, and 2- hand slam it down, turning up the young Rams squad, coaches, and fans.

  Patton, in the 4th was in one word - dominant.

     He willed his way to the basket, hit tough layups, floaters and free throws, & added 6 rebounds to go with 5 key steals, which helped turn the tide.

   Patton said it feels "Great" to knock off the State Semifinalists of last season.

    Trotwood knocked down 10 FTs in the 4th, (mostly by Patton) & the Rams won their biggest challenge of the season.
   

All-GWOC G Torrey Patton playing D

     They did it in a fashion that they hadn't shown before (coming from behind in some adverse conditions), and on the biggest stage of their young careers?
 
 Could be the start of something special.

   Dunbar Coach Pete Pullen was happy with his teams effort, but knows that the 3rd quarter really hurt the Wolverines, when Dunbar was outscored 17-7 and lost their offensive flow for a key stretch of the game.
 
  Trotwood will play Cincinnati Taft on Sunday at UD Arena for the D-2 Distict Championship.

 




 

 

Big Weekend for Boys hoops, Sectional Championship Matchups

This is one of the biggest weekends in high school hoops for Southwest Ohio, as a lot of really good team still have an opportunity to move forward in the OHSAA tournament.

Here are some of the biggest games for the weekend as the cream of the crop will rise up this weekend..


(1) Wayne vs Piqua -  can pick will pull off the upset of the OHSAA tournament?


(2)Trotwood vs Dunbar -  and what will be the game of the weekend can the Rams continue their incredible surge? Or will the Wolverines get some revenge after losing earlier in the season?


(3) Carroll vs Thurgood Marshall  - Can carroll continue to play gray ball and pull off the upset of a state hopeful 3rd good Marshall team?


(4) Alter vs Oakwood -  Can Oakwood continue with solid play after dismantling of Franklin team? or will alter be too strong?


(5) Springfield vs Springboro - Can the Boro continue to move further than they have in a decade? Or will the "Field" get back to the Districts like last year?


(6) Middletown vs Mason - Can  Middletown continue its strong play in the tournament? They will have to defeat the #1 seed in their bracket.


(7) Yellow Springs vs Tri - Village -  can Yellow Springs continue with magical ride against a very solid and state worthy Tri- village team?

"Rematch" set as Dunbar steamrolls Eaton, Trotwood eases past Ponitz

When Dunbar skipped going to the "3rd Bracket" it stunned the coaches, and the committee of experts, who thought that the Wolverines would take the top seed in that bracket, and meet the powerhouses later.

Toughest sectional in Southwest Ohio?

Instead, the Wolverines opted for the bracket with Trotwood.

Well, on Saturday night at the Nutter Center, the "Rematch" is in effect as both teams handled business in round 2.

   Dunbar and Trotwood now bring us the first "BigTime" tourney match up of the OHSAA Bball Tournament Season.

     Dunbar throttled Eaton 94-59 in the early game as star Forward & Purdue University bound Terrance Landers Jr. dominated with 24.
 
     Eaton played tough in the 1st quarter (down 1) but the Wolverines press and offense overwhelmed Eaton, so much so that the 2nd and 3rd quarters  the Wolverines outscored Eaton 54-35.
 

  In the 2nd game, state ranked Trotwood stormed out early (up 29-16 after 1st qtr) and often, and Ponitz was no match for the Supremely talented Rams as they won 106-59.

 Myles Belyeu, the son of former Mami Redhawk standout Scott Belyeu, dropped 28 and was the best player on the court.

    Trotwood won every quarter, and looked every bit as dominant as they did in game 1. Their defense was stifling, and the Rams offense was hitting on all cylinders.
 
 Which brings us to the matchup on Saturday.

 In the last matchup, at Dunbar, Trotwood jumped out early,  set the tone,  and held off the Wolverines for a 10-point win.
 
    Freshman sensation Amari Davis was dominant, and the Rams seemed the more aggressive & confident team.
 
  When asked why Dunbar chose the bracket with Trotwood, their answer was this;
 
We felt like we didn't play our best game vs Trotwood, and we barely lost;
We feel confident that we will put our best up against their best on a bigger platform.

 Enough said.
 
See you Saturday Night at the District Showdown.

 

Hoop4U24.com 4th Annual Rising Stars All-Star Promo (This Weekend)

This upcoming weekend  (Feb 27th,28th) most of the top Top 50 7th & 8th grade ballers (girls and boys) will be in attendance for the 4th Annual Rising Stars All-Star Games.




  The games will be held at Belmont HS, and registration will start at 9 AM on Saturday, February 27th. 

   With the best of the best attending last year, and over 80% of the Top 50 attending this year, the expectations are high, and  rising each and every year.

 

  Hoop4U24.com did a very good job last year in trying conditions, considering it was blizzard conditions, which caused the event to be postponed - twice.

  The turnout was still great, which lets you know the event is legit, and here to stay.



  Rennie Smith, the director of the event, was very pleased last year, and was also pleased with the FootballU4U.com Combine that went exceptionally well last week in Englewood, Ohio.




   There are still a few spots remaining, so register now.

   Word is they don't expect those spots to last long.




If you need more info, you can go to:




www.Hoop4u24.com       or   Call     Mr. Smith   @  248-1402










 




There are still spots available for the 4th ANNUAL Hoop4u24.com  Rising Stars All- Star Games.

HS Boys Tournament results; Trotwood, Wayne both drop 100, Ponitz upsets C-J, Dunbar cruises

Here are some of the Headlines and recap of what happened this last weekend in the 1st round of the OHSAA Bball tournament:

Wolverines guard Chris Jackson goes for 2 vs Massie

TROTWOOD  puts a 100 spot on ROSS
    Trotwood started off the OHSAA tourney with a bang, dropping a 100 spot on a overmatched Ross team. the Rams had 5 players in double figures led by All-GWOC Guard Torrey Patton who had 18.

THURGOOD smacks WAYNESVILLE
   The City League Champs handled business as they took out Waynesville 77-58. 
Thurgood was led by Evan Clayborne who had 17 & Jones who also had 17. 

CENTERVILLE  squeaks out win 

   The Elks won a tight game as Keegan Saben hit 12 huge points to lead the Elks to a 42-39 win. The score was 25-18 Centerville after 3 quarters when Fairmont made a run.

PONITZ upsets C-J 

    In one of the bigger upsets in the 1st round, Ponitz defeated State Semifinalist C-J to move on to the next round. 
Ponitz controlled the game, until the 4th, when the Eagles made a run to get back into it. Scott led the Panthers with 18. Ponitz led by 10 at half and played a strong game from start to finish. 
    Salute rookie head coach Dwayne Hansbro for his first OHSAA tournament win as a head coach.

DUNBAR cruises vs Massie
 The Wolverines came out firing and rolled to a easy 1st round win vs Massie. 
 Dunbar started the game on a 24-12 run, and never looked back, winning 87-52.
Terrance Landers Jr. led a balanced attack with 13. 


MEADOWDALE falls to OAKWOOD in final minute
  Meadowdale lost a heartbreaker to Oakwood as they couldn't seal the deal, lose late 48-47. 
  The game was tight all night long, and you knew it would be a fantastic finish. 
   The Lions had a couple chances, but couldn't finish the game. The Lions were led by J.Smith with 14. 
  

SPRINGFIELD claws past BUTLER
 The Wildcats easily handled Butler to move on to next round.


WAYNE drops 100 without star player
   Wayne had no trouble with West Carrolton, as they put up 101 against the Pirates. 
The Warriors didn't have star big man the Christian Blu Smith, as he sat out the game.



MIDDLETOWN survives Milford
  Middletown won it's 1st round opener vs Milford by a score of 38-35. 
 The game was close throughout,  but the Middies were able to make the key plays to push through.

Thurgood wins in OT, secures City League Title; Dunbar survives in OT; Wayne crusies

With everything on the line in Dayton Public Hoops last night, let's recap the City League games & see what happened:

Kent St bound Isiah Williams & Purdue bound Terrance Landers go at it

THURGOOD wins in OT, captures City title

  By the time the game was over, coach Darnell Hoskins and the Cougars was able to breathe a huge sigh of relief, as his Cougars escaped Belmont with a two-point win in overtime 52-50.

    From the jump Belmont was up in Thurgood and it was no doubt that they were going to have to fight to the end to get the win.
 

   Belmont had a two point lead in the final seconds of the game, when Darnell Hoskins Jr hit a beautiful spinning layup with 5 seconds left to push the game into overtime.
     Even in overtime, it looked as if the Bison would get it done. However, Thurgood grabbed a two-point lead, its first of the OT coming in the final moments of the game.
Belmont  missed their final attempt, and the rest was history.
The Cougar fans rejoiced, while Belmont was shocked in the defeat.
 
    Thurgood moves to 9-1 in the City, and 11-9 overall.
Belmont falls to 2-8.
But the optimism is real at Belmont, and within reason.



DUNBAR  wins in OT, survives TIGERS

      In a game that was similar to Belmont -Thurgood, Stivers stayed close all night,  and held a 6-point lead with less than 3 minutes to go, as it looked as if the Tigers would pull off the upset.

     Then the Wolverines kicked into gear, caused some turnovers, took advantage of Stivers misses at the line and pushed the game into OT.

    Both teams had a chance to win the game, but it headed to OT.

     In OT, Stivers still had a lead, but Dunbar got key baskets and at the end, Caleb McConnell caught a tipped pass from Stormi Cook and dished it to Devon Baker for a layup at the buzzer as the Wolverines won 72-70.
  The Tigers had numerous opportunities, but couldn't seal the deal.



 
MEADOWDALE knocks off PONITZ 

The Lions grabbed a 65- 53 victory over Ponitz as they roared late to get the win on Senior Night.
The game was close all night, and Ponitz held a 27-25 lead at half.
 The Lions regrouped in the 2nd half, and seemed to find their rhythm.
 So did Ponitz,  as it looked as if the Panthers Would Get Some "Getback" after losing earlier this season.
Not so fast Panthers.

Meadowdale finished on a 12-0 run to end the game, hence the final score.

  Jarvis Smith and Kameron Suber led the Lions with 14 a piece, while CJ Williams dropped 10.

    Meadowdale now moves to 6-4 in City League play, good for 3rd in the Rankings, and giving them confidence for the tourney.
  Ponitz was game all night and while Coach Hansbro, while disappointed ab out the result, like the fight his team had in em.


WAYNE  throttles FAIRMONT, now one game away

A little snow couldn't stop the WayneTrain from dismantling the Fairmont Firebirds 88-51.
 
    Initially the game was cancelled, but after reassessing the situation, feeling the weather wasnt too dire, the game was back on.

     Probably not good for the Fairmont squad,  as they were no match for the Top team in the state.
 Wayne will now play for a chance to go undefeated this weekend, and they prep for their State Championship defense.

Thurgood looks for Outright Title tonight; Belmont looks for upset; Wayne game update

Despite the snowy weather, the high school hoop scene in the City League will resume, as the City League Championship is at stake:
here's a look at each game and what it means tonight:

Can Belmont pull off biggest upset in team history?
(Pic courtesy of Marc Pendleton)

Thurgood (8-1) @ Belmont (2-7) 

 Thurgood looks to win the City League Title Outright with a win tonight. The Cougars, who defeated Dunbar 70-60 last Friday, now will try to capture the Title against a pesky Belmont team, who are playing much better under the direction of Art Winston.
The Bison do have talent, but defeating the Cougars would be a major upset and a signature win, to say the least.
 But the Bison have won 2 city league games, stopping a streak lasted over a whopping 78 games.
 Maybe the Bison football program is seeping into hoop program.
 Could the Bison pull off the huge upset?


Stivers (3-5) @ Dunbar (7-2) 

     In a game that looked better at the beginning of the season than it does now.
    Stivers hasnt had the consistency to show they are a top tier team, while Dunbar has had a subpar season by their standards, especially after losing last friday..

    However,  if the Wolverines win, and Thurgood loses, then the Wolverines will tie for the City League Championship, which,  despite an off season,  still is a major accomplishment.

   The Tigers are spearheaded by the Williams duo (Isiah and Joey) and Isiah is headed to Kent while sharpshooter Joey is the son of former hooper and now commissioner Joey Williams of Dayton, Ohio.



Ponitz Tech (1-7)  @ Meadowdale (5-4)

     In the battle between the new coaches in the city, Ponitz, coached Dwayne Hansbro is coming off a win over Clark Montessori on Sat.

     Meadowdale has had a solid season for the most part in coach Dwayne Chastain first season and the Lions could be a sleeper come tourney time.

     Last time they met, Meadowdale won, but look for a Ponitz team to battle to the end.
 


Wayne  @ Fairmont game is "ON" 
  initially I looked as if the rain Fairmont game would be off due to snowy weather, but that has changed as the game is being played tonight at Fairmont Trent arena. Game should start around 7.
  Hey, when you're in USA Today Top 20, sometimes things can happen that normally don't.
  Like a "once in a decade" type team, that everyone wants to see.

 Just sayin. Don't expect any empty seats either.


Coming up next Blog: OHSAA Tourney Pairings 

Someone from Dayton will be hoisting a Super Bowl tonight

No matter who wins Super Bowl 50, one thing is for certain:
     Someone from the city of Dayton will be winning a Super Bowl tonight.

And it could be two players.  Depending on the winner.

Curt Coleman (Northmont) , David Bruton (Miamisburg), & Cody Latimer (Jefferson) all have a chance to grab a Super Bowl ring.

Even more interesting,  is their roles in Super Bowl 50 pitting the Denver Broncos vs Carolina Panthers.

 David Bruton & Cody Latimer are the two players who play for the Denver Broncos.

   While Latimer - a two year pro, will have a chance to make history tonight by catching a pass from one of the All-time Greats (Manning), Bruton will not play, as he had a season ending injury in mideseason.
    Bruton was having a major impact, as the Defensive Back was a Special Teams Captain and was a integral part of the Dime and Nickel Defenses for the Broncos.

 He then was hurt mid-season (leg) & his magical season was done.

   However, what you don't know is that Bruton is a huge giver to the communities in Denver and Dayton, and was one of the finalists for some humanitarian awards in the NFL and the Denver Broncos.
 His efforts in the community are legendary. And he still remains optimistic despite the fact that he won't get to play in the biggest game of his career.
    Bruton, started his career at Miamisburg HS, and dominated before heading to college.

   Latimer was a 2 sport star at Jefferson High School, and decided to head to Indiana, where he starred before being drafted by the Broncos.

  Don't be surprised to see Latimer catch a TD or big play, as both QBs for Denver have a good repoire with the 6'3 Wide Reciever who's ready to breakout.
 
On the other side is Curt Coleman, the Safety for the Panthers who has help spearhead a incredible defense that could become legendary with one more great performance.

   Coleman started his career at Northmont HS, where he was a 3-year starter and developed into a force, before he headed to Ohio State.

   While he didn't totally dominate at Ohio State, he was rock solid, and the NFL took notice.

    Coleman bounced around in the League, and now seems set in the back end of a monstrous D that gives up nothing, and has top players throughout all the levels. Coleman is a free agent, and could be in line to get paid.
     Coleman signature stamp was his performance in the NFC Championship game, picking off Carson Palmer twice and showing that he will make you pay for your mistakes.

 No matter who wins tonight, the DYT will be reppin some new hardware, as one- or two - kids dreams will become a reality of being Super Bowl 50 champion.
 And who knows? Maybe one becomes a household name. In a good way.

Couldn't happen to a better group of young men.

 Salute.

Thurgood wins late, takes control in City League

Here's the recap of what happened in the big game between Dunbar and Thurgood:

 Thurgood stops Dunbar, closes in on City League Title

       As the "City League Championship" game started to get late, you could feel the Wolverines making their signature late run to stifle the Cougars and win the game.
 
   However, Hoskins Jr, and the Cougars would not let that happen, as they survived a fierce 70-60 win in front of a packed house @ Thurgood.

    Hoskins hit a huge mid-range pull-up as the Wolverines were ready to snatch another win from the Cougars. It took the lead from 3 to 5 (65-60), & for all accounts, put the game away for Thurgood.
 
     Thurgood had controlled the tempo for most of the game,  & Darnell Hoskins Jr (10 pts) & Evan Claiborne (8 points, 7 rebounds, 3 blocks) had led the Cougars to a 8-point lead at the end of the 1st half.
    The lead ballooned to 13 midway through the 3rd quarter (43-30), and it looked as if the Cougars would win going away.
 
     That is until Terrance Landers Jr. put the Wolverines on his back, with the help of Caleb McConnell.
   Landers literally scored 15 of his 23 points in the 2nd half, when the team needed it most.
 
    McConnell only had 9, but his playmaking helped the Wolverines get back in the game.

     Dunbar had 2 chances to tie the game, but couldn't convert, and with less than 2 minutes,  Hoskins pull-up gave the Cougars new life.
 
      The Wolverines wouldn't score again after cutting it to 3 (63-60) as the Cougars ended the game on a 7-0 run.

     Thurgood had 4 players in double figures, and played the more team efficient game.
 Guard Kadeem Jones hit 3 huge 3's in the 2nd half and was clutch late;  And G-F Josh Smith provided scoring punch with 8 in the half and 14 overall.

   Dunbar hit some 3's, but poor late free throw shooting and a 2-13  3-pt effort in the 1st half didn't help the cause.
   Thurgood moves to 8-1 in the City, while Dunbar falls to 7-2. Both teams have a game remaining.


Note:
Don't be surprised to see these two meeting late in the tournament,  possibly the Regionals.

 Selection for seeding is Sunday, so it'll be interesting to see where these two land.

City League Championship on the line; Wayne - Springfield rematch

Here's the key games this weekend as we hit the late stretch of the Hoop Season:

(1) City League Championship in balance as Dunbar travels to Thurgood.

   In the last 15 years, the City League hoop Championship has been decided by 2 teams - 

Dunbar and Thurgood. 

     And to no surprise to many, Thurgood Marshall and Dunbar will battle tonight for the City League crown.

 LISTEN TO DUNBAR -THURGOOD GAME TONIGHT ON LINK BELOW: 
                   radio1.gemcitysports.com

  While The last time these teams played, Thurgood hit a huge 3 at the buzzer to defeat the Wolverines - in Heroic fashion no less. 

    Darnell Hoskins Jr. was terrific, and hit 2 huge buzzer beaters (one to end each half) that catapulted the Cougars into the early lead, then gave them the final win, shocking the Wolverines.

    Now tonight both teams know exactly what is at stake, as it seems every year for the last 15 years that these two teams are playing for it all. 

   Dunbar is 7-1 in the City League Standings & if they win, will win the City League outright; If Thurgood (6-1) wins, they will control their own destiny, as they have one game left, and could win it outright as well. 

   

   The one factor that will be different in this game than before is the presence of Evan Claiborne.  

   Claiborne, the former Wolverine now Cougar, was the talk of the summer for the transfer he made from the State Semifinalist. 

   

   The 6'10 defensive stopper with range has played well since being inserted in the Cougars lineup, and watch for the emotions to fly in this game, which will be on a Championship level to say the least. 

      Dunbar has seemingly found its rhythm, and while it hasn't been a dominant year, the Wolverines have had a good one nonetheless, and it could be sweeter with a revenge win in the Cougardome to grab another City League title. 

 Who wins the epic matchup? 

Let's compare the two sides & matchups a little further: 

GUARD PLAY:  ADVANTAGE  -  Cougars 

    While Dunbar's Stormi Cook has had a breakout year, and Chris Jackson started fast, the Cougars get the nod as Hoskins Jr. has been so good, that he is the front runner for Player of the Year in the City League. 

7

FORWARDS: Advantage -  Wolverines 

     While Thurgood has players to matchup with Wolverines, they have nobody on the level of Senior Wing Terrance Landers Jr, who, with a big game tonight,  could also make a serious claim for the City League Player of the Year. 

CENTERS: Advantage - Cougars

   While the Wolverines now play small ball, the Cougars now have the big presence in the paint in Claiborne,  and this is a huge advantage that the Wolverines had the luxury of for the past two years. 

  If the big men show up for Dunbar, it could propel them to a win. If not, could be a HUGE night for Claiborne. 

COACHING :  ADVANTAGE   - Even

 With some of the best coaching minds on the sidelines for each team, its safe to say that neither side will have a real advantage come tonight. 

   Coach Pete Pullen of Dunbar has been in this situation so many times, that him and his staff are used to it. Thurgood Coach Darnell Hoskins has also thrived in tough situations, and will be ready to lock wits with the Wolverines.

 when the season started, most people thought that this would be the matchup for the City League title. And right on cue, it hasn't let us down. 

Be prepared for one of the games of the year tonight in

 Its goin' down in the Cougar dome. (Around 730 -8pm)

& it will be a sellout, so get there early.

NOTE: In case you can't make it, you can LISTEN TO THE GAME WITH THE LINK Below 
(Courtesy of Gem City Radio):

        radio1.gemcitysports.com






(2) "The Field" takes on Wayne Train tonight 

 With so many victories on this incredible run, the Warriors have hurt everybody's feelings who have been in the way.

  And in a way, they could thank the Wildcats for that.
 Springfield tapped Wayne a couple seasons ago, and since that tapping, the Warriors haven't looked back in the last two years.
  While everyone knows about the wildness that took place between the Warriors and Wildcats last year, the Wildcats did play the Warriors almost to a even tilt, and even gave the Wayne Train all they could handle in the OHSAA Regionals.

    But when the smoke settled, the Wayne Train is still on the tracks..and running over opponents in the process as they look to get into USA Top 10 (Ranked 11th) in the country.
   Which brings us to the match up tonight.

Wayne has been winning all type of ways.

    Springfield has lost a series of heartbreaking games, but still has had a solid season to date.

 Does the Wildcats have enough to pull off the upset that could change their season?

Let's look at the matchups:

GUARD PLAY: ADVANTAGE - Even

    Despite having Rodrick Caldwell, a BGSU signee, the Wildcats have Danny Davis, a super talented, athletic Guard who has D-1 coaches hoping for his services. Whole Wayne has more than Caldwell, the Wildcats do too.

FORWARDS: Advantage  - Wayne

While Springfield has size at the 3 and 4, the Wayne Train duo of Chazz George and Trey Landers is, quite possibly, the best in the state. Landers has been nothing short of dominant, and that was no more evident in the destroyal inside against Trotwood. The Warriors had their way the first time..Will it change this time?

CENTERS: Advantage - Wayne 

 While Springfield has a monster on the block, who, once started up, can't be stopped, the Warriors have a future All-american in L'Christian Smith.
 Smith has been phenomenal, especially in the last up games, and has helped taken the Warriors to the next level. And yes, he's only a sophomore.
  While Wayne has a slight advantage,  it could be taken away if the Field can get the big man working early.


COACHING : ADVANTAGE - Even

    While there is no doubt that Wayne Coach Travis Trice Sr, is the man, the top HS Hoop coach right now in Southwest Ohio, the Wildcats have a great mind as well in Coach Isiah Carson.

 While Carson hasn't been able to win the big one, he still has done a good job of having the team ready to play. And make no mistake,  they will be ready to play tonight.
  Can he push the right buttons to pull off the upset?

No matter what the records are, this game will be as intense as a Regular season game can be.
GWOC style.

 


 

Tremendous day for Dayton football as HS Signing Day passes; City League Recap

 When you look at the list of seniors who receive scholarships to play football in the Miami Valley, you almost have to gasp in shock.

   With almost 100 kids in Southwest Ohio signing to go play college football there is no shortage of talent.

And there could be more on the way after the All -Star games commence.

     Trotwood (7),  Wayne (16) & Springfield (13) led the charge with the most kids signing letters of intent. Dunbar led Dayton Public Schools with 4 players signing to play- most notably Jeffrey Pooler and Terrence Landers Jr, who respectively chose West Virginia and Purdue.
 

    Meadowdale star C-J Williams will go play at Georgetown next season.

  Davion Lankford, Belmont's electrifying RB, and the Top Player in the City League, must take the ACT / SAT and see where that will put him, as a handful of D-1s wait to see what his status will be.

   The Wayne Train once again showed that they are at the top of the class by getting 16 kids a scholarship.
  Not only does this take a great dedication from the coaches, but focus from the support system, school, and from the kids as well.

 
   Former NFL Pro Maurice Douglass, now Springfield coach, got 14 players into college, an amazing amount,  considering that the Wildcats had a average season.
   Just shows you that, no mater where you are, if you put in the time in the classroom and on the court, YOU CAN AND WILL BE REWARDED.
 
   Trotwood continued it's dominating success of getting players to the next level, and had 7 great kids sign.

     Which brings me to my final topic which is Dayton Public Schools.

Lamar Florence will head to Cincinnati Christian 

      With the talent that comes through DPS, the city should be second to none as far as kids getting a scholarship to play.
   However, for some reason, High school football is not as revered in Dayton public as basketball.

     With the new coaches in the fold, look for that to change within the next few years, along with a couple of other major announcements and events which could help spike the interest and the amount of players that get scholarships from Dayton Public Schools.

     While it's not all about a kid getting a sports scholarship, at least it shows that the kid were dedicated enough to hit the books and stay focused on the bigger prize. Which is a college scholarship to get a degree. Or go pro.
   It's already hard enough to maneuver through the obstacles that happen on the daily.
 
 Which also brings up the classroom aspect.

This topic is very much the biggest obstacle: young inner city kids not taking advantage of their talents, because,  simply put, just don't have the grades. Whether the kids just don't want to do it, or not being pushed hard enough by the parents, or just not quite smart enough, there is a problem. But when you look at all the players who did get a scholarship?
   It lets you know that these DPS kids - & parents-   need to get on top of their game. When only a handful of football players getting scholarships from Dayton Public Schools after almost 100 kids (overall) recieved one throughout the Miami Valley?
 
Clearly disappointing. & Eye opening.

 Salute all the kids, coaches and parents for guiding your kids to the next level.

 

 

Weekend Recap: Dunbar hits 100, Wayne wins again, Ponitz defeats Taft

Here's the recap of last weekend, which sets up a couple huge match-ups come Friday.

Top Headlines:

Dunbar hits century mark, cruises with "Audience" 

The Wolverines put together their most explosive game of the season by routing Ponitz 100 - 58.

     In case you don't remember the last time these two teams played they had to play with the "No Audience" rule because of fighting from kids up in the stands.
Well, this game had plenty of fans and it benefited Dunbar greatly as they scored early and often.
    Dunbar had 5 players in double figures, led by Terrence Landers 23.
  Ponitz had 3 players in double figures, led by Myles and Sealey, who had 14 each.
Dunbar moves to 7-1 heading into showdown with Thurgood on Friday.


Ponitz defeats Taft with late comeback
   Ponitz defeated Cin Taft 59-53 on Saturday night as
Cincy Taft AD Chuck Richardson and Head Coach Dwayne Hansbro reunited rivalries, just on a different level now.
 Richardson was a star at Dunbar while Hansbro starred at Colonel White.
  Richardson felt like his Taft boys would have a "good chance at winning"....And they did until the final quarter, when Ponitz locked down Taft for only 5 points en route to a decisive 15-5 win in the 4th, and the difference in the game.
   Scott led the Panthers with 23 and Cooks had 19.



Thurgood holds Stivers to 35 points 
 Thurgood stifled the Tigers to 35 points, as the Cougars won 55-35. Thurgood had balanced scoring, with five guys scoring at least 9 points in the game, led by Hoskins Jr. 12.
 The Williams duo (Isaiah and Joey Jr.) combined for 24 of the 35 points.
 Thurgood is now 6-1, setting up the crucial game at home on Friday night

WayneTrain wins another one led by Rodrick Caldwell

Wayne defeats Massillion, moves up USA Today ladder 
     The Wayne Train continued to steamroll up the National Charts with a 65-58 win over Massillion in the Scholastic Play by Play in Wilmington, Ohio.

     Rodrick Caldwell, the Bowling Green commit, won the MVP of the Tourney, as he led the team with 17.
  After the nearest rankings, looks like the Wayne Train is headed for the top 10, as they sit at #11 in USA Today HS Rankings.



Xenia wins in OT
 The Bucs continue their solid play with a OT win over Lebanon 72-64. Xenia now is 14-3 & 5-1 in GWOC play; The Bucks had 5 players in double figures, led by James 21.



Trotwood bounces back, smacks Piqua 

     The Rams  promptly dusted their young selves off and got back to the business with a 87-74 win over Piqua.  After falling to Nationally ranked Wayne, it was a wonder to how the Rams would respond. And respond they did, as they move to 16-2.



   Wilmington thumps Middletown

  Wilmington  continued their excellent play with a 82-57 win over Middletown, who, before the game, looked to be on the upswing.
After losing to Moeller, Wilmington was able to get 2 victories last weekend and get back on track.


Centerville shocks the "Field" - again

    In a season that the Springfield Wildcats thought this might be their year, it has been a series of heartbreaking losses, and none more hurtful then the last one to Centerville.
Springfield held a small lead going into the 4th (50-47) but simply could not contain Keegan Saben, who exploded for 36, and simply, could not be stopped. His ability to get to the basket and the foul line was too much for the Wildcats. Danny Davis dropped 22 for "The Field."
 


Key games for Tonight

Here's the Top Games doing down tonight (On a Tuesday)

(1)  C-J  @  Dunbar   
Who wins battle of teams who both went to State last season? 

(2)  Northmont  @ Wayne   Can Northmont do what no team has done in two years?

(3) Trotwood  @ Troy  Can Troy match-up with a talented aggressive Rams squad?

(4) Valley View  @ Franklin   Can "The Valley" matchup with Franklin?  

(5) Miamisburg  @ Springboro  Can the Burg pull off the upset against a tough Springboro team? I