Weekend Recap: McCullough wins in game vs old team; Belmont bounces back; Springfield wins shootout; Northmont, Farimont survive

Here's the recap on last weekend  in HS Sports in Southwest Ohio:

Trtowood Rams D has been lights out so far this season

Rams roll past Xenia 
Trotwood had 4 players in double figures as they steamrolled by Xenia 92-61. The Rams are now 3-0 while Xenia falls to 1-3. Trotwood hasn't had the one game where they are hitting on all cylinders, which is a scary thought.

Thurgood stops Stivers as McCullough gets W vs old team
 Coach Shawn McCullough got his first W in City League play as the Cougars defeated Stivers 60-54. Star G Kadeim Jones led the Cougars with 16 points, as the game got tense late before the Cougars powered to the win.
    McCullough, who initially led the Stivers Tigers to a Regional berth just 3 years ago, now patrols the sidelines for the Cougars as the coaching carousel took a spin. In a matter of 1 year McCullough, while at Stivers, went from a hot commodity to out of a job due to a "Communication mixup" in which he was told he would literally have to go online and apply for his job again.

After the shakeup, McCullough took a year off, and landed in Cougar country.

His boys gave maximum effort and grabbed the emotional win for McCullough. McCullough knows he has a young team, so this year any win is a big one, and no one is bigger than beating your old team. 
Tony Boddie led the Tigers with 15 as Stivers falls to 3-3.



Springfield wins shootout vs C-J
Springfield survived a shootout between 2 of the best players in the area in which the Wildcats Michael McKay (35)  & the Eagles Christian Montague (32) put on a show. The Field left with the win, as they improve to 2-1, while C-J falls to 3-2.


Fairmont wins on final shot
The Legend of Jack continues to grow as star player Jack Hendricks hit a 3 point bomb in the final moments to upset the Boro' 49-47. Fairmont gets back to .500 mark (2-2) while Springboro falls to 3-2.


Belmont gets much needed W vs Lions 
The Bison was able to bounce back after a tough loss last weekend, to roll past Meadowdale 59-38. The Bison looked very sharp on d, and was able to stifle the Lions offensively. Belmont moves to 4-2.


Middletown gets another big W
Coach Darnell Hoskins continued to bring good vibes to Middletown, as they notched another big in under the belt with a 64-51 win over Cincy Colerain. Star player Snow led all scorers with 27, and the Middies advance to 2-1.


Northmont still undefeated
 Star G Rodney Richardson  dropped 26 points as the Bolts was able to outlast Miamisburg 74-71. The Bolts are now 3-0, and have he leadership that could have them see a breakout season.


The 'Creek bounces back
Beavercreek shook off the loss at Wayne to bounce back with a solid win over Lebanon. Peyton Young led the Creek with 17, as Beavers move to 4-1 on the season. Lebanon falls to 1-2.


Franklin still undefeated
Franklin continued its hot start with another easy victory, as star G Ryan Montgomery dropped 27 in the winning effort. Franklin is now 5-0 and will face its toughest test of the season tonight vs Belmont.



SPOON FED RANKINGS  (Week 3)
Here's our Weekly SPOON FED Rankings Week 3 in the Miami Valley

Divison 1-2

(1) Trotwood  3-0 - Stays in top spot after easy  W's over West Carrollton and Xenia
(2) Wayne   3-0- Blue Smith led troops to big W over Creek
(3) Dunbar   3-1-  Wolverines had bye last weekend
(4) Alter       3-1  - Alter moves into 4 spot after good weekend
(5) Centerville  2-1  Centerville led by Saben and a good squad
(6) Northmont   3-0 - Could be Bolts best chance at a deep run
(7) Beavercreek  3-1 - Creek falls after Wayne loss, but did win on Friday
(8) Springfield    2-1 - The Field have state type talent, can they put it together?
(9) Fairmont      2-2 - "The Legend of Jack" leads Firebirds into 9 spot
(10) Belmont     4-2 - Bison regroup with nice win this weekend to stay in poll

Div 3-4-5

(1) Versailles   5-0  -  Versailles looking for a big season
(2) C-J              3-2  - Eagles lost a tough one to Northmont, but still stay at 2
(3) Carlisle      4-0  - Carlisle has been lights out early this season
(4) Bethel         4-1  - Bethel is having another fine season thus far
(5) Brookville  5-0 - The Ville have the look of a top team headed for a deep tourney run




Key Games Tonight
Here are the key Games for tonight

Alter              @  Urbana
Fairmont       @  Northmont
Beavercreek  @ C-J
Sidney            @ Butler
Belmont         @ Franklin
Thurgood       @ West Carrollton

Belmont wins epic battle 54-41; Dunbar Coach suspended for scoring too much? New Hire

With all the hoopla surrounding this week, it surely will be a interesting weekend to say the least.

Belmont survives shootout, defeats Ponitz (Thursday Night Game) 

QB Xavier Henry speeding to the end zone

The Bison was very aware of how Ponitz felt coming into the game last night.
 The Panthers made no bones about being better than Belmont, and they wanted to prove it this season.
   After Thursday night, it's safe to say the Bison were ready & withstood every challenge the Panthers brought their way, en route to a 54-41 win @ Welcome Stadium.
 Every time the Panthers scored, the Bison responded.
  While Panthers RB Jamil Freeman was good in his own right, Elijah Malcolm  was unstoppable, and has vaulted his name into the SWOPL Player of the Year list with a great performance - especially in the 4th quarter, when Belmont needed it most.

Belmont now moves to 4-2, while Ponitz suffered it's 3rd loss of the season (3-3).
Coach White felt like his boys showed poise, perseverance, and a toughness he hadn't seen this year. Not to mention this turning into a "Rivalry Game" after all the talking.



Dunbar Coach suspended 1 game after "Running up the Score"

Wolverines coach and staff during the game

 Dunbar Wolverines coach Darran Powell has been suspended 1 game for "Running up the score" last week in the Cincy Schroeder game.

He is awaiting appeal for tonight's game vs Meadowdale.
  This was handed down earlier this week by the DPS Committee & AD Mark Baker.
 
While 78 points is a lot, there is a lot of speculation of why he was suspended.
 Let's go back before we head forward real quick.

The Dayton Public League has been mediocre at best in football for the last 20-30 years. The only team to make it to state was Earl White led Thurgood Marshall in the last 50 years.

Teams in the GWOC, GCL, and other top leagues had salivated over the chance to play city schools yeara ago.
Well, over the last couple years the addition of new coaches, top players, and a real push by the community and media has shown that City League football is on the rise. And in this era,  there is a running clock if a rout is in effect (30 point lead after halftime) to prevent ridiculous blowouts.

But in sports it happens.  It happened last year, when Belmont posted 72 on Aiken. And no word on a suspension.

Why not?

So why the suspension now on a team that is clearly having its best season in over 15 years?

  When u watch the Wolverines, you can see that the is talent all over the place.
And last year, the Wolverines lost a few games they should have won; combine that with a hungry team, a coaching staff who knows how to win and has instilled a winning mentality, and you get these results sometimes.
No other High School team that has ever went ham on a city league team has ever suspended a coach.
Ever.

So why now?
The facts:  Dunbar scored 50 points in the first half. And they could have scored more.

They played 2nd and 3rd stringers in the entire 2nd half. And still scored 28 points. On a running clock no less.

Every week somebody gets trounced in the Miami Valley  where the game is embarrassing.

That's the life of sports. DEAL WITH IT.
Either you win or lose. And the Wolverines lost with this decision.

So is it the Wolverines fault that they scored 78, or is it Schroeder fault for not stopping them?

Should be a interesting night at Welcome Stadium as the Wolverines take on the Lions. In what is a huge rivalry no less.


 
 NEW Addition to Team as Weatherspoon joins DHSS 

Coach Weatherspoon set to join staff

In a new turn of events, Thurgood Baseball Coach Deon Weatherspoon  has decided to join the Dayton HS Sports staff.
Weatherspoon, who coaches at Thurgood, will assist with weekly show, website, & will also assist with reporting on upcoming events and games.

"SPOON" as he is affectionately known for, will be joining the staff starting next week.

   

WIld Week 1 as games postponed; Wolverines win shootout; Belmont falls after delay; Wayne game undecided as team refuses to play

In what could be the start to a wild year in high school football, the kickoff on the season openers for  Friday night was beautiful.
Then about a hour later the thunder, lighting and rain halted most of the games in the Miami Valley.

Heres some of the top headlines and results from the City League, GWOC, and other teams after the weekend:

Dunbar wins shootout vs Withrow 

Dunbar wins thriller after slow start 36-30

   The Wolverines, despite having been good, know that they have the talent to be great.
This year.
But after the first quarter, Cincinnati Withrow showed that maybe the Dunbar train was all hype.
Withrow was in control, had shut down Dunbar star players, and held a 14-2 lead in the 2nd quarter.

Then the Wolverines and their star players got going.

Dunbar big horse of a RB in Tavion Thomas and star WR Jo Jo Scates both scored TD's, and outscored Withrow 34-14 the rest of the way to win a great game 36-30 @ Welcome Stadium.
Dunbar's defense played well, despite some tough conditions early, as the Wolverines started slowly.

In a blazing hot game (95 degrees) which featured a fake punt for a  TD, a fumble recovery for a TD, a safety, to go along with another delay of the rain and thunder again - but nevertheless the Wolverines were able to get a big win, which is a huge morale boost, since they lost a lot of those type of games last year.



Belmont falls after restart as Hamilton Twp. regroups to win

 Belmont was firing on all cylinders on Friday night, and had state ranked Hamilton Township on the ropes.
The Bison was up 16-6 before the delay. The offense was clicking,  and the defense and fans were all in as the SWOPL Champs were looking good.
Then the rain came, and the game was delayed until the next morning.

When Hamilton came back that next morning, it was clear they made some adjustments, as they defeated Belmont 41-24 @ Welcome Stadium.

 The Bison seemed a step slow that morning, and once Hamilton got it rolling, it was no stopping the offense. Belmont scored to cut the lead to 34-24 and was driving before a fumble on a questionable call led to a runback for another TD.
  When asked about the game, Coach White felt that his boys made too many mistakes and didn't quite match the intensity of Hamilton, leading to the loss.

Wayne game postponed after PA squad declines to play 

One of the top ranked teams in Pennsylvania decided that they would not finish the game at Wayne, as some of their top players would not be able to come back on a Saturday, causing a little bit of a rift.

   Archbishop Wood, a perennial title contender in one of the biggest divisions in all of Pennsylvania, decided that because of the lighting and rain delay which stopped the game & pushed it to the next day, that they won't finish the game.

Wayne had just tied the game up at 24, before the game was called.
 The Warriors have argued that because they decided they didn't want to finish it they should be declared the winner.
  However, in a game like this, featuring 2 of the best in their respective states, the travel plans has to be considered.
  Both teams are awaiting on a decision.




Meadowdale, Thurgood both fall on road

Meadowdale lost on the road as Piqua was hitting on all cylinders for a 48-0 win. In talking with star RB Darien Tipps -Clemons before the season, he felt excited about Piqua's opportunity this year and with Shrubb leading the way with 3 TDs, it was all Piqua.


Thurgood falls to tough Shawnee team

    Springfield Shawnee, one of the tough teams in D-3, was able to stop Thurgood 31-6. Shawnee ruined the Coaching Debut of Thurgood head coach Brian Carter.



Troy defeats Trotwood in defensive battle 

With all the talk about Ravieon "Shock" Hargrove, the Trojans focused on Hargrove and was able to stop the Rams 10-6 on Saturday.
 Hargrove still scored the Rams only TD, on Friday night, but when Troy came out Saturday, they put together a TD drive which salvaged a huge win for the Trojans, who haven't been good for a few years now.
 Hargrove saw boxes of 8 and 9 guys all day,and the Rams passing game couldn't come through.



Springfield defeats Dublin Coffman  

Springfield was able to hold off a very tough Dublin Coffman for a 22-20 win. That win could propel the Wildcats to a very good season.



Miamisburg, C-J debut new stadiums; 

Miamisburg & CJ  both unveiled their new beautiful stadiums in Week 1.
Miamisburg shut out West Carrollton 44-0 while C-J lost 34-14 to Marion Local.



Alter defeats Fairmont  
Alter continued it's dominance of its season openers vs it's neighbor Fairmont, as they came back after a 8-0 deficit & game (Delay) & defeated Fairmont 22-8.

PreSeason Rankings (Dayton Public League)

Heres our rankings for the City League HS Football teams and how they will end up in the Southwest Ohio Public League:

Is this the year the Wolverines win the SWOPL?

Dunbar Wolverines  - With 3 of the top offensive players (Keyshawn Johnson, JoJo Scates, & Jeffrey Wagner) in Southwest Ohio, and a defense with some experience, the Wolverines seem ready to make the jump into the upper echelon. With a experienced coaching staff, now is the time for the Wolverines. Despite losing big time players WR Terrance Landers and DL Jeffrey Pooler, Dunbar still is loaded and should make some playoff noise this season, not to mention in contention for the overall SWOPL title. Coach Darren Powell knows that the team must stay focused to get to the next level. They've been no less than 5-5 for the last 10 years.

Prediction (8-2) -  Playoff Bound



(2) Belmont Bison  - After the epic season Belmont had, what can they do for an encore?  Coach Earl White continues to move mountains, after taking a moribound sports program and injecting life into it. And the season could have been even better if injuries hadn't occurred in the 1st round playoff game. Despite losing All- Everything RB Davion Lankford, the Bison have a wealth of talent coming in, led by RB Elijah Malcolm and Safety Dawson Martin. Bison should be in thick of SWOPL Championship race this season as well.

Prediction  (7-3)  - Playoff Race

(3) Ponitz Panthers  -  With a bevy of seniors this season looking to make a move, this could be the season of a possible breakout with Coach Place at the helm in his 3rd season. If they can get some consistency from the QB spot in Xavier Henry, it will be a good year for the Panthers. Led by Senior Isaiah Gordon & star RB Jamil Freeman, the Panthers will look to make some waves this year in the SWOPL.

 Prediction (5-5) Compete for SWOPL Division



(4) Thurgood Marshall Cougars   - With a new coach (Brian Carter), look for the Cougars to have a new outlook for the 2016-17 season. After running the City League for 6 consecutive years, Belmont won the league last season, and Thurgood took a couple lumps in the process. But this season, with a talented QB Darion Stroud leading the way and All-State selection DB Thomas Richardson holding up the defense. There is optimism still for the Cougars who have talent across the board.

Prediction (5-5)



(5) Meadowdale Lions - The Lions have a possible star in QB Cameron Redd, who will look to lead the Lions back into prominence. Coach John Wortham is excited about the team this year, but knows he has to replace a do everything player in City League player of the year  CJ Williams. Look for the Lions to battle as they will be well coached, that's for sure. And with Defensive stalwart Dennis Locklin ready to assume a leader role, can the Lions get back to the playoffs?
Prediction (5-5)

1st week of Fall Sports Begin; McCullough gets redemption, now Thurgood coach;

With the first week of Fall Sports starting up it's safe to say that High School Sports in the Miami Valley is about to be back in full throttle.

   With teams able to practice on Monday, the most noted team in the Area (Wayne) decided to kick off late Sunday at Midnight, and to a nice crowd I must add.

   While  most everybody got it in Monday, look for all football and volleyball teams to get into gear sometime within next day or so.

With newfound optimism for each team going into this season, it's time to see what teams have gotten better, worse, and which young stars are ready to shine.

McCullough takes over at Thurgood

 McCullough comes full circle, new Thurgood Varsity Men's Bball  coach
 
In all that new Thurgood Head Basketball coach Shawn McCullough has been through in the past few years, it seems only natural that he ended up at Thurgood.

Why Thurgood you say?

Let's backtrack for a few.

  5 years ago Shawn McCullough was a top assistant to then varsity coach Darnell Hoskins at Thurgood. After a couple years there, he then would accept the head job at Stivers, his Alma Mater for middle school.
   He had a great first season, guiding the Tigers to a sectional title and a deep run.

  McCullough was the hottest coach in Southwest Ohio, and he and the Tigers future looked bright.

McCullough & -D1 big Isiah Williams

   Things would get a little rocky n the 2nd year, as there was a apparent rift between McCullough and upper management.

    That Tigers team was a .500 team all year, and bowed out quickly in the OHSAA tournament.
    While McCullough figured he surely wouldn't lose his job, he found out the hard way that it wasn't as secure as he thought.

   McCullough found out via the Internet that his job was up for grabs. And within the day it was posted, it was apparently taken.

    So, in effect, McCullough had lost his job due to an Internet job posting.

   Never mind the fact that McCullough had given the Tigers hope in which there was none in the previous seasons.
  McCullough heard that his job was open online, and the next thing you know, he's out of a job.

Huh?
How does that work?

Ultimately, McCullough was crushed at the decision.

While he wanted to get back in the fray, he  leaned back and pondered his next move. He was given numerous opps to become an assistant again, but declined.
 
The situation was unheard of, and the streets was talking:

 McCullough fired? Why?  He lost his job on the Internet?
 To be honest, it sounded like a cruel joke when I heard it.
  But it wasn't.  It was the real deal.

 Felix Turner was inserted into the Tigers job, and while Turner is a good coach in his own right, he's not McCullough.
 The team seemingly had no rhythm or positive flow last season, as they played .500 ball for bulk of the season.

McCullough?
Remained silent.  Undoubtedly hurt.
Pondering.

And now there was word on the streets that McCullough would never work in a Dayton Public Schools setting again.

Fast forward to now.

   The Dayton Public Schools Selection Committe and new Athletic Director (Mark Baker) felt that McCullough should be given his job back.

 And rightfully so.

McCullough comes from great lineage and was a 2-sport high school star at Meadowdale, while garnering up a hoop scholarship to Sinclair CC & then San Jose St.

His twin brother Andy, played in the NFL.

With McCullough at the helm, look for the Cougars to leave right where former head coach and new Middletown HS Coach Darnell Hoskins left off.

At the top. Or near it.

Salute to a class act who never took the low road on his way back up.
Cougar Nation should be pleased with the decision.

Congrats to Shawn McCullough and Dayton Public Schools for getting it right.












 
     

Trotwood, Wayne both ready for showdown; City League Recap

 Big Showdown in GWOC

With the GWOC Game of the Year possibly on tap tonight, Trotwood (14-1) & Wayne (13-0) both have had banner seasons.
    With D-1 players all over the court, this is sure to be a epic battle of some of the best basketball to offer in Dayton.

    The youth of Trotwood has meant absolutely nothing as the Rams have thwarted everyone in the state of Ohio. Included in that is a signature win at Dunbar, which the Rams showed more poise and maturity then that of the Wolverines, who usually eat up opponents on their home court.

    But facing the heralded Wayne Train has been no fun for any team in the GWOC, especially in the last 3 or 4 years.
   Coach Travis Trice has put the Warriors squarely on the National Map, and they have all the weapons to stay there, in Trey Landers, Rodrick Caldwell and L'Christian "Blue" Smith.
  The Warriors have supreme confidence that they will get the job done. They have risen up to every challenge this (and last) season.

    Trotwood has all the weapons to win the game, question is, can they actually outplay the Top Team in Ohio and possibly the country?

 A very tall task for a talented group of youngsters.
But not impossible.



City League Recap - Headlines

Thurgood wins on last second FT; Williams combo leads Stivers; Dunbar wins shootout with Belmont

As Thurgood trailed going into the 4th quarter, it loomed as if the Lions would stay in a good spot for the City Title Race...however, Thurgood stifled the Lions in the 4th, holding them to 10 points and winning a defensive battle 47-46.
Meadowdale (5-3) had shut down the Cougars in the 2nd and 3rd, holding them to under 10 points in both the 2nd and 3rd...But the 4th quarter Hoskins Jr. got going, and led all scorers with 17...

     Coach Chastain was not very happy about the final call, which setup the final score as Hoskins Jr. hit the 1st Free throw and missed the second, securing the win.
 Joe Keeble had 17 for the Lions.
 Thurgood now stays tied with Dunbar for 1st place (6-1)



Stivers trio downs Ponitz

   The Tigers got back in the win column as bug man Isiah Williams dropped 22 points to lead all scorers as Stivers defeated Ponitz 65-56.
Joey Williams Jr. Had 11 and Boddie added 14.

  Ponitz was down 11 at half, and seemed to stay close enough for sticking distance,  but just not able to get it under 7. Ponitz was led by Scott with 18.


Dunbar races past Belmont, holds off Bison late
Wy

The Wolverines have been simple to figure out  this season;
When they Start fast? They win big
When they start slow?  No big deal.

And last Friday night the Wolverines jumped out fast, and hammered a 86-80 win.
 Dunbar held a lead from the 1st quarter, and jumped out to a 18-7 lead.
It was game over until the Bison woke up and delivered 31 points in the 4th to make it interesting.

 Chris Jackson led the Wolverines with 19, while Pete Baker had 15.
   Ford led the Bison with 18 and dropped 2 3's.
Dunbar stays tied with Thurgood for City League Supremacy.




   

3 Big Matchups "On A Tuesday?....Snow cancellations...Coach faces former Team

 Here's some of the key match-ups on the first snow day of 2016.

   

Can Rams get a big W at Dunbar?

 Trotwood (10-1)  @  Dunbar  (7-4)   

   

    Can Trotwood continue its torrid pace and defeat the Wolverines in their home? They have been dominant in this early season, but winning in the Wolverines gym is no easy task, even for the best of teams.

  This game could be a classic, as 2 of the premiere HS Sports programs in the state will battle it out. 

  

"HYPE FACTOR":  5 out of 5 

Meadowdale (10-4)   @ Wayne (11-0)  

   

     The Lions have been rolling,  and have had a very good season to date...Now they will be tested on all levels as they take on the Reigning big school State champs. 

  Wayne has dominated nearly every opponent this season, and they have been tested from jump. Not to mention they continue to break records, win awards, and swagg it out in the process.

  
    Meadowdale has the talent to match up with Wayne; Coach Dwayne Chastain and staff have done an excellent job of preparing the team, and keeping them motivated. 

     But can they match the intensity, skill level, excellent coaching and show the composure of playing the best team in the state?

   

"HYPE FACTOR":  5 out of 5 

C-J   (10-2)      @   Thurgood  (5-7)  

    In a game that features a coach pitting himself against his former school (Coach Darnell Hoskins) as the Eagles will take on the Cougars.

  

    Hoskins was a star guard at C-J, leading the Eagles to a State berth and eventually garnered a scholarship to play for Wisconsin & UD before playing pro ball. He's considered one of the greatest players to come out of C-J.

  

    Thurgood has been up and down this season, but lately they have started to hit on all cylinders, and boast a 4-1 record in the much respected Dayton City League.  

 Getting big man Evan Clayborne back will be key for the Cougars.

  

  The Eagles lost a heartbreaker to Alter last Friday, but have been dominant for the most part this season. 

 Chaminade are reached the State Semis last year, and have a team who could make another run this year. 

  

  "HYPE" FACTOR:   4 out of 5

Other key games: 

Oakwood     @  Franklin

Fairmont      @   Xenia

Stebbins      @  West Carrollton

Dayton Temple Christian  @ Jefferson

Fairfield        @  Springboro

SNOW CANCELLATIONS

Northmont -  Ponitz 

game has been postponed.

Dayton High School Sports  "HYPE METER" 


1 out of 5  -  
Check the Newspaper and the News on the results- I'll go to the next one!

2 out of 5  -
 Catch the social media feed, phone, gossip etc. 

3 out of 5  -
I'ma Check this Game out...Should be a quality game!

4 out of 5  - 
A definite, "Must See LIVE! & Tweet, IG, FB, 
Snapchat while im there!" 

5 out of 5 -
 A probable classic; "Of course im here! Where else would I be at?" Are u Serious? (In your Dick Vitale voice)

   

Dunbar, Thurgood battle goes down tonight; Meadowdale looks for 5th win in 6 games

As we hit mid stretch of the season, here is our key games for tonight and the Standings in the Dayton City League (Mens Hoops)

Thurgood Marshall  (2-6)  @ Dunbar  (5-2) 7:30 pm

    Thurgood, who on paper, looked as if to be one of the teams possibly headed to state, has had a rough early run to start season. 

      With Derrick Daniels and Evan Claiborne both being out along with starting point guard Darnell Hoskins Jr, the Cougars haven't had any type of chemistry and have played poorly at times, but have competed & seem to be on the right track. 
  
       Can they get it together against the Wolverines?
 After 2 losses to top teams in the state, Dunbar got a much needed W vs a Richmond team. 

    Dunbar has came out firing early in most games, which could be a huge key to seeing if Thurgood can withstand the pressure. With the 2 big men coming back, can Thurgood show why they could be a team to reckon with in the Wolverines den?           
     With a Thurgood win, the Cougars would sit atop the City League.



Stivers  (5-3)  @  Meadowdale  (6-3)  

    Meadowdale has responded nicely to the slow start this season and has won 5 of 6 games recently for Coach Chastain in his first season as head coach. 

    Stivers just came off a huge win last night vs Cincinnati Schroeder, and seem to be playing with more confidence as they are on their own winning streak as well. 
     In what could be classified as the DHSS game of the week (any other week), which team will continue their winning ways and catapult themselves to the top of the Dayton Public League? 
     Stivers Coach Roberts has done a good job with this team so far in his first season as well after leaving Meadowdale last season. 


Ponitz travels to Oakwood
  
    The Ponitz Panthers (3-2) will try to stay pace with the top of the City League as they go on  the road to face Oakwood tonight. Ponitz has won 2 straight and will look to continue its streak as Oakwood will look to get back on the winning track.


DAYTON PUBLIC LEAGUE BBALL STANDINGS 

Here's the current Standings for the City League: 

                                Overall       City League  Streak
Dunbar                    (5-2)                 (2-0)         W1

Meadowdale           (6-3)                (1-1)         W4

Stivers                     (5-3)                (1-1)         W3

Ponitz                     (3-2)                 (1-1)         W2

Thurgood M.         (2-6)                (2-1)          L1

Belmont                 (1-5)                 (0-2)         L4
  

Week 2 Recap: Northridge moves to 5-0; Trotowood, Meadowdale, Dunbar all win

Here's our TOP headlines for week 2 in hoops:

Rams gearing for a State Run this season?

(1)  Northridge defeats undefeated Carlisle, move to 5-0
 
      After a breakout year last season,  one couldn't help but wonder about the expectations of this season for the Polar Bears.
    Last season they got to the Regionals for the 1st time in decades; they defeated some teams who they took losses from for decades; & they set the tone for what would happen this year.
 
     After a 71-60 defeat of Carlisle, it's safe to say the Polar Bears are "In it to win it"  as they move to 5-0.
  They have already defeated the State Champions (Tri-Village)  this season, ending a huge winning streak (32) in the process.

      Leading scorer Averon Ely Jr. led the Bears with 21, while Malik Akbar had 19 & D'Anthony Ivery 17.

  Could the Polar Bears be headed for a State run?
Sure looks that way. Early to say, but a huge statement has been made. And don't be suprised to see Northridge in the State polls next week.



  (2)  Meadowdale takes out Thurgood, Coach Chastain gets his first City League W

    After Meadowdale came out flat against Dunbar in their opening game, Coach Chastain knew one thing:
 He didn't want that to happen again.
 
    After playing Thurgood to a near even 1st quarter, Meadowdale dominated the 2nd quarter 16-4 en route to their first City League win over Thurgood 62-43 @ Meadowdale HS.

 Jarvis Smith (18) and Gary Smith (16) combined for 34 points -
almost as many as Thurgood had itself (43).
 
      Thurgood is still missing it's "Big 3" of  Hoskins Jr. (concussion), Evan Claiborne (transfer), & Derrick Daniels (Grades)  and hopes that Daniels and Hoskins Jr will be back within next week or so.

   Meadowdale moves to 2-1 while Thurgood falls to 1-4.



(3) GWOC Action: 
Trotwood dismantles Piqua; Elks star guard leads them to W's over "The Field & Xenia; Wayne make debut :

    In GWOC action, Trotwood handles Piqua as star guard T.Patten drops 32 on the Indians.....Trotwood also defeated Fairland 79-62 Saturday as well to move to 4-0...

     Centerville (4-0) squeaks by a tough Springfield (1-2) squad 56-55 as former Alter guard Keegan Saben dropped the GW 3pt-play to defeat the Wildcats in Springfield.... Saben hit the GW FT with a ruckus crowd going crazy....
His response to crazy fans?.
After hitting huge FT's last year against Dunbar in  that epic District Finals game, this pressure was,

"Nothing compared to the thousands of fans at that game."....
Keegan dropped 26, while Danny Davis led Wildcats with 16....The Field had a final shot but it didn't drop....
Then the next night they defeated Xenia as Keegan scored 25 against the Bucs. Xenia was 4-0 & coming off a big win but came out slow and was down 21-11 after 1st quarter. The Elks held that lead throughout the game and won another close one.
 
Wayne opens season with thumping of Beavercreek

    The Defending Champs opened its season with a 71-38 thrashing of the Beavers in Beavercreek....UD Flyer signee Trey Landers poured in 27 points and was unstoppable, while rising star L'Christian "Blue" Smith dropped 15 and plenty inside presence for the champs.




(4)  Dunbar rolling, routs Belmont in Versailles
 
      The Wolverines look to be back on their fast, frenetic, dominant style as they cruised to 2 easy wins this weekend.
    Dunbar was led by Junior PG Stormi Cook and star Forward Terrance Landers Jr. as they routed Belmont and Versailles this weekend.

      Landers scored 21 on the Bison and led 4 players in double figures as they cruised to a W 92-55.
   Cook led the Wolverines against Versailles as they jumped out to a 27-13 lead and never looked back, winning 73-54.

      Dunbar is averaging 24 points in the 1st quarter this season while giving up 10. The most points scored in the 1st quarter against the Wolverines?
  Versailles with a whopping 13.





 


 

Top 5 Games for Week 2

Here's the key games for week 2 of high school basketball in the Miami Valley:

Can Jackson lead Wolverines to win at home tonight?

Trotwood   vs  Piqua -
    Can the Rams continue off of great start in defeating Thurgood?



Thurgood   @ Meadowdale
   Can Thurgood overcome the loss of their 3 stars?.or will a hungry Meadowdale team get a big home W?



Wayne   @   Beavercreek
    The State Champs open the season at Beavercreek; will they be ready?



Belmont  @  Dunbar
   Can Belmont pull off a epic upset against the the mighty Wolverines?



Northridge  @ Locking Valley  (Newark, OH)
  Can the Polar Bears continue on their incredible early season success with a key road win?

Week 1 Bball Recap: Dunbar, Thurgood, Stivers, Trotwood win; Franklin wins without Kennard

Now that High School Hoops are underway, here's some key results and headlines from last weekend season opener a across the Miami Valley:

(Friday Night)

Dunbar jumps out fast, finished strong as they defeat Meadowdale

Chris Jackson goes ham in 1st quarter vs Lions

    After losing 3 D-1 Caliber players last season,  most wondered how good Dunbar would be.

      In talking with the coaching staff, they felt like they could be more explosive than last year, when Ohio St PG AJ Harris was running the show.

     Well after a 28-point opening quarter, it's safe to say the Wolverines have plenty of firepower to replace what they lost.

     Clutch sharpshooter Chris Jackson exploded in the 1st quarter with 15 points, with 4 3pt-bombs and the Wolverines jumped out to a 20-point lead in the first half.

     Meadowdale, led by new Coach Dwayne Chastain, made a charge in the 3rd, used a 23-8 run and even got it to single digits in the 4th.
    But after some sloppy play, a ton of whistles, and a experienced backcourt in Devon Baker and Chris Jackson, the Wolverines prevailed.
  Terrence Landers Jr, the star forward who decommitted from Bowling Green to open up his recruiting, added 15, while Jackson led the Wolverines with 20.
     Meadowdale was led by Keeble with 16.
Coach Chastain was pleased with his teams overall effort, but didn't like the way they started.

Lions, Coach Chastain battling vs Dunbar

 Thurgood stifles Ponitz as Hoskins Jr leads the way
   In speaking with Head Coach Darnell Hoskins before the season, he felt like this could be his Cougars' year, if a few bounces that go their way.

 Seen that swag and glow before from Hoskins.  Could be looking at a State squad.

    Despite missing Derrick Daniels & Evan Claiborne, the Cougars defeated Ponitz  64-49.

   Darnell Hoskins Jr. dropped 21 and was in control for most of the game. The Cougars had 3 guys in double figures.
   In what was probably a case of nerves, Ponitz was able to only score 2 points in the 1st quarter, and was down 18-2 going into second.
 
    Ponitz, led by new coach Dwayne Hansbro, knows that he has a young team, and knows this season long will be a test for his Panthers.
   Thurgood D also stifled the Panthers for only 4 points in the 3rd quarter when they sealed the deal.
Ponitz was led by Scott's 18 points.




Stivers defeats Belmont 

Stivers (1-1) won a big City League battle against the Belmont Bison. Stivers new head coach Felix Turner led his troops to the win.
 Toledo signee Isaiah Williams, the 6'8 do it all forward, and Jr. Guard Miles Clark led the way.
Belmont had opportunities but too many missed shots and turnovers.



Franklin wins without Kennard 

Franklin won their first game without  High School legend Luke Kennard  as they defeated Eaton in a close one. Coach Brian Bales feels strong about his in the fact that he has some young talent on the team and know they will get better. "A lot of players learned from Luke and his work ethic"  & Bales feels they could have a good season this year if a couple players step up.



(MONDAY NIGHT)

Trotwood defeats Thurgood

Trotwood defeats Thurgood as the Rams defense and size stifled the Cougars. Without the big men of Daniels and Claiborne, Trotwood as able to use their speed and size to overpower the Cougars.

City League, GWOC, battles go down tonight; Top 5 Games of the Weekend

In the opening weekend, heres the top 5 games in our opening weekend for High School Hoops:

(1) Dunbar  @  Meadowdale  
 The Lions, with their new coach of the Dwayne Chastain, will host the state semi-finalists in Dunbar who boast and offensive arsenal that could be unloaded and even better this season. Dunbar already beat state ranked Newark this season. Can the Lions pull off the upset? Dunbar did lose Ohio State's AJ Harris.



(2) Thurgood Marshall  @ Pointz
   then what will be a intriguing game, can Ponitz continue on his great win last week with another one over a third good thing that won't be a full strength? Cougars coach Darnell Hoskins knows how to get the most out of his players, and will have to do so in order to beat new head coach Dwayne Hansbro and his Panthers Squad.


(3) Eaton  @ Franklin
   now that the Luke Kennard train is gone what will happen with the Wildcats? Word is that a couple of youngsters have taken on Kennards work ethic and look to be ready. Most notably, remember the name Cole Bundren. Could be the next star of Franklin and they will need him this season...


(4) Belmont  @ Stivers
  Last year was supposed to be Stivers year, but and it didn't quite work out that way now this year they are equipped to maybe make a good run, but with a new coach, can they find their hunger to make it happen? or will Belmont turn over a new leaf in basketball like they did in football as well?


(5) Springfield  @ Miamisburg
 In a GWOC matchup of two teams with pretty good teams, can the Wildcats show that they could be a team to beat this season? Danny Davis will lead the troops as they have a talented cast. Miamisburg will be game especially with it being a season opener.

Top 5 Games of Week 8

Here's our top games for week 8 as teams make their playoff runs and key rivalries heat up.

Will the Wolverines be ready for the Cougars?

(1) Dunbar  vs Thurgood  @ Welcome Stadium (7pm)
     Last years City League championship game features two of the best in the city, as a revamped Thurgood squad who was reigning City League Champs 6 years straight, will look to keep the dynamic Wolverines from putting up big numbers.
Dunbar has been inconsistent in key moments, but has looked unstoppable in others. After losing City League player of the year Jamahl Manley, the Cougars have started to rebound.
We have the Wolverines winning a wild one 34-28.



(2) Beavercreek (6-1)   @ Centerville (5-2) (7pm)
   In the GWOC game of the Week, both teams desperately need this game. The Creek', led by 1,000 yard rusher Tim Beadshaw, will be ready, but so will Centerville, who has won 4 straight and could be the hottest team in the area.
We have Centerville winning a close one 28-24


(3) Northmont  (4-3)  @  Wayne (7-0) (7pm)
   Can Northmont, led by star player Avery Miliner, pull off the upset of the season? Nationally ranked Wayne has throttled every team it has seen this season, sans one.
The WayneTrain will continue its steamrolling 41-21.


(4) Piqua  (2-5)  @ Trotwood (5-2) (7pm)
After a shocking loss to Troy at home last week, can the Rams bounce back and get a much needed W this week to stay in drivers seat for playoffs? Piqua has had some great moments and key wins this season.
The Rams will get it done by a score of 30-16.


(5) Dayton Christian  @ Lockland 
Can the Crusaders go on the road to get a huge Weight and keep their playoff hopes alive? Been a good season so far, but Lockland will be ready.
We're riding the Crusaders in a close one, 26-18

Week 6 recap: Wayne Train rolls, Lions beat Dunbar, Trotwood cruise.

Here's a recap of the key games in Week 6 that went down on Friday:

Wayne shuts out Springfield in rivalry game -
In what most thought would be a battle, turned out to be all Wayne on a rainy night as Matt Wilcox scored on a long TD pass, and RB-WR Daryl McClesky Jr. scored twice in the second half to help Wayne move to 6-0. Maybe the warriors were fired up. But it's been the Wayne Train on a one way ticket to the state.


Meadowdale squeezes past Dunbar -
With both teams trying to make a push for the playoffs, The Lions came out on top as they held the Wolverines late in the game for a big 15-12 win. The Lions move to 3-3, while Dunbar falls to 2-4.


The 'Creek defeats Northmont, moves closer to playoffs -
Although it wasn't pretty, Beavercreek held on for a key win, as Tim Bradshaw scored late to seal the deal. The Beavers (5-1) seems in position for a playoff berth.



Rams roll past Sidney -
Trotwood scored early and often and led comfortably by halftime. Sidney had no match for the vaunted Rams running game. And now standing at 5-1, it looks like the Rams are prepping for another postseason run.


Taft defeats Thurgood -
Cin Taft came in with a game plan and executed it almost to perfection in downing Thurgood 49-7.
Thurgood (2-4) was looking to gain steam for a late push, but had trouble moving the ball throughout the game.