OHSAA Hoop State Recap; Rams fall to St V; Cincy teams falter; LeBron reaches out to Patton

Here's the Recap of what went down, hot topics, and more at the OHSAA State Championship last weekend

What did LBJ say about the 2-Time Ohio Player of the Year in Torrey Patton? 

Rams let one slip away as St V wins at buzzer
The Trotwood Rams felt like they had a good chance to win the State this year, considering they would take on a team who they beat earlier in the season in the Semifinal game.

Taking on Akron St Vincent St Mary, the prestigious HS that LeBron James went to, didn't seem that tough, as the Rams put a 100 spot on them in January (100-61).

However, Coach Dru Joyce is hard to beat twice in a season, delivering the game plan to slow down the Rams, and that's exactly what happened as Akron St. Vincent upset Trotwood 62-60.

 The Rams shot poorly in the 1st half (10-36) and it cost them as they trailed heading into 2nd half.

 Trotwood finally settled into the game in the 3rd quarter, but by that time Akron star F Jayvon Graves had already had 3 monster dunks in the game, and was the star of the 1st half.

Jayvon Graves throws down one of his powerful dunks vs Trotwood in D-2 Semifinal 

 In the 2nd half it was "Patton Time" as Star G Torrey Patton took over the game for the Rams.
Patton scored 15 of his OHSAA D-2 record 34 points in the 1st half to keep Trotwood afloat, then electrified the crowd by dropping 19 in the 2nd half to guide the Rams to the lead.

 St.V had no answer for the 6'4  2-Time Player of the Year, and it became a highlight show in the 2nd half.
Patton would finish with 34, 11 boards, a block and a steal. And his normal 4th quarter clutch play was in effect.

So much so that LeBron himself had to make a couple calls after the game to find out who this Patton kid was.
And to also find out why he hasn't received a offer from a D-1 yet as well.

"We couldn't stop him" James said.
"Who is this Patton kid?"

All-Ohio G Torrey Patton puts up a FT in State Title Game vs Akron SVSM 

 But St V kept fighting, and a 4-point lead (56-52) for the Rams late in the 4th turned into the decisive 10-2 run, (led by Graves), as St V would take advantage of back to back turnovers by the Rams.

After the final basket (a floater by Graves as the time expired), St V, and LBJ knows that they pulled off one of their greatest wins in the Dru Joyce era.

Akron SVSM celebrates upset win over Trotwood Madison in OHSAA State Semifinal game

They stormed the court, sans the coaches, and the players celebrated all the way down to the Trotwood side of the court.

They knew that they had sleighed the best team in D-2, and possibly in all of Ohio.

For Trotwood?
Utter disbelief, and shock. The players were stunned, and the fans, hurt.
Even the press row was shocked as the Rams came into the Final four averaging 90 ppg and being the "It Squad" for the weekend in Columbus.

Sr G Amir Foster shoots one over the backboard in the Semifinal Game vs Akron SVSM

Still a very good season for the Rams.
But it definitely will be a game that will resonate in the minds of the Rams as they know they let one slip away.

Highly touted Junior Myles Belyeu tallied 13 points, 4 rebs, 3 steals for the Rams in the Semifinals

Trotwood had 3 players in double figures as Junior Myles Belyeu dropped 13 and Sophomore sensation Amari Davis added 10.  Amir Foster led the Rams with 5 assists.
Jayvon Graves led St. V with 22 pts, 10 boards and 3 steals.




St. V wins State Title; Cleveland dominates Tourney
Akron St Vincent St Mary's defeated Wauseon 45-30 to take another State Championship. Wauseon, who had only lost once before the game, felt good about their chances.

Akron St Vincent St Mary, OHSAA D-2 Champs 

But Star F Jayvon Graves, (Buffalo) came up big with 25 points, sealing the deal as Tourney MVP, and State Champs to boot.
 Salute the champs, as Coach Dru Joyce won his 7th  State Title.
This one might be one of the sweetest, considering how we won it this season, having to defeat a team in the Semis who hammered them by almost 40 earlier in the season.



LeBron reaches out to Patton;  Akron, Toledo in the mix
LeBron James, sat and watched himself the OHSAA State Semifinal Game from out of town as he and the Cavs were on a road trip.  His St. V squad would take on the team who dismantled them in Dayton in January, so while he wouldn't be able to root on his boys in Columbus, he'd be able to check out the game on TV against the heavily favored Trotwood Rams.
The King wanted to know, "Were they really that good as advertised?
 And did his St. V boys have a real shot?

What he would see made him pick up the phone and call his old coach, as he usually does if he's not in attendance.

But this time, there would be a couple questions about the other team, and a player in particular.

Torrey Patton, to be exact.

LeBron is all about the big stage, and after watching what the 6'4 combo guard did to his Alma Mater, he had to inquire, along with coach Joyce.

"Who is this Patton kid, and where is he going to school?"
When Coach Joyce found out the lack of offers he had before the Tourney, he was befuddled.

"I would definitely recruit him if I was a college coach, but hey what do I know?
We couldn't stop him" Joyce said.

Patton set OHSAA record for most points in a D-2 Title Game (34) 

Then LeBron decided to take things into his own hands.
LBJ reached out, made a couple calls, to congratulate Patton on his record setting performance and to inquire about his future.

Since then, Patton has recieved serious consideration from Akron, Toledo, Niagara, Georgia State, and now Wright State has tried to come back into the mix.

Which shows you the type of guy LBJ is.
Call it the "LeBron Effect".

He recognizes greatness and recognizes talent, and understands that a kid of Pattons' magnitude should not be taken lightly.

James once, was on that big stage and understands how that stage can sometimes make or break your career.

Shoutout to the King on showing love to a kid, he had never met, never even known until now.

The kid lives in Dayton, Ohio.
Trotwood to be exact.
Nowhere near Akron, or "The Land."
LeBron just watched the game, heard the story, and here we are.

Will Patton end up at Akron? Or Toledo?
Yet to be seen.
 Very possible, unless some of the Big Ten teams start to open their eyes and realize how good this Patton kid is.

 Hell, LeBron did.
 After 1 game.
Will Ohio State jump in? Who knows.

But a couple things are for sure.

(1) When LeBron speaks, you listen.

(2) And it's never to late to make a great impression.
Just look at Norris Cole. A late D-1 signee, now he resides in the NBA.

Where will the hottest hoop prospect in Ohio end up?



Cincy Teams Fall
Undefeated Moeller falls in Championship Game 
Cincy Moeller, undefeated all season, fell in the title game, losing 39-38 to Massillion Jackson.

Massillion spoils Moeller perfect season, win D-3 Championship 

Moeller had went undefeated all season, and lost in heartbreaking fashion.
This marks the first time a D-1 team has won a State tile since 1945 without scoring 40 points.
Is it time for a shot clock in High School era?
Something the committee should seriously think about.

Roger Bacon falls in the Championship Game as well, losing to Cleveland Villa St Joseph in the D-3 Title Game 54-52.



OHSAA Key Notes

The Cleveland / Akron schools won all 4 boys divisions.

The first time in 72 years (1945) a D-1 game was won with a final winning score under 40
 (Massillion wins 39-38)

Trotwood G Torrey Patton broke scoring record (34) for a Individual perfromance (D-2)

Akron SVSM F & Buffalo commit Jayvon Graves scored the most points in the tournament this year (47).

State Berth on the line as Trotwood Dunbar set for rematch

When the season started, it was widely assumed that Trotwood and Dunbar were two of the most talented teams in Southwest Ohio,  possibly the state.

Who takes the Region? Dunbar or Trotwood?

When they met at Trotwood a while ago, it was a classic, with Trotwood winning by 10. The Rams used its signature defense and streak ability to push out on Dunbar early, and was able to hold off the Wolverines for an epic victory.

Neither team lost again.

And here we are.
Regional Finals.

 Two of the most successful schools in the Miami Valley in the last 15 years.

 After a long season, these two will decide who gets the State Berth from this Region (Trent Arena, 3 p.m.)

In their last game #1 State Ranked Trotwood held off a tough Taft team, and exercised some demons in the big win.
It also was the first real test for the Rams, and despite some missed FTs, they still showed poise in the win.

Can Star F Caleb McConnell help lead Wolverines to State?

 Meanwhile Top 10 Ranked Dunbar ran past Bloom-Carroll 71-37.
The Wolverines know that they must play a precise game, especially on the defense end to grab the W.

Trotwood, feels that, if they play their game, they are the best team in the State.

Dunbar and Trotwood are, quite possibly, the 2 best teams in the State.
Would be a heck of a State Championship game.

But bragging rights in Southwest Ohio and a trip to Columbus is what the winning team will get.

Should be a great matchup, and the
winner should cut the nets down in Columbus.

No matter what, it's been a remarkable season for both teams.

Let the show begin.
March madness.

District Recap: Trotwood rolls; Dunbar finishes Wyoming late; Taft spoils Carroll party; Country Day stops Brookville; State Berth on the Line tonight as Alter, Carroll girls collide

Here's the recap of District Final Games this week

Star G Amir Foster goes up for 3 in win vs Urbana 

Trotwood stymies Urbana  
The Rams used patience, a balanced effort and smothering D to throttle Urbana 86-52.
While the game was close in the 1st, Trotwood turned up the pressure and the result was a 24-5 quarter Urbana could not recover from.
 The Rams had 4 scorers in double figures, and will now move on to the Regional Semis to face the team that put them out of the tourney last season in Taft.


Dunbar McConnell leads Wolves past Wyoming
Dunbar star F Caleb McConnell dropped a couple key buckets late, the Wolverines used a 10-0 spurt to end the game and the Wolverines moved back to the Regional Semis after a 66-56 win.
Wyoming had tied the game after being down 7 going into the 4th (45-38) but rallied to tie it up and had a breakaway to take the lead. After the turnover from Wyoming, Dunbar put the game away and will march on. The Wolverines had 3 players (Cook, Baker, McConnell) in double figures.



Taft D shuts Carroll down to get win  
The Senators came out cold as ice, and Carroll was hitting on all cylinders to take a 19-3 lead in the 1st quarter.
After the 1st quarter, it was all Taft as the Patriots would not score in double digits in the last 3 quarters to fall 52-40. While Taft looked bad, Carroll had the momentum. But Taft continued to battle, and the interior defense took over while the offense started to click.
Taft will face Trotwood in the Regional Semis

Country Day too much for Brookville
Cincy Country Day moved on to the Regionals after a convincing win over Brookville. Country Day was hitting on all cylinders, and Brookville couldn't match the offense.





Star Players of the Week  - Who were the top players in District Finals?

Amari Davis - Trotwood   - Davis dropped another 20 spot on great shooting, and has his flow going.

Caleb McConnell -  Dunbar  - McConnell hit a huge 3 to snap a tie game late and another to send the Wolverines to the next round. He ended with 19 and 7 rebs

Ezyontae Brazzle -  Taft  - Brazzle dropped 19 and kept the Senators afloat until they took over the game

Malek Green   - Taft  - The big man was huge, with a  double double (10 pts, 12 rebs, 2 blks) and provided inside presence for a Taft win

Torrey Patton  - Trotwood  - The smooth PG added another great all around game to the resume (19 pts, 8 assists, 7 rebs, 3 stls) to lead the Rams

Lonnie Grayson  - Wyoming  - Grayson did everything in the game, with 16pts, 6 reb, 4 dimes, 1 blk and 2 steals in the loss

Eli Ramsey  -  Carroll  - The big forward was the most effective player for Carroll with 12 pts and 5 boards, and 2 blocks to add

Levi Boettcher   - Urbana  - Boettcher was rock solid, with a double double (15pts, 11rbs, 3 dimes, 2 blocks) in the loss.




Girls (D-2)
State Semifinal Berth Tonight  on the line Between Carroll and Alter

Two of the best teams in D-2 will go at it tonight with a State Semifinal Berth on the line as Carroll (23-4) will take on Alter (24-2) @ Springfield HS (7pm).

The 2-time Defending State Champs are led by All-American Candidate  Braxtin Miller, who is headed to Oklahoma State. The PG has put the team in another position to reach the State, which is the stuff of legends.
On the other hand, you have a hungry and focused Carroll team, who has steamrolled everyone in their way.
They are led by All-State baller Amanda Schroeder, who is a serious threat all over the court and at 6'0 can post up with the best of em.
Only problem is, she averaged 7 ppg against Alter this season, both losses.
Can the Patriots pull off the upset?

District Finals Tonight at UD Arena; Weekend Recap: Trotwood cruises; Dunbar rallies; Ponitz falls; Northmont pushes on; Stars of the Weekend

Here the recap on Saturday and Sunday games in Southwest Ohio in the Miami Valley:

Star Player Devon Baker led Wolverines with 29 in win vs.  C-J

Dunbar rallies, outlasts C-J 
 In a emotional roller coaster of a game, Dunbar used a gritty 4th quarter and some clutch play to rally past C-J and win the Sectional.

  Early in the game, Dunbar dictated the flow, and held a lead in the first half. But Eagles star G Christian Montague  got going, and once he did? The entire Eagles offense followed suit as they went on a 26-10 and took a commanding lead (56-49) into the 4th off a half court shot by P'Hariz Watkins.

Dunbar then used the 4th quarter, at full strength, to battle back, then a Chris Jackson bomb gave the Wolverines a lead late in the 4th they would never relinquish.

Star G Devon Baker led the Wolverines with 29 as he clearly was the dominant player on the court.
Up next for Dunbar?
 Cincy Wyoming

C-J P'Hariz Watkins takes on Dunbar Devon Baker in Sectional Final

Trotwood handles business, stops Valley View
 The Rams jumped out on Valley View and never looked back as they shut down the Spartans to single digits in the 1st 2 quarters of the game to roll to a 83-40 win. While the game wasn't flashy, it was all substance for the #1 State Ranked Rams as they won the Sectional Final at UD Arena.

 The Rams were led by Sophomore Star G Amari Davis, (20pts) who has vowed to do work this season at the Arena after his tough ending last season. Also big man Justin Stephens did damage on the defense, with 4 big blocks, and holding down the paint, shutting down the Spartans interior plans.
 The Rams stifling D was the main reason for the lopsided score.
Up next? Urbana for the District Final tonight.



Northmont wins Sectionals, stops Boro'
Northmont continued it's great play with a emphatic win over Sprinboro.
The inside outside duo of Vinson Walker & Christian Wilson was too much for the Boro to handle as the Bolts won 63-50. Wilson had 18 to lead the troops, while Walker dropped a double double (12 pts, 17reb) to help the cause.
 With the win it puts the Bolts in position to win a District title this week.
While they won't be the favorite,  it does show that  
they have came a long way this season, and they are not a fluke. With all the tools to make a state run, can Northmont continue to roll in the District Finals?
Up next: Mason


Carroll squeaks past Ponitz  
Ponitz had a chance late in the game to grab the victory, but a couple tough plays and a Star performance by F Stafford Stevens (25pts, 7 rbs) moved the Patriots over the Panthers 45-43.

    In a game that featured great defense, timely FT  shooting, and a lot of drama, Carroll defeated another City league opponent for a Sectional Title in back to back years.

  While the game was tight late, the Patriots experience and a couple key plays was the difference.
 Carroll didn't make a 3-ptr in the entire game, but they hit 19 FTs, which helped them tremendously; they will take on Taft tonight;
  The Panthers coaching staff was upset about the loss, but knows they had a good first season.

Ponitz big man Eric Sealey Jr. led the Panthers with his gritty play, similar to a Dennis Rodman style presence that Coach Pittman had talked about.

The 6-3 junior F had a season high 16 rebounds; but it was his defense, his intensity and leadership which kept Ponitz in the game in the 1st half when shots weren't falling. Ponitz only scored 14 points in the 1st half.



Taft defeats Hughes  
Cincy Taft delivered a huge w with a gutty performance over top seeded Hughes. Hughes has had a very good season, beating Taft twice;
But Taft showed why they could be a force to be reckoned with as they fought, grabbed a late lead, and was able to hold on for a Sectional Title.
Up next? Carroll



Wyoming stops Woodward in 2 OTs
 Top seeded Cincy Wyoming was able to overcome 2 OTs in order to put down Woodward.
While it looked like Woodward was about to stun Wyomng, they were able to force OT, and outlast Woodward.
Wyoming will now travel to UD Arena to face Dunbar tonight.



Brookville continues to roll 
 Brookville garnered another Sectional title with a easy win last week.
 Can they grab another District title this week?
With a good coaching staff and a couple stars on display, could Brookville reach the Regionals? They will have to defeat #1 seed Summit County Day.




Key Games Tonight
District Finals 

5:30    Trotwood  vs  Urbana    
Can Urbana continue its great run? Or will they be overwhelmed by the highest scoring & scariest team in the OHSAA Tournament?
Trotwood is averaging 104 points a game. Can Urbana match that offensive firepower, or shift the game in their favor?


7:30    Carroll   vs  Cincy  Taft 
Can Carroll continue to play their way, led by Star F Stafford Stevens? Or will talented and well coached Taft win the District Finals again in UD Arena just like last year?
In a game that will feature 2 different styles, who will win the huge matchup?


9:30    Dunbar   vs  Cincy Wyoming 
 Can Dunbar knock off the #1 seed in the bracket?  They will have the home game, but Wyoming is up for the challenge, as they were tested in the last game, a 2 OT thriller over Woodward. Dunbar is playing at a very high level. With both teams having great talent, should be a heck of a game.


Stars of the Sectional Weekend 

Here's the top players from the Sectional  Weekend  

Amari Davis, Trotwood  - Davis dropped 20 to lead Rams to easy W, and added a vicious dunk to match

Keegan Saben, Centerville  - Saben was unstoppable in halting Wayne Train; inside, outside, and at the line for a game high 25 points

Mike McKay,  Springfield  -McKays big basket helped lead the Wildcats over Xenia and a Sectional title

Devon Baker, Dunbar  - Baker clutch play and 29 points help propel the Wolverines

Stafford Stevens, Carroll  - Stevens grinded his way to a tough 27 & 7 and a Sectional win

Christian Wilson, Northmont  - Wilson led the Bolts with 18 in a Sectional win

Vinson Walker, Northmont  - Walker worked hard for 17 monstrous boards to go with 12 points in a huge double double performance to help lead Northmont to a win

Christian  Montague, C-J  In a loss, Montague was spectacular against State Ranked Dunbar,  dropping 27 & 6 reb

Chris Jackson, Dunbar  -The clutch sharpshooter delivered when it counted hitting the go ahead 3, and added 17 & 7 Reb to get Dunbar the Sectional title

Milton Gage, C-J  - Gage was downright nasty as well, pouring in 23 on a variety of moves in a loss

Justin Stephens, Trotwood  - The big man completely dominated the paint against Valley View, with 4 blocks

Eric Sealey Jr, Ponitz - Sealey, who could be the next great rebounder who is unknown, hauled in 16 boards, played shutdown defense, and kept the Panthers in the game






Next Article: Top  20 Players from Flyin to the Hoop

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Weekend Recap: Northmont shocks Wayne; Ponitz takes out Belmont; Dunbar cruises; Warrios punish Lima Sr for trash talk

                        Heres the Weekend Recap in hoops action around the Miami Valley


(1) Northmont pulls off upset of Wayne     
       The Bolts pulled off the upset of the season, thus far, as they were able to shock the top ranked Wayne Train en route to a 81-80 OT win. Blue Smith led the Warriors with 28, and it looked as if the Warriors would win the game, but Northmonts duo of Rodney Richardson and Christian Wilson led the upset.


(2) Ponitz upends Belmont & Graham, secures 2nd place 
      The Panthers were able to hold off a tough Belmont team, and in the process secure the 2nd spot in the City League by a score of 64-54. Led by big man Floyd Scott and Jalen Garrett, the Panthers smacked Graham in the Saturday game, and now sit comfortably in the 2 spot in the city and have seemed to find their groove under first year head coach Steve Pittman.


(3) Dunbar runs past Thurgood in rematch of last years City League Championship matchup  
      The Wolverines was clicking on all cylinders, and won the 1st meeting between the 2 major programs in the city as they ran past Thurgood 96-49.

(4) Stivers defeats  Meadowdale
     The Tigers was able to bounce back and defeat Meadowdale 64-48 in City League Action.
Isiah Boddie led the troops with a double double with 24 & 11 in the effort. Fab frosh Trevon Ellis shook off a bad cold with a double double of his own 16pts, 12 assists)

(5) Springfield slides past Lebanon, keeps rolling
  The Wildcats continued their upward trend as they defeated Lebanon

(6) Wayne punishes Lima Sr. 
In another one of the twitter beefs, Lima Sr. did a lot of talking before the big game @ Wayne.
Add to the fact that Wayne had lost to Northmont the night before?
You're gonna get one angry Wayne squad.
 The Warriors jumped on Lima from the beginning, and took a 10-point lead after the first quarter.
The Wayne Train never looked back as superstar big man Blue Smith led the Wayne attack as Lima looked overmatched en route to a 81-52 win. Wayne now moves to 8-2 on the season.



                                                        

Former Flyer "Pitt" gets nod as new Ponitz basketball coach

    In what has been a busy off-season for the Dayton Public Schools Athletics, another change has been made in the basketball ranks.

 

Steve Pittman with son, Malcom

Steve Pittman, affectionately known as "Pitt", has been annointed as the new Varsity Boys coach of the Ponitz Panthers.

    Pittman, who played his college ball at UD during the NCAA days of head coach Don Donoher, will take over as he replaces Dwayne Hansbro, who wasn't retained after his 1st season at the helm.

   Pittman will inherit a young team with some talent. It will be his first head coaching job in High School. He was a top assistant for now Middletown Coach Darnell Hoskins while he was at Thurgood Marshall.
   Pittman, who in his Flyer playing days was a 6'9 PF-C with range, is thrilled for the opportunity, and feels he is ready for the challenge.
  

Big "Pitt" doing work for the Flyers

    Pitt helped lead the Flyers to a NCAA Berth in 89' as he played with NBA player Negele Knight, Ray Springer, & Anthony Corbitt. They defeated Illinois in the 1st round before losing in 2nd round.  He then went on to coach for UD before deciding to get into High School. He currently has a son who is a senior on the basketball team at Wilmington.




 

Former Flyer "Pitt" gets nod as new Ponitz basketball coach

    In what has been a busy off-season for the Dayton Public Schools Athletics, another change has been made in the basketball ranks.

 

Steve Pittman with son, Malcom

Steve Pittman, affectionately known as "Pitt", has been annointed as the new Varsity Boys coach of the Ponitz Panthers.

    Pittman, who played his college ball at UD during the NCAA days of head coach Don Donoher, will take over as he replaces Dwayne Hansbro, who wasn't retained after his 1st season at the helm.

   Pittman will inherit a young team with some talent. It will be his first head coaching job in High School. He was a top assistant for now Middletown Coach Darnell Hoskins while he was at Thurgood Marshall.
   Pittman, who in his Flyer playing days was a 6'9 PF-C with range, is thrilled for the opportunity, and feels he is ready for the challenge.
  

Big "Pitt" doing work for the Flyers

    Pitt helped lead the Flyers to a NCAA Berth in 89' as he played with NBA player Negele Knight, Ray Springer, & Anthony Corbitt. They defeated Illinois in the 1st round before losing in 2nd round.  He then went on to coach for UD before deciding to get into High School. He currently has a son who is a senior on the basketball team at Wilmington.




 

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.

 

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.





 


 

Dunbar grad set to make Ohio State debut today

 
Former Dunbar All-State PG A.J. Harris will make his college debut today (Noon)  @ Ohio State as the Buckeyes host their season opener.

Harris ready to lead the Buckeyes

  Harris, who led the Dunbar Wolverines to two state appearances (winning one) will now set his sights on a NCAA Championship.
   With a plethora of new faces, Harris fits in nicely with the Buckeyes, who will use him as the floor general.
  Head Coach Thad Matta has been pleased with Harris leadership and ability to adapt and looks forward to using his cat-like quickness, intelligent play, and electrifying speed to change the pace.
   Matta also is looking for Harris to keep the game flowing in the right direction for the Buckeyes, who are loaded with talent.
  After watching what Harris did for Dunbar, you can't help what to wonder what he will do at O State.

   Harris is the first player to play for Ohio State since Daequan Cook, who played with Mike Conley and big Greg Oden.

Wayne captures first ever State Championship; Dunbar falls in final seconds; C-J loses in semis

With three teams up in Columbus battling for High School State Hoop supremacy, here's the results of all three teams and how they fared.

Wayne Train seizes first ever state title, defeats Westerville South

When speaking with Wayne coach Travis Trice before the trip, he seemed at peace with what his team had accomplished.

But he knew he had the team to win it all.

And they did just that with a 65-57 win over Westerville South as they sprinted out early, controlled the game and hit timely free throws late to grab the biggest win in the school history in front of over 10,600 people.

D'Mitrik Trice led the Warriors with 19 as four Warriors hit double figures. Xeryius Williams, Trey Landers, and Robert Caldwell all balled out as Wayne came out much different than in the classic Semifinal game vs Lakewood St Edward.
In the semifinals Wayne was tested to the max.

Lakewood came out firing, grabbed a early lead, and set the tone. Wayne responded in second half, pushed it to OT, then dominated Overtime to get to the final.
Remember, St. Edward was the team who beat the Wayne Train to win the OHSAA D-1 football championship, so the extra motivation was there.
This time the Warriors would get the job done.

Coach Trice felt like the players believed in each other, was prepared mentally, physically, and spiritually & the "play for the one to the left and right of you" mentality is what helped the Warriors win its first ever State Championship.

And with what the Warriors have coming back?

Could be a couple more "Wayne Train" stops in the Schottenstein Center in the near future.

All Aboard the Wayne Championship Train.
Salute the champs.



Dunbar loses in final seconds to Defiance in Semis

The Wolverines had a golden opportunity to get to the State Championship, but couldn't take advantage of a lead and a couple of missed chances cost Dunbar as they lost 46-45.

Defiance came out stong early and established the tone, but Dunbar quickly reversed those fortunes and grabbed the lead late in the first quarter.
The Wolverines were ahead for most part of the second quarter and although the game was tight, Dunbar seemed to have a slight edge, as Ohio State bound Amos "A.J." Harris led the team at half with 10 points & Terrance Landers had 6.

In the 2nd half Dunbar grabbed a lead and held it for most of the half until the final moments. Dunbar was ahead 44-39 midway through the 4th quarter and it looked as if they would pull away.
But Defiance kept battling, and eventually tied it up in the last minute. Terrance Landers was fouled and made 1 of the 2 free throws, which left the door open for Defiance.
Defiance then was fouled after missing two shots and grabbing two offensive rebounds.
They hit both free throws to take the final lead. Dunbar came down and tried to get a shot up, but was unable to get one off as Defiance stole the ball underneath and was fouled with 3 seconds.

They would miss the front end of 1 & 1 but Harris half court desperation heave was short, and Defiance was on to their first ever State Finals.
Dunbar was outscored 9-4 in the 4th quarter, which sealed their fate.
A.J. Harris led the Wolverines with 19, & was the only player in double figures.
Harris did say that "he loves playing in the Schottenstein Center" & that he feels that Dunbar "should get back to State" next year.

After the game, Head Coach Peter Pullen was very dissapointed with the outcome, but was proud of his team and knows they will be back.

Note: Defiance did go on to win State, in OT.


C-J falls in fourth, loses to Lima Central Catholic

C-J fell behind early and although they came back strong late, fell to Lima Central Catholic 55-50 in the D-3 OHSAA Semifinals.
Lima jumped out early, and the Eagles responded. Central Catholic held a lead at half which ballooned to 15 before a 15-2 run by the Eagles cut it to 3, 45-42.
The Eagles would get it to 2, but Catholic knocked down some key free throws to send the Eagles home.
Coach Staley felt like his boys played hard, but Jus didn't execute quite well enough against a top notch opponent.
This was the Eagles 7th trip to the State.