OHSAA TOURNAMENT RECAP (BOYS BBALL)
DAYTON DOMINATES CINCINNATI IN D-2 DISTRICT FINALS
With the Cincinnati D-1 schools doing the most damage in the earlier games, it was time to see how the top D-2 teams would fare in the District Finals. There were three games, with the other Regional Semifinalist coming from the Columbus Area.
Here are the Results and Recap of D-2 District Finals
Game 1
CHAMINADE DOMINATES WYOMING, CRUISES TO TITLE BEHIND DICKEY, WASHINGTON BROS
The Chaminade Julienne Eagles have been tested all season, and besides a couple of slip ups, they have been on point, rising to almost every occasion.
Usually it's George Washington III (#1 in Dayton Weekly Rankings -GCL) who does the leading.
But on this day, it was senior do-it-all guard in Evan Dickey (#5 ranked player -GCL) who put the Eagles on his back and guided them to back to back District titles.
Dickey scored 20 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, snatched a few steals, assists, and blocks and helped shut down the Wyoming guards as the Eagles cruised to a 65-35 victory to advance back to the Regionals.
George Washington III, the Michigan commit and finalist for Mr Basketball, dropped 13 in the win, while his younger brother, junior Forward B.B. Washington (#12 Ranked player - GCL) had 14 on the night.
While the Washington family has gotten the shine, Dickey continues to show why he is such a valuable guard. And with his size, is a legitimate D-1 or D-2 prospect, standing at 6'5 at the combo guard spot.
Wyoming had no answer for Dickey or the Eagles for that matter.
"Evan has been a very reliable and consistent player for us the last two seasons. It's great to have a selfless guy on the team who cares about winning and doing the right things to help us win. Even if it does mean giving up stats for the betterment of the team.
He has been a class act, a real leader, and we really appreciate that." Eagles Coach Szabo stated earlier in the year.
He also has a 4.2 GPA and is one of the top uncommitted guard prospects in Ohio.
Chaminade will face Bishop Watterson in the Regional Semifinals at Vandaila HS.
Game 2
DUNBAR DEFEATS WOODWARD BEHIND ALLEN, STIFLING DEFENSE;
TAE'S SPIRIT "INSPIRES" WOLVERINES
The Dunbar Wolverines have faced adversity all season, and they seemed to be finding a calm during those times. It was evident as they held off a scrappy Woodward team in defeating the Bulldogs in their 2nd meeting at the Cintas Center.
The game was back and forth until Dunbar forged ahead as PG-SG Antuane Allen, the #2 player in the Dayton Weekly Hoop Rankings (DPS), went off in the 1st half to give the Wolverines a double-digit advantage in the 2nd quarter.
Allen scored 14 points of his game high 28 points in the 1st half on a barrage of drives, including a thunderous slam midway through the 2nd quarter.
Woodward would battle back, cutting it to single digits, even getting it as low as 6 in the 4th quarter. The offense, which shot poorly in the 1st half, had picked it up and with the home crowd pushing, there was a momentum shift.
However, combo forward Antoine Allen (Ranked #7 - Dayton Weekly Rankings) who was in foul trouble most of the game game, would come back in the 2nd half and provide double figure points, crucial passing, and the interior presence to help alleviate the heavy pressure Woodward was putting on.
After the game Coach Tony Dixon and the Allen Twins would talk.
"We played well today, and we have to take care of the ball and continue to make good decisions if we want to move forward. We also have a real reason to play for." Dixon said.
Antuane Allen, the star guard spoke as well.
"We are playing for Tae. His spirit lives on. We know we gotta ball when we get on the court. That's what he would have wanted."
Allen is speaking on teammate Daveontae Williams, who passed away earlier this season.
Dunbar last won the District in 2017 when they would defeat a Luke Kennard - led Franklin team to reach the OHSAA State Semifinals. They were led by A.J. Harris, Dorianne Dawson, Chris Johnson, and Terrance Landers, and was coached by Peter Pullen who is now at Trotwood.
Dunbar will now have a rematch with Alter on Thursday night at Vandaila HS for a chance at a Regional Final.
Game 3
ALTER KNOCKS OFF D-3 CHAMPS WITH LATE COMEBACK; RUFFALO DELIVERS IN CLUTCH
The Alter Knights reached the OHSAA D-2 Semifinals last season, riding the senior leadership and clutch play to reach the Final Four. They would be bounced out by eventual D-2 champion St Vincent St Marys in the semifinals.
Taft won the D-3 title last season.
So once Taft was moved up to D-2, the question remained: how far can the champs go after losing the likes of Raveon Griffith and Mehki Elmore?
Well, for the final 7 minutes of the final quarter it looked as if the State champs were headed to the Regionals.
And then in a span of a minute or so, the Knights had pulled the improbable. A comeback win of historic proportions.
Taft had held a 5-point lead with a minute left, after it looked as if the Senators size, intensity, and depth had wore down the Knights.
But after a big three, the game was cut to 2, and this is where it got crazy.
Taft would go down and get fouled, but miss the 1 and 1. Alter would then come down, miss a 3-pointer, but star guard Anthony Ruffalo would snatch a rebound and get fouled, tying the game and setting up the final moment.
Ruffalo would sink the and-one opportunity, with just 4 seconds left, and after a missed shot at the buzzer Alter would rejoice in a unbelievable win that showed the heart of the State Semifinalist.
"We never gave up and believed we could get it done." Ruffalo, the #3 ranked player in the Dayton Weekly Rankings (GCL) stated.
"We kept fighting and knew we could do it."
Now the Knights will face Dunbar in a rematch of a big time game earlier this season. Dunbar won that game in the Richard Kidd Invitational hosted at Centerville HS.
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