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

Top 5 Games on tap for Friday Night; City League Games will play without Audience

Here's our top five games to check out - or not - depending on whether the game this week is eligible

(1) Springfield     @    Wayne  (7-0)  -  

 Can "The Field" defeat the team that ended their great run last year, en route to their own 1st Ever State Bball Championship?

    Since these two tangled in the Tourney last year, Wayne has been on a unprecedented run.

  Springfield starred slow, but has run off 7 straight and now sit comfortably in the upper echelon of the GWOC...
Question is, can they knock off a supremely talented and hard working Wayne Train squad who fully knows what this game has become?



(2)  Chaminade-Julienne   vs   Alter  @ Nutter Center

    C-J has gotten off to a tremendous start and look to be picking up where they left off last season -possibly headed for a State run;
 Alter has won some impressive games of late, and are in prime position to do damage in the GCL.
  This will be a nail biter, down to the wire game that we know comes from one of the yearly "Classic" HS games.



(3) Dunbar    @  Stivers - 

    In a game that will be closed to the public,  two of the best players in the city will go at it tonight in Dunbar Forward Terrence Landers Jr. & Stivers big man Isiah Williams.

  Both players are committed to D-1 programs.

   While this was slated as a "Can't Miss" game, it won't be seen, in person, as the "No Audience" rule will be enforced for tonight's games.

   While this will be a huge disadvantage for the Tigers, it's a crippling disadvantage for the entire city and the programs who don't get to have anyone at the game.
We gotta do better Dayton.


(4) Franklin    @  Monroe   -  

    Can Franklin continue its great start? After losing All- everything Luke Kennard and that great team, the Wildcats have responded with a 8-0 record. Can they keep it up vs a game Monroe team?
   They'd love nothing more than to knock off the Wildcats. Will they get it done at home tonight?
    


(5) Meadowdale   @  Ponitz  -

   The one team who seems to have gotten the absolute short end of the deal - Ponitz- will play at home tonight.
 
     Coach Dwayne Hansbro was furious about the fight, and knew some action would - and had to - take place.

  Despite that -  Ponitz will head into tonight's game taking on a hot Meadowdale squad.

     While the Lions lost to Ponitz earlier this season, they might feel a slight advantage as the "No Audience" situation will  be active tonight.

     Can the Lions stay at top of City League Race  vs an emotional Ponitz team?



(5) Sidney    @  Trotwood   - 

 The  Rams (8-1) have been on point all season, and have the talent that could take them deep in the playoffs. Sidney is a interesting team in that they have scorers inside and out & they have size upfront.

     This could be a tough battle for the Rams, but Sidney's  guard play must be on point in order for them to have a chance vs a underrated but very skilled Rams squad.

It's OFFICIAL: "No Audience" for upcoming City League Game Friday; Why this is a Lose Lose scenario

It is OFFICIAL:

   Dayton Public Schools will not be allowed to have any fans, parents, or friends at the next HS game on Friday.
    They will play the games without any spectators in the gym, which will be interesting to say the least.
 
   Because of the incident that happened on Tuesday night at the Ponitz vs Dunbar game,  Dayton public schools AD Jonas Smith and the Committee acted swiftly and instructed the 1- game Audience "Suspension" for the behavior.

   Smith was "Very Disappointed" with what occurred at Ponitz but feels this was the best decision.

    But let's look in depth on the effect this has on, not only Friday, but the bigger picture.


The Financial Effect

  Hypothetically, with 3 games going on in a normal city league matchup (Freshman, JV,and Varsity) at a School site, it costs $4 for kids / students, & 6 for adults.
 
   If you average out 1,000 people for 3 games at a average of $5 a person, that's $5,000 a venue.
   Multiply by 3?

A possible amount of a $15,000 loss off the top.

 Now throw in the concessions of about a minimum of $100 profit for each game, and you're looking at another $300 for each venue, which is another $900.

So, in effect, Dayton Public Schools will lose a minimum of about $16,000 or so, by not having anyone in the stands on Friday.
 
And that's just from the financial aspect.


   The Family Aspect 

 The fact is that in sports, a team becomes a family within a family. Everybody knows everyone's parents, friends, acquaintances, & foes. And these people show up in droves to support their own people here.  Sports is one of the few things that keep people inspired in Dayton, Ohio.

Parents of the team will go beyond and some for their kids and the programs.
 
 We're good at HS Sports.
   We get it.
 
    You are liable to see any and everybody coming to a Dayton Public City League game.
 
    Former hoop legends & former players. Mayors, Commissioners & TV Stars. Pro athletes. Former and current workers. Young and old fans, and everybody in between come to the games.
  Friday night in the winter?

"What's the High School game of the Week?" And
"Where is it at"  are most of the questions asked.

Now, with no game to go, what do you do on Friday night?



The Fighting Effect
   
     Thanks a lot young thugs.

  Because you decide to turn a major sporting event into your fight club you,

   (1) Ruin everything for the good folks who want a quality HS basketball game for the community on Friday night, which keeps a lot of people out of trouble as it is.

  (2) Wasted your money to get in and your time as well, not to mention you might be arrested, suspended from school, and got clocked upside the head.
 
 (3) Show your complete lack of class for the schools, people, and programs who are already grinding to change the perception of Dayton Public.

Hey young thugs, if you want to fight?
   Star boxer Chris Pearson just opened up a pro  development boxing establishment in Trotwood.

 Or there's a variety of UFC - style gyms in Southwest Ohio to battle it out.
 
This has happened at sporting events before this season, and it' probably will happen again.

Unfortunately.

 It sucks, and until kids and parents start to understand exactly what the repercussions are, accept blame, man up and understand the REAL EFFECT THIS HAS ON THE COMMUNITY?

It will continue.


Just please, don't ruin the best thing going in Dayton right now.