Rams show resolve, defeat Dunbar

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

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

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

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

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

#1 ranked Amari Davis shoots over Chris Jackson 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

All-GWOC G Torrey Patton playing D

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

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

 




 

 

Big Weekend for Boys hoops, Sectional Championship Matchups

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

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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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