Dayton Dunbar (Dayton, OH)

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Cincy

3/17/06

Woodward falls to Dunbar

Division II regional semifinal

BY CAREY HOFFMAN | ENQUIRER CONTRIBUTOR

FAIRBORN - Woodward came from 21 points down in the third quarter to cut the lead to four points but couldn't finish the rest of the comeback Thursday night in a Division II regional semifinal game against Dayton Dunbar.

Dunbar, the state's No. 3-ranked team in Division II, ended Woodward's season with a 68-55 victory at Wright State's Nutter Center.

Dunbar (23-2) advances to the regional title game on Saturday, where it will meet New Albany.

New Albany won Thursday's first semifinal in four overtimes, toppling previously unbeaten Tipp City 56-53.

Ohio State-signee Daequan Cook scored 28 points to lead Dunbar, while Woodward was paced by sophomore guard Troy Long, who hit eight 3-pointers on his way to 28 points.

"They've been together longer than us," Long said of Dunbar, which featured three three-year starters in its starting lineup. Woodward started three sophomores and two juniors.

"We're a young team, and need more time together. But the key is we have to play hard against anybody."

Woodward (13-10) had reached the state's final 16 in Division II by putting a 9-9 regular season behind them and upsetting three seeded teams.

The Bulldogs came out hot, hitting their first three shots, including a pair of long-distance 3s by Long to take an early 8-4 lead. Long added two more 3s later in the quarter to help Woodward to a 16-10 lead, but then came an 18-0 run by Dunbar, exacerbated by Woodward making only one more field goal the rest of the half.

"They got us out of running our offense. That was the key," said Woodward coach Lannis Timmons. "Their point guard did a good job of containing the ball, and then they got it inside and utilized (Aaron) Pogue."

Pogue is Dunbar's 6-8 junior center, who finished with 18 points and nine rebounds.

Woodward fell behind 43-22 in the middle of the third quarter, but Long started hitting 3s again, including two more in the first three possessions of the fourth quarter, allowing Woodward to pull within 51-47.

"We just relaxed and lost track of Mr. Long," said Dunbar coach Peter Pullen.

But Cook scored nine of Dunbar's next 10 points to help the Wolverines retake control of the game.

Long's dad, Troy Sr., was a starting guard on Woodward's 1988 state championship team. With so much youth featured in a first visit back to regionals after only winning six games combined in the previous two seasons, Woodward's program again appears to be on the rise.

"Hopefully, this gives these guys something even more to strive for in the spring and summer," said Timmons.

Dunbar (23-2) - Anderson 1 0 2, Pogue 7 4 18, Powell 3 4 11, Cook 10 8 29, Cole 1 0 2, Rakestraw 1 0 2, Benson 1 2 4. Totals: 24-52 18-27 68.
Woodward (13-10) - Johnson 3 0 6, Grimes 7 1 15, Bettis 0 1 1, Long 8 4 28, Mosley1 0 2, Allen 1 1 3. Totals: 20-55 7-14 55.
Dunbar14231417-68Woodward1641718-55
3-point goals: D 2 (Powell, Cook); W 8 (Long 8).

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

DDN

3/18/06

DUNBAR (23-2) vs. NEW ALBANY (20-4)

What: D-II final

When: 11 a.m. today

Where: Nutter Center, WSU

Summary: Dunbar scored 68 points in 32 minutes in the regional semifinal. New Albany scored 56 points in 48 minutes. That sums up how these teams operate. The Wolverines can bury teams behind McDonald's All-American Daequan Cook (29 points vs. Woodward) and 6-9 center Aaron Pogue (18). Mark Anderson, Norris Cole and Darran Powell have been the third options. Sound defensively and patient on offense, New Albany must hope Alex Emrich, Jake Worley and company recover from the four-OT defeat of Tippecanoe. Worley held down Tipp's Kellen Zawadzki, but whoever draws Cook will have a tougher task. New Albany may try to slow the pace and must shoot well to limit Dunbar's breaks. With a win, the third-ranked Wolverines are headed to their second straight state tourney.

 

[BuckBackHome]

Dunbar plays St. V- St. M next Friday.

Go Irish!!!

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

DDN

3/19/06

Dunbar keeps pact, makes state

By Mark Gokavi
Dayton Daily News

FAIRBORN | After a loss in a Myrtle Beach tournament Dec. 26, the Dunbar boys basketball team made a pact.

"We haven't lost to anybody (in Ohio), and we hope it ends that way," Dunbar coach Peter Pullen said Saturday. "They made a promise in Myrtle Beach when they lost. I've kept that in the back of my mind."

Dunbar defeated New Albany 77-54 in the Division II regional final Saturday at the Nutter Center. Daequan Cook led the way with 21 points, and Aaron Pogue added 18 points and 13 rebounds.

The win puts the Wolverines back in the state tournament. Third-ranked Dunbar (24-2) plays top-ranked Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary (21-3) at 2 p.m. Friday in Columbus' Schottenstein Center.

The Wolverines started the season 5-2, including a 69-54 loss to powerhouse Lawrence North in Indianapolis. Then, Ridgeway (Tenn.) defeated Dunbar 51-46. That's when the team set its goal, even if the math wasn't quite right.

"They said they're going 18-0 from there," Pullen said. "It wasn't quite 18-0. If I remember correctly, this was our 20th in a row."

Actually, it was Dunbar's 19th straight win and a state title would be 21.

But, hey, the Wolverines have won so many it's easy to forget the exact number.

Last season, Dunbar fell in the state semifinals 95-90 to eventual champion Upper Sandusky. Now, the Wolverines have LeBron James' alma mater to contend with and then either Wooster Triway (25-0) or Columbus St. Francis DeSales (19-6).

"Hopefully we'll be down there for two games," Cook said. "Instead of one."
Contact Mark Gokavi at 225-6951.

DDN

3/19/06

Dunbar wins second chance at state title

By Mark Gokavi
Dayton Daily News

FAIRBORN | Dunbar is going back to Columbus for some unfinished business.

Some more big runs Saturday in a Division II regional boys basketball final gave Dunbar a 77-54 victory over New Albany at the Nutter Center.

"Hopefully we bring it back home this year," Dunbar's Mark Anderson said.

"We waited all year long to get here."

The Wolverines (24-2) return to the D-II state tournament, where last season they lost in the semifinals. Third-ranked Dunbar plays top-ranked Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary (21-3) at 2 p.m. Friday at the Schottenstein Center. The title game is at 5:15 p.m. Saturday.

"One thing about this group, they turn it on," Dunbar coach Peter Pullen said. "They know it's game time, and they come to play. It's on them. When it's time to play, win or lose, they're going to give it their best."

Like usual, the Wolverines took their opponents' best shot early and responded with a game-changing run.

Trailing 21-14, Dunbar went on a 18-4 streak for a 32-25 lead. It started inside where 6-foot-9 center Aaron Pogue and 6-9 Anderson did some work.

Then, All-American Daequan Cook took the spotlight.

"They knew they had an inside power game that we couldn't match up with," said New Albany coach Sam Davis, whose team finishes 20-5. "They did a great job pounding the ball inside. And then you have Cook on the outside trying to create things and whenever you help off him, he's a great passer."

Pogue finished with 18 points, 13 rebounds 3 blocks and made 6 of 8 free throws. Anderson had 12 points before twisting his ankle. Cook had 12 of his game-high 21 points in the first half's final 5:31. The Ohio State-bound guard scored on a 3-point play, two jumpers, a 3-pointer and an offensive rebound. Cook also had three nice no-look passes as Dunbar led 36-29 at halftime.

"I just felt like I was laid back too much," Cook said. "I wasn't playing a big role. I was doing this and that, but that wasn't enough. I had to make a big difference and play harder."

Alex Emrich (18 points) and Jake Worley (11) each made 3-pointers to bring New Albany within 40-35. A 13-3 run stretched the lead to 53-43 after three quarters.

Norris Cole added 10 points and Darran Powell had 7 points and 7 assists. Dunbar shot 50 percent from the field, outrebounded the Eagles 36-27 and had more assists (17 to 12) and fewer turnovers (8 to 14).

"We figured they couldn't match our size," Cole said. "They were pretty tall, but as far as size-wise, we thought we had an advantage."

Possibly tired from a four-overtime win over Tippecanoe on Thursday, the Eagles couldn't handle Dunbar's streaks. Dunbar ended the game with 11-2 and 13-3 runs to set the stage for state.

"You turn on and off the light," Cook said. "Sometimes the light doesn't come on when you hit the switch. Luckily, it came back on today. The main thing is to go up (to Columbus) and achieve a goal we set for ourselves last year."

Contact Mark Gokavi at 225-6951.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

I think Dunbar will win by double digits in this game.

They are the better team IMO.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

DDN

3/21/06

Dunbar's Powell lends assists in setting up slams

Point guard makes Wolverines' offense click

By Mark Gokavi
Dayton Daily News

DAYTON | You always remember the oop but perhaps not the alley. Dunbar's Darran Powell is used to that.

One of basketball's most exciting plays is the alley-oop dunk. Dunbar's Daequan Cook, Aaron Pogue and Mark Anderson have thrown down several in the past few seasons.

"We don't practice it," said Powell, a 5-foot-10 senior guard who has played with Cook and Pogue for about six years. "If it's there, I throw it up and they go get it. I just throw it. I know they've got the ability to go get it.

You just have to know where they're at and where the rim's at throw it in between and hope they meet it."

That trio may get some dunks this weekend in the Division II state boys basketball tournament. Most of the time, it's Powell who perfectly passes the ball. The third-ranked Wolverines (24-2) play top-ranked Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary (21-3) in a semifinal at 2 p.m. Friday.

Powell's scoring average is 3.3 points. But he also averages 6.7 assists.

Most are not as visible as an alley-oop but every bit as effective.

"I accepted the role of being a point guard, stepping up when I have to," Powell said. "It's not my role to shoot the ball. I've got Mark, Aaron and Daequan, why shoot? I'll get all the assists I need."

Powell can shoot. His father Albert, a Dunbar assistant, said his son averaged 12 points when he was younger. Powell may attend the University of Cincinnati to play football and/or run track.

But the younger Powell realized his basketball role early, playing on an AAU team with Cook, Pogue, Lawrence North (Indiana's) Greg Oden and Mike Conley Jr. and others.

"Sometimes Darran didn't play," said his father, also an assistant on the Speice Indy Heat AAU team. "That's a lot of sacrifice so (the team) could get all that exposure and improve our skills.

"He knew he was getting better when he was working against Mike Conley and Daequan could no longer take the ball away from him. He has cherished that role. It takes a lot to be that unselfish."

Powell scored 11 in the regional semifinal victory when others weren't hitting. His varsity high is 15 last season. But usually, he's shooting for his goal of 10 assists (his career-high is 18) and sometimes not seeing his name in the box score because he had no points.

"I'm pretty used to it," Powell said. "People don't look for steals and assists and blocks and stuff." But they do look for high-flying dunks, like alley-oops.

That's when the mild-mannered, quiet point guard gets to be involved in showtime.

"I concentrate on playing defense and going for the alley-oop," Powell said.

"I can get it to Aaron and Mark and Pooh (Cook). It's usually pretty good. If it's off you can't tell because they can usually go get them."

The alley-oops mostly come from non-verbal, on-court communication.

They look nice but can test the coaching staff's patience.

"It's usually just an eye connection between (Darran) and Mark or Aaron or Daequan," coach Powell said. "We sometimes go, 'Grrrr,' but nine out of 10 are there."

Contact Mark Gokavi at 225-6951.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

DDN

3/22/06

Dunbar, Trotwood go way back

Players, coaches tied together in many ways over many years

By Mark Gokavi
Dayton Daily News

Before they hope to do some damage in Columbus, the Dunbar and Trotwood-Madison boys basketball teams will take on a buffet. Together. Tonight.

"We're going to get together and break bread," Trotwood coach Ike Thornton said of an idea by Dunbar coach Peter Pullen. "After we played (a 71-64 Dunbar win Jan. 29), he was walking to his bus and I was walking to my bus and he said, 'Let's both go up this year,' and it happened."

Trotwood-Madison plays Lancaster at 8:30 p.m. Friday in the Division I high school basketball state semifinals at Ohio State's Schottenstein Center. At 2 p.m., Dunbar plays Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary in a D-II semifinal.

Many of the coaches and players know each other.

"The kids grew up together and played together," Pullen said. "It's rare that two schools pretty much from the same area of town make it. It's great for the city of Dayton. We wanted to show our support."

Pullen used to coach girls at Dunbar, while Thornton coached junior varsity boys for the Wolverines for two seasons. Pullen got the boys job two years ago. Thornton left four years ago for Trotwood, just missing his shot to coach one exceptional group of athletes. Instead, he got another.

"I used to watch (Dunbar's seniors) play in middle school," Thornton said. "I was looking forward to coaching them, but this opportunity opened up and I couldn't let it go by."

Pullen's son, Jarrod Givens, was a top reserve on the Rams' freshman team. Thornton won't get to coach Givens either, since the Trotwood coach is moving to San Antonio after the school year.

While some talk about the Wolverines' win earlier this season is inevitable this evening, Trotwood senior Matthew Lakes said it will go back farther than that.

"It's probably going to be Parkside and Dayton Airmen, taking it way back — back in the days when basketball was just something to do," Lakes said.

"It's still fun, but it was less competitive back then."

Trotwood junior Chris Wright said he met Dunbar junior Aaron Pogue when both were in fourth grade. They competed and talked then. Nothing has changed.

"If we were (both) to win it, Dayton would go crazy," Wright said. "Off the court, we're really cool. Some schools want to be your enemies, but we're at another level. It's almost like we're all a big family, but we just go to different schools."

Contact Mark Gokavi at 225-6951.

DUNBAR-TROTWOOD connections

• Trotwood-Madison coach Ike Thornton won a state title in 1981 as a player at Roth. His coach there was Mike Haley, who guided Dunbar to the 1987 AAA title. Dunbar is the last Dayton-area team to win the big-school title.
• Dunbar coach Peter Pullen lives in Trotwood. His son, Jarrod Givens, was a top reserve on the Rams' freshman team. Thornton's father, Ike, played at Dunbar.
• Thornton coached JV at Dunbar for two years before taking the Trotwood job four years ago. When Thornton left, Albert Powell joined then-coach Mitch Waterman's staff. Thornton said he remembers Powell from his days at Roth. Trotwood volunteer assistant Todd Higgins played at Dunbar.
• Several members of both teams played for or against the Parkside basketball team as far back as third grade. Powell started an AAU team that competed against a Trotwood team. There were a few rumors of current players transferring one way or the other.
• Dunbar guard Norris Cole and Trotwood reserve center Nate Cole are part of the heralded Cole family that attended Dunbar.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

DDN

3/23/06

D-II semi a showdown between two powerhouses

By Mark Gokavi
Dayton Daily News

Dunbar isn't playing the Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary team that was on national TV a few years ago. However, this Fighting Irish basketball team is deep, talented and within reach of a title.

"These kids have played in the major shadow of LeBron and the James Gang, as they are fondly called," SVSM coach Dru Joyce II said. "I enjoyed coaching that at its peak. (Since), we've had great teams with great players that haven't been able to get it done.

"For us to get back to the final four means a lot. No one remembers who was in the semifinals, they remember who wins it."

Dunbar (24-2) plays SVSM (21-3) at 2 p.m. Friday in the Division II state semifinals at Ohio State's Schottenstein Center. Dunbar lost in the state semis last season.

Dunbar coach Peter Pullen is impressed by SVSM's versatility.

"I've seen them play a half-court style and an up-tempo style," Pullen said. "They are well-coached. That is going to be a test for our guys. They run sets and execute."

Players to watch

• SVSM's 6-foot-3 guard Marcus Johnson (17.4 ppg) is part of the University of Dayton's 2006 recruiting class.

• SVSM gets between 7.8 and 8.4 points per game from 6-2 forward Greg Preer, 6-5 center Anthony Anderson, 6-1 guard Patrick Nygaard and 5-7 guard Cameron Joyce, the coach's son.

• Dunbar's top scorers after Daequan Cook are 6-9 center Aaron Pogue (15 ppg) and 6-8 forward Mark Anderson (13 ppg).

Future home

• Dunbar's Daequan Cook (24.5 points per game) will play at Ohio State next season. The 6-foot-5 guard scored a career-high 41 points at the Schottenstein Center vs. Villa Angela-St. Joseph earlier this season. David Lighty — another Buckeye recruit — leads the Vikings into the D-III state semifinals today.

Say what?

• "We know we're going in as a major underdog. Look up and down that roster. There are decided mismatches that go in their favor. We're foolish enough to believe that we can compete. Everything on paper looks like we don't have a chance."
— Akron SVSM coach Dru Joyce, on his No. 1-ranked team (Dunbar is No. 3)

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

3/24/06

Division II semifinal / St. V-M vs. Dayton Dunbar

St. V-M must avoid being Cook-ed in semis

Dunbar senior guard boasts 24.5 average

By David Lee Morgan Jr.

Beacon Journal sportswriter

Remember the name Daequan Cook.

Dayton Dunbar's fabulous 6-foot-5 senior guard -- a McDonald's All-American and the Ohio Division II Player of the Year -- is averaging 24.5 points.

Cook and the Wolverines (24-2), the No. 3-ranked team in the state, will play St. Vincent-St. Mary (21-3), the top-ranked team, in a state semifinal game this afternoon at Ohio State's Value City Arena.

Ohio State fans will see even more of Cook in Value City Arena next season, when he is a member of the Buckeyes' talented 2006 recruiting class.

Dunbar also features 6-8 forward Aaron Pogue, who scored 18 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in the Wolverines' 77-54 regional championship win last week against New Albany.

Consequently, the Irish find themselves in an unfamiliar role.

``We know that we are going in as a major underdog,'' said St. V-M fourth-year coach Dru Joyce II. ``When you look at their roster and their schedule, they have a great player in Cook and an outstanding team. We look forward to the challenge, though.

``We've played great teams and have found ways to get it done,'' Joyce said. ``We recognize that everything on paper looks like we don't have a chance, but we're just crazy enough to believe that we do. We're confident we can give them a game.''

Dunbar is making an appearance in the state semifinals for the second consecutive year. Last season, the Wolverines lost 95-90 to eventual Division II champion Upper Sandusky in a semifinal game.

Cook led Dunbar in that game with 26 points.

``We're excited because this was about getting back to Columbus,'' said Dunbar coach Peter Pullen. ``It was something we strived for and the players set the goal as soon as we lost to Upper Sandusky last year.''

This is the first time the Irish have made it to the state semifinals since winning the Division II championship in 2003.

``No one is going to remember who was in the semifinals,'' Joyce said.

``They are going to remember who won it. We're coming down here with that in mind, and we're not just happy to be here.

``We're coming to win and that's the only way we've approached it from the very beginning of the season.''

The Wolverines might be without 6-8 senior forward Mark Anderson, who is averaging 13 points. He injured his ankle in the regional championship game.

Pullen said Anderson underwent therapy earlier this week, and the chance of him playing will depend on his tolerance of pain.

``If he isn't ready, we have capable people coming off the bench who people don't know about,'' Pullen said.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

3/24/06

St. Vincent-St. Mary (21-3) vs. Dayton Dunbar (24-2)

When: Friday at 2 p.m.

About SVSM: The Irish return to the final four for the first time since 2003, when Le- Bron James led them to their third state championship in four years. Leading the way for the Associated Press' topranked Division II team is senior guard/forward Marcus Johnson, a first-team All-Ohio selection and the Division II co-Player of the Year in the Inland District. The University of Dayton recruit is averaging 17.4 points a game.

About Dunbar: The Wolverines, who lost to eventual Division II champion Upper Sandusky in the state semifinals last year, are making their fifth final four appearance. Showing the way for the AP's third-ranked team is All-American senior guard Daequan Cook. An Ohio State recruit, the 6-5, 210-pound Cook is averaging 24.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists a game.

- Eddie Dwyer

 

[flybuckeye]

Dunbar beat St. V 74-48.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

CPD

3/24/06

Dayton Dunbar 74, Akron SVSM 48

3/24/2006, 3:35 p.m. ET

By RUSTY MILLER
The Associated Press


COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Early in the fourth quarter, as Dayton Dunbar's lead reached 20 points against No. 1-ranked Akron St. Vincent St. Mary, its student section began a taunting chant: "Put LeBron in! Put LeBron in!"

SVSM graduate LeBron James wasn't available to save the day, however, as Dunbar followed the lead of Ohio State-bound Daequan Cook to beat the Fighting Irish 74-48 Friday in a Division II state semifinal at Value City Arena.

The Wolverines (25-2), rated No. 3 in the final regular-season Associated Press poll, will meet No. 4 Wooster Triway (26-0) in Saturday afternoon's title game. Triway defeated Columbus DeSales 58-56 in the other semifinal.

Making their fifth appearance at the state's final four, the Wolverines will be seeking their second championship. They won the 1987 title behind Mark Baker (Ohio State), Mike Haley Jr. (Wright State) and Kirk Taylor (Michigan).


Cook had a big game with 26 points as the Wolverines won their 20th consecutive game. They haven't been beaten by a team in Ohio this year, falling 69-54 to Lawrence North of Indianapolis (and fellow Ohio State signees Greg Oden and Mike Conley) and 51-46 to another national power, Ridgeway (Tenn.).

Their last loss was the day after Christmas.

Cook hit 12-of-22 shots from the field and made both foul shots. He also had nine rebounds, nine assists and two steals.

Six-foot-8 junior center Aaron Pogue added 18 points, making all eight shots from the field and both foul shots, and 10 rebounds. Dunbar outrebounded SVSM 42-22 while shooting 60 percent from the field.

Marcus Johnson, a first-team all-stater who will play next year at Dayton, had 14 points and Greg Preer had 11 for SVSM (21-4). The Fighting Irish were seeking their fifth state title, and fourth this decade after winning three with James — now an NBA superstar with the Cleveland Cavaliers — in the lineup in 2000, 2001 and 2003.

The 48 points was their worst offensive output of the season.

The Wolverines took control in the third quarter. Ahead 23-19, they ran off 10 points in a row to pull away, with Pogue scoring four points.

They stretched an 11-point lead with 2 minutes left into a 50-30 advantage on Pogue's three-point play a minute into the final quarter. The lead was never threatened again.

Dunbar led 23-17 at the half but the score didn't reflect how the Wolverines dominated the opening 16 minutes of play. With Cook directing traffic and Cole hurrying the ball down the court on the break, they led 19-10 midway through the second quarter.

To that point, the Wolverines had hit 9-of-13 shots from the field — and had missed two wide-open dunks.

Dunbar hit 58 percent from the field in the opening half while SVSM was at 28 percent.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Here are some pics from the game....

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

3/25/06

Dunbar far more than just talented Cook

By Terry Pluto

It will take a bigger upset than the one Gene Hackman pulled off in the movie Hoosiers for Triway to win the Division II state boys basketball title today.
That much was obvious after watching Dayton Dunbar sprint past St. Vincent-St. Mary 74-48 Friday in a semifinal game at Value City Arena.
Here's the scouting report on Dunbar: It's loaded.
Serious hoops fan know about Daequan Cook, the Ohio State recruit. He made the game look ridiculously easy, scoring 26 points while delivering nine rebounds and nine assists against the Irish.
Cook is a lanky 6-foot-5 McDonald's All-American. He's listed among the top 25 players in the country by some recruiting services.
Triway coach Keith Snoddy has been watching film on Dunbar, in addition to personally scouting Friday's semifinal win over St. V-M. Has Snoddy's 26-0 team ever faced anyone quite like Cook this season?
``Well,'' said the coach, pausing, ``no.''
Dunbar is far from a one-man team. The Wolverines have two other Division I prospects, and several more players who should continue their careers at smaller colleges.
That's why early in the third quarter of Friday's game, the Dunbar fans were chanting, ``Put LeBron in... Put LeBron in.''
LeBron James is about all that could have saved St. V-M on this day.
None of this is a criticism of the 2005-06 Irish. Coach Dru Joyce II correctly called them ``overachievers.'' He had reason to praise his seniors -- Patrick Nygaard, Brian Glasper, Blaise Meeker and Marcus Johnson.
They truly are one of the state's best teams.
But Dunbar has some of the prime talent in the country.
Besides Cook, there's a hulking junior named Aaron Pogue.
He's listed at 6-foot-8, and still might be growing. His shoe size is 15. He says he weighs 280, down from more than 290. He also happens to be skilled with soft hands and quick feet.
When he slams, it's one of those ``shot clock shaking, rim almost breakin', the house is gonna come down'' dunks. He had three, his team threw down seven.
Pogue is being recruited by every major college in the country. Senior teammate Mark Anderson is getting attention from the likes of Wright State and other similar Division I schools.
St. V-M star Marcus Johnson is headed to Dayton, and he was his team's leading scorer with 14 points on this day. The gifted 6-foot-3 senior certainly held his own against Dunbar, but he wasn't able to dominate this game as he has so many others.
Dunbar just had too many athletes rushing at him. Dunbar is 25-2 this season, the only losses to Memphis Ridgeway and Lawrence North (Indianapolis, Ind.), which is the nation's top-ranked prep team.
Dunbar runs and dunks and heaves alley-oops and plays very loose. Coach Peter Pullen is a huge man with an engaging smile who wore a stunning navy blue sport coat, bright white pants and has a physical appearance a little like famous evangelist T.D. Jakes.
Like most inner-city coaches, he isn't fully appreciated for the work he does with his players. Rather than fight it, he said, ``I'm not about to mess them up and try to coach them.''
He was kidding, but there was some truth to giving his players the freedom to take chances, make mistakes and sometimes deliver the kind of plays you'd expect to see in the NBA.
But they also play fierce, pressure defense.
``The only team that I've seen better than Dunbar is McKinley,'' said Joyce.
In Division I, Canton McKinley is ranked No. 10 in the country by USA Today.
A year ago, Dunbar was knocked off in the state semifinals by Upper Sandusky. Triway met Upper Sandusky for the Division II title, losing 94-86.
``We're not going to get baited into that again,'' said Dunbar's Pullen. ``Triway is undefeated, right? Last year, we played an undefeated team here and thought they couldn't stay on the court with us. We're not underestimating anybody.''

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

DDN

3/25/06

DUNBAR (24-3) vs. WOOSTER TRIWAY (26-0)

What: D-II final

When: 5:15 p.m. today

Summary: Dunbar has picked a fine time to click. Daequan Cook struck for 26 points in a 74-48 lathering of Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary in its semi Friday. Junior big man Aaron Pogue added 18 points on 8-for-8 shooting. Triway is in the D-II final for the second straight year. Linc Rottman had 22 points as the Titans edged Cols. St. Francis DeSales 58-56 in its Friday semi.