Dunbar Wins State Title, finish dream season undefeated - in dramatic fashion.

     Dayton Dunbar did something very few teams have done in Ohio High School history - Going Undefeated and winning the D-2 State Championship on Saturday. And it took every inch of Wolverine muscle to get the win as Elida made a frantic comeback, but Dunbar was able to withstand the rally and complete the first ever perfect season in Wolverine history. Not without drama, nevertheless.
  

Dunbar 2011-12 State Champions (28-0)

     Dunbar (28-0)  held a 10- point lead heading into midway point of the 4th quarter, and it looked as if the Wolverines would push it and cruise to the title. However, Elida (24-4) kept battling, chipping the lead down to as low as 5 going into the last two minutes of the game. As Elida stood back in the zone, Dunbar seemed nervous. Then a game changing play ensued, and all hell broke loose in the last 2 minutes.

D-2 Player of Year Akbar celebrating

     An Elida player went to the basket and got a questionable foul call (there was a few questionable calls in the 4th quarter to say the least) on freshman sensation AJ Harris. Harris turned, said a couple words, and the referee immediately called a technical foul on him, all the while holding a 5- point lead. The Elida players hit 3 of 4 shots to pull to 2. After a time out, Gary Akbar was blocked, then Elida got another questionable call, as Akbar was called on a foul (which it looked like there was no foul). Elida hit the two shots to pull it to one (52-51). Chris McGuire Jr. was fouled, which set the stage for the climatic last 10 seconds of the game.
   McGuire missed the front end of the 1 and 1 and Elida got the rebound. One of the Elida players drove the court and took a mid-range shot that missed, but Deontae Hawkins was called for a push on the rebound, which send Elida's McAdams to the line.
   
    Elida's best player Reggie McAdams (headed to Akron)  had been unstoppable all game, hitting jumpers, 3's, inside shots, and had a chance to ruin Dunbar's hopes. McAdams made the first and missed the second, tying the game. Dunbar got the rebound, kicked it to Andre Yates, who dribbled through three guys, slid down the left side and dropped a beautiful left handed floating 12 ft bankshot with 2 seconds left, sending the Wolverines into a frenzy, and ending Elida's chance for a monumental upset. Elida missed on their half-court attempt, and it was party time as the Wolverines had done what no team had done before. Go undefeated and be champs. 


Yates is hero after clutch shot for Wolveines

     There has been a lot of talk about who is the best team to ever come out of Dunbar at this point, with no team ever going undefeated until now. And this game will add to the debate. Dunbar couldn't hit open jumpers, played a little sloppy and missed cruicial free throws in the 4th. They didn't play the perfect game people expected to see. They had a few questionable calls against them. But one things for certain; They showed why they were the best by winning games that normal teams, even winning teams, lose.

  So to the Wolverine Nation, congrats and enjoy it. As everybody knows, its not how you win or how much you win by, its gettin the "W". And the Wolerines did that every time they stepped on the court this season, even in the most pressure packed situations.
                             
                                  Now let the "Greatest Dunbar Team Ever" debate begin.

 

Dayton Dunbar looks to bring back State Title, perfect season

When you think about Dayton Dunbar, 2 things come to mind: (1) A Winning tradition of sports (especially basketball) that has produced Legendary teams, players, and coaches that has lasted over decades, and (2) One of the most dominant programs to come out of the Miami Valley.  However, the  2011-12 Wolverines will look to do one thing that has NEVER been achieved.
 

Deontae Hawkins slams it down

 Win the State Title with the first ever undefeated record in Dunbar history.

Now when you look at all the great teams that have came out of Dunbar such as: (1) 70's teams with Corneilius and Lorenzo Cash, "Wild" Bill Higgins, Richard Gates and Skip Howard, (2) to the late 80's with Mike Haley coaching and son Jr. playing with Mark Baker-led teams to the 90's where (3) Richard "TuTu" Brown and Co. steamrolled competition, all the way up to the (4) Daequan Cook - Norris Cole - Aaron Pogue trio of dominance just a few years ago. One thing none of those talented teams were able to do was, go undefeated.


Dunbar's Cook winning NBA 3pt Contest

   Seniors Gary Akbar (D-2 State Player of the Year), Deontae Hawkins, and Andre Yates will take one step closer to making not only an undefeated season, but a State Title as well. The Wolves have ran roughshod over almost every opponent, and will face on Mentor State Catholic today (10:45 AM) in the early game of the day. However, make no mistakes as this will be the Featured Game as the Wolverines look as focused as ever, with the help of a great coach in Pete Pullen, who's established himself as a legend in the making.

    In the City League, everybody is gunning for the top team, and for the last few years, Dunbar and Thurgood Marshall has shared that label. If Dunbar wins the State Title (and they are HEAVILY favored) that'll be one more notch on the belt for the TOP HIGH SCHOOL in the MIAMI VALLEY when it comes to basketball. And right now, for the past 10 years, I'd have to say the TOP HIGH SCHOOL in the STATE. And maybe top 10 in the COUNTRY.

  Dunbar IS THAT GOOD. And you will see it this weekend. Wolverine Nation will be in full effect.

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