Thunderstorm in South Beach; Reds take on New York; Photos of the week

SportsEffectLive.Com Top 5 Sporting Topics for the Weekend:




Will the Thunder be ready for BIG 3?

(1) Thunderstorm in South Beach?
 With the Heat tying the series up with a great performance in NBA Finals Game 2, head honcho LeBron James was qouted as saying, "They will be coming for us" after the game and "I'm exhausted" after the game. If he's exhausted after that game, wait until he gets in Game 5, with the series tied 2-2, and  Oklahoma City trio of Durant, Westbrook, and Harden are droppin 3-balls because they can smell the rings....The intensity for this game will be incredible.   (Sun 8pm)



(2) Tiger on the Prowl at US OPEN
 When Tiger was paired with Golf World America all-time favorite player (if there is a such thing) Phil Mickelson and  winner Bubba Watson, Im sure they thought they'd get the best of all three: Wrong, as only Tiger has been a factor, and looks like he could be making a run at another major. We will know on Sunday, or possibly by Saturday, since he does like to make his move on late-Saturday. Even with the ladies. Oh so we heard... (Fri-Sat-Sun)

(3) Mayweather wants to use Get out of Jail Card ASAP


Money Mayweather and 50 in court ruling

Floyd "Money" Mayweather was denied by a judge in a ruling in which he wanted  to do the rest of his 3-month bid on house arrest . Mayweather has said the living conditions are not suitable for him. He wants to run 5 miles a day, and he gets a hour for outdoor rec and he can to push-ups and situps from his cell. Just one question. Money Mayweather, for pimp slappin ya girl you get all of this? You might wanna slow down on puttin those laser beam jabs on chicks eyeballs. Jus sayin. I give him 45 days and he will be outta there.

(4) Reds travel to New York 
Cincy (35-27) looks to expand its lead in NL Central as they take their talents to the friendly confines of New York to take on the Mets.The Reds look to be a prime candidate to get to the World Series. Can they shake off the "Expectation Bug" and make it happen? The Mets (35-39) have done shockingly well this year, in second behind Washington. There is always one memorable game out of the serieswhen these two meet in New York, so keep ya eye out for this series.

(5) Daequan Cook (Thunder) vs   Norris Cole  (Heat) in the NBA Finals

Daequan Cook, 3pt-champion

 The city of Dayton, Ohio is, quite possibly, having its best year as a hoop state. EVER. And nothing would end that debate any better than to see former Dunbar Wolverines Daequan Cook and Norris Cole in the game, guarding each other in the NBA Finals. Both have seen action in the series but hasn't played on the court together. Just to keep it in perspective for ya: When ONE person from your town gets to the pros, its a big deal; but rarely does TWO players from the same state team make it; and even more rare is that they are guards, which lets you know the type of players and coaches that come out of the Dunbar Organization, and the City League each and every year. So root for tha Local Legends, even if you don't like the team!


Which topic is most exciting for you this weekend?



Didnt Make Cut:
   EURO Soccer Championships,    Yankees - Nationals,   WNBA Action

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 Air Stirkers head into crucial weekend looking to make PBLplayoffs

The Dayton Air Strikers might want to borrow deceased Raiders owner "Al Davis" motto for the weekend:
 "Just win baby" as the Strikers (4-10) look to get off a 4-game losing streak and back into the PBL playoff race during the last weeks of the regular season. 

     For the Air Strikers its pretty simple. They trail the Scranton Steamers (8-10) in which they will play them on Saturday (Moraine Civic Center) at 2pm.    

Air Strikers D big 7'3 monster for Lake Michigan

 
    However the Air Strikers first must take on the Lake Michigan Admirals tonight @ New Roosvelt (7:30pm) in a win or go home like situation. Both teams are 4-10 and likely know that the two games they face off will be cruicial to either advancing. If the Air Strikers pull off the 3-game sweep this weekend they will be sitting in a tie with Scranton with 3 games to play; A loss, especially to Scranton, and the Air Strikers may see their once promising hopes dashed.
  
    In talking with the Air Strikers, they seem to be pretty excited about the fact that they still have an opportuinity to get to the PBL Playoffs, considering their slide.

    Im sure Al Davis is somewhere with that cheshire cat grin and that leather outfit relaxing in a better place. If the Air Strikers can't somehow find a way to get his motto done this weekend, they might be there unfortunately, as well.

  
  

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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Dayton Air Strikers head into playoff run in PBL

     Heading into the 2nd half of the season, the Dayton Air Strikers are embarking on the most important week of their season. The season has been a roller coaster of a ride, starting off by winning the PBL Pre-Season tournament, then losing 3 of its first 4 games of the regular season. Now sitting at 4-6 and a 1 game lead for second place, the Air Strikers have their PBL playoff stakes in their own hands.
    

Air Strikers ready for battle

     The Air Strikers will take on Lake Michigan Admirals tonight at the Moraine Civic Center (7pm). The Admirals are 2-9 and know their playoff hopes are on life support. The Air Strikers last defeated Lake Michigan up in Michigan, and look to carry that momentum into tonights game. However, the Air Strikers will also take on PBL Champion Rochester on Thursday (7pm), then they will battle Lake Michigan on Saturday and Scranton again on Sunday, due to reschedules in the PBL. So this 4 game homestand could literally make or break the Air Strikers hopes of reaching the PBL playoffs in April.

     If the Air Strikers are to win 3 of the 4 games this week, this would put them at 7-7, sitting firmly in second place with 6 games remaining. If they can beat Scranton, then that would put Scranton 3 games behind while with 2 more games at Dayton, which would be ideal for the Air Strikers.
   
     The Air Strikers are healthy, with Aaron Perry, Avery Smith, and Brandon Russ all healed from early season injuries. The Strikers have the talent to get all the way to the PBL playoffs and beyond; Question is, can they ride that roller coaster all the way to a fantastic finish, or will they be overwhelmed with the pressure and expectations of winning a pre-season championship?

Air Strikers go 1-1 on road trip, remain 1/2 game behind playoff spot

     The Dayton Air Strikers went 1-1 on their road trip this weekend, winning at Scranton (Sunday) 132-127 but losing at Rochester (Monday) 106-97. The Air Strikers now remain at 4-6, 1/2 game back of Scranton Steamers (4-5) and division leader Rochester (11-1) heading into the midway break. Here is a recap of the weekend road trip:

Strikers win in Scranton

          (Sunday)   In the game against Scranton, G Avery Smith toasted the Steamers for 31 points, 7 assists and 5 boards, while F William "Bo" Harris had a double double off the bench with 28 points, 12 rebounds, and 2 steals to help lead the Strikers to a win. The Steamers held a slight lead at half (64-60) but was outscored by the Air Strikers in the 3rd quarter 40-27 to give the Air Strikers a cushion they would never relinquish. The Air Strikers now have beaten the Steamers 2 of 3 games they have met, which could be crucial come late in the season if the teams tie for 2nd best record.
     
         (Monday)  The Game against Rochester was once again a tight one, as the Razorsharks held a 10 point halftime lead, but the Air Strikers continued to fight back, getting the lead within 4 with less than 2 minutes in the game..With over 8,000 fans nailed to their seats, Razorsharks G Jahron Giddings hit a key basket with the shot clock winding down, and then sealed the deal with 2 free throws to lead the Razorsharks to a win. The Air Stirkers was led by F-C Brandon Russ, who dropped 23 points (10-12 FG) to go with 9 boards, while F "Bo" Harris put in 20 points to go with 11 rebounds.

NEXT UP: The Air Strikers will host Lake Michigan as they will have 7 of their last 10 games at home during the strectch run.

Gomillia gets pro opportunity in Mexico

Notes: Mark Gomillia has gotten a opportunity to play pro in Mexico. The guard from Stephen F. Austin has been a good wing player for the team as he has averaged 11 points while shooting over 50%  from the 3pt line and over 90% from the free throw line....F-C Aaron Perry returned this weekend from his foot injury, playing well and scoring 10 points in 18 minutes of action.

Check out the PBL WEEKLY starting this week from  www.sportseffectlive.com

Dayton Air Strikers looking to continue winning streak, showdown with Rochester tonight

    The Dayton Air Strikers look to continue their hot streak as they take on the PBL Champion Rochester Razorsharks tonight at 7pm @ Roosvelt. The Razorsharks are 9-1 and atop the Eastern Divison in the PBL, whle the Strikers are tied for second in the divison (3-4) and look to get to .500 for the first time this season. The Strikers lost to the Razorsharks in their last meeting, in which it was decided in the last 5 minutes of the game, with Rochester making more clutch plays en route to the road win. However there was a huge disparity at the free throw line as the Razorsharks shot 30 more Free Throws than the Air Strikers, due to a huge physical presence and a championship mentality which the Air Strikers look to match.


Coach McGuire leads the Strikers in combat

     Look for a intense battle tonight, as the game will be held at the new Roosvelt (Dayton Boys Academy). The Air Strikers have teamed up with the youth programs in Vandalia, Kettering, and now head into the Dayton Public School area as they continue to build their Air Striker Youth Program, which is suprisingly faring well. If you are looking for some pro level hoop action, dont miss this game. Check out @TVsports.com  to watch it live online.


Game Notes:  Air Striker William "Bo" Harris is coming off his most efficient offensive game, scoring 31 points on 15 shots....F-C Aaron Perry is questionable for tonights game, still suffering from a leg injury...The Air Strikers will have 4 local players active tonight (Daquan Walker, Brandon Hassell, Eugene Wade, and Devaughn Bunyton for the first time this season....If the Air Strikers win tonight, they would have beaten all 3 opponents in their divison on the streak...G Avery Smith says he is fully healed and ready to go after suffering a back injury duing preseason; He tallied 5 steals, and 7 assisists last game, and could be a key factor in this game as well.