Wednesday Division II District Title Results

CPHR had a chance to watch Taft dominate the District Title game, while Aiken put up an effort all Cincy hoops fans should be proud of against the co-favorites (along with Taft) to win the D2 State Title, the Dayton Dunbar Wolverines. With tons of future college players on the floor the action was as good as any we've seen all year.......

Taft PG Orlando Berry

Taft 73 St. Paris Graham 47: The Senators blew the game wide open behind a 19-3 first quarter, forcing the Graham Falcons into 22 total turnovers as Taft took the ball and shot layups on the other end. The Senators, coming off of last year’s State Championship run, won another Division II district title and only needed to play their starters limited minutes in the second half to do so. Senior PG Orlando Berry was the top Senator performer in the game as his speed was too much for Graham, Berry totaled 22 points (on 9/13 shooting) and dropped off 4 assists in the game. Next for Taft was senior post Adolphus Washington who dominated inside with 19 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 ferocious blocks. The size and strength of Washington was a clear intimidation factor from the opening tip. Senior wing Jalean Lowe added 13 points for Taft while the Senators also got 10 points from senior guard Jermaine Freeman. It only gets better for Taft as they will get senior forward Dwayne Stanford back for Thursday’s Regional Semi-Final game at Kettering’s Trent Arena.

Dayton Dunbar 67 Aiken 60: The white and blue crowd was stunned with 4:17 remaining in the first half when the Falcons had the lead on heavily favored Dunbar 27-14. From there the Wolverines woke up behind the inspired play of freshman guard AJ Harris and senior forward Gary Akbar; the duo scored at will around the rim to give Dunbar a 30-27 lead going into the half. Feeling the emotion of the crowd coming out of the gates in the second half Dunbar scored the first 7 points of the third quarter to take a 37-27 lead with 5:10 remaining in the quarter, the crowd thought it was over but Aiken would make enough plays to cut into the margin and make it a 43-39 Dunbar lead going into the fourth quarter. The fourth quarter went see-saw the whole way as Aiken got back to back three-pointers from junior wing Mikey Thompson to cut the deficit to 56-54 with 2:21 remaining. From there Aiken just had too many turnovers as Dunbar held on to win the Division II District Title. Dunbar senior guard Andre Yates was the key man in the second half as he scored 17 of his team high 21 points after the break. Yates scored from three-point range, three times, as well as took the ball to the basket with authority to break Aiken down. Gary Akbar pounded his way inside to 19 points and 7 rebounds, as the Falcons couldn’t match his relentlessness on the interior. Freshman guard AJ Harris scored all 12 of his points in the first half, while forwards Damarion Geter and Deontae “Teddy” Hawkins scored 9 and 6 respectively. Aiken was led by the fearless 22 points of star senior guard Willie Moore, who also tallied 7 assists. Moore never gave up in the game and was able to penetrate into the heart of the Wolverine defense as well. Senior forward Paul Woodson and junior guard Austin Grimes also had admirable performances in the game as Woodson totaled 12 points and 12 rebounds while Grimes finished with 11 points and 8 rebounds.

Dayton Thurgood Marshall 78 Trotwood Madison 65: The Cougars, who are defending D2 Regional Champions, captured another District Title behind a first quarter run where there pressure helped them build a 12 point lead. Junior guard Edmond "Junior" Early was the catalyst for Thurgood as his on-ball pressure of TM point guard James Brown started the Cougar run. Early also led the Cougars in scoring with 16 points, while guards Mark Alstork and Joe Thomasson scored 15 and 13 respectively. Brown led the Trotwood Rams with a game high 19 points. Thurgood advances to play Taft in the Regional Semi-Final in Division II on Thursday at Kettering Trent Arena. 

Notes:

• Yesterday senior point guard Josh Lemons, of LaSalle high school committed to the University of Toledo. Here's the story from Triple Double Prospects: Lemons to the Rockets