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12/2/05

Wolverines hope rugged path leads to state championship

By Mark Gokavi
Dayton Daily News
DAYTON | Rugged is Dunbar's roadway to renown. Nothing is certain, especially not the envied crown.

Last year's Division II state semifinalists face several chances to swallow their pride and many rocks to thrust aside.

Both in location and opponent, the Dunbar boys basketball schedule seems to be searching for losses. Because some games have been moved to the Nutter Center and elsewhere, the Wolverines may play as few as three true home games.

"I told the kids to look at it this way: To win the state and all the tournament games leading to state, you're playing off our floor," Dunbar coach Peter Pullen said. "This year, we're playing off our floor so that won't be a difference for us."

There are games against Lawrence North in Indianapolis, against Toledo Libby at Chillicothe and three or four games at a Myrtle Beach, S.C., tournament. Add in Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph at Ohio State, Trotwood-Madison at UD Arena and Cincinnati Taft at US Bank Arena.
"We had a once-in-a-lifetime thing come our way," Pullen said. "So I thought the traveling that we're doing and the places we're playing are historic. Some of them won't get a chance to do that again."

Carrying the city's hope


Dunbar probably has more talent than any Dayton school district team since Colonel White in 1990, the last year a city team won a boys state basketball championship. This Wolverines team seeks to fulfill the promise hinted at years ago.

"Most of the players don't understand how if you grew up together as youngsters, why you don't go to the same high school?" senior Daequan Cook said. "We realized that since we've been playing together for four or five years, why not go to the same high school and get a chance to win a state title.

"Most of the kids want to be stars and don't want to play behind somebody so they go separate ways."

Though far from a one-man team, the Wolverines' chances rest on Cook. The 6-foot-5 player was the first to verbally commit to what's being called Ohio State's best recruiting class.

Rated nationally by several publications, Cook can dunk, hit 3-pointers, bank 15-footers, rebound, pass and defend. His averages of 21.4 points and 10.6 rebounds might be higher if not for his talented teammates.

Supporting cast


Junior 6-foot-9 center Aaron Pogue (14.5 points, 10.1 rebounds) is a Division I recruit, as is 6-8 senior forward Mark Anderson (9.6 points, 6 rebounds).

The top six includes senior guards Darran Powell and Antoine Sain and junior guard Norris Cole. Plus, there's 6-9 sophomore center Josh Benson, senior Anthony Dixon, junior Daquan Walker and others.

It's a team that can't lose, right? Wrong. A 95-90 loss to Upper Sandusky in last year's Division II state semis stopped Dunbar at 22-5.

"Last year, we thought we had it," Anderson said. "We thought it was easier than what it was going to be. We ended up coming short. We learned from our mistakes."

In the past seasons, the team has dealt with Pogue's ineligibility, a messy coaching change from Mitch Waterman to Pullen and constant rumors of Cook's departure for a prep school.

'A big schedule'


This season, on-court tests come often. Tonight's opener against Cincinnati Hughes features transfer Lonnie Hayes, scoring guard Adrion Graves, 6-6 forward Christian Siakam and 6-8 center Yancy Gates.

Lawrence North boasts 7-foot center and possible future No. 1 NBA pick Greg Oden and guard Mike Conley, Cook's friends, AAU teammates and fellow OSU recruits. The Dec. 8 game at Butler University's Hinkle Fieldhouse is scheduled to be shown on ESPN2.

Libby has a strong program, the Beach Ball Classic always has prominent teams and VASJ features David Lighty, another member of Cook's OSU class.

Add in local contender Trotwood, the conference and city rivals and D-II power Taft (on the under card of North College Hill vs. Oak Hills Academy) and Dunbar has anything but a soft road. Then comes the tourney, the part that matters most.

"It's a big schedule," Cook said. "We've got to perform big."

Contact Mark Gokavi at (937) 225-6951.