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12/3/05
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DUNBAR 75, CINCINNATI HUGHES 66
Dunbar off and running
Wolverines open with victory over Cincinnati Hughes
By
Mark Gokavi
Dayton Daily News
DAYTON | — Opening night of "The Tour" got started late Friday night at Dunbar.
But the capacity crowd — including Ohio State basketball coach Thad Matta — saw flashes of what is supposed to be a good production.
With Cincinnati Hughes in a guest-starring role, the Wolverines finished with a 75-66 win.
Like any opening night, there were strong performances and others needing work. Hughes was late, meaning a 9 p.m. tip.
"It was mediocre," Dunbar coach Peter Pullen said. "I thought we did good in spots and some things we didn't do so well. We just had to win it."
Two of the good things the Wolverines did was force turnovers (unofficially 26) and run early.
"We had to get some defensive pressure to make it the type of game that we wanted," guard Antoine Sain said. "It gets your adrenaline going even more and you want to work harder."
Dunbar had five dunks in a row in the first quarter — two by Aaron Pogue, two by future Buckeye Daequan Cook and one by Mark Anderson. One of Cook's came off an off-the-backboard alley-oop pass by Norris Cole.
"That was a stretch, huh?" Pullen smiled. "That can happen with this bunch."
Dunbar forced 11 first-quarter turnovers and cashed in with the ultimate high-percentage shots.
"It's real exciting," said Anderson, who had 17 points. "That's the kind of game we want play — run up and down. Me, Daequan and Aaron like to play above the rim."
Dunbar players and fans sported T-shirts ($15 for short sleeves, $20 for long sleeves) with a team photo on front and "The Tour" on the back listing the team's ambitious schedule.
Pogue led Dunbar (1-0) with 21 points while Cook had 18 and Sain 15.
Hughes (0-1) got 20 points from Yancy Gates, 18 from Xavier-bound forward Adrion Graves and 13 from Lonnie Hayes. The Big Red's 6-7 junior center, Christian Siakam, didn't play because all the paperwork hasn't cleared for him to be eligible.
"I actually think Dunbar is better than what they played tonight," Hughes coach Greg Mills said. "And we're a lot better than we played tonight."
These Southwest Ohio Public League members played an up-tempo first half. After intermission, the game ground down.
Cook didn't make a field goal after halftime, making 5 of 8 free throws. "He missed some shots and didn't take some shots," Pullen said. "He didn't play his usual under-control ball. That could have been Thad or the first game or a lot of factors.
"If we can win without him playing real well ... that's what makes this team so special. Other guys step up."
The Wolverines play Jefferson on Tuesday and then travel to Butler University at Indianapolis on Thursday to battle Lawrence North. Tickets are $10 and go on sale at Dunbar after school Monday.
The road show probably must improve by then. "Overall, you have to be pleased with a victory, even if you didn't have the best results," Pullen said. "But it gives you something to work on."
Contact Mark Gokavi at (937) 225-6951.