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DDN

3/4/06

Dunbar takes out feisty Alter

Knights escape early hole, but Cook puts it away in final minutes

By Sean McClelland
Dayton Daily News

SPRINGBORO | You didn't expect Joe Petrocelli's team to fade meekly into the night, did you?

Alter High School rejected that offer Friday night despite trailing Dunbar, 30-11, midway through the second quarter of a Division II boys sectional final.

Call it a healthy scare for the favored Wolverines, who led by three early in the fourth quarter before heroics from McDonald's All-American Daequan Cook secured a district berth, 61-52.

"It was my time to take over," the Ohio State-bound Cook said after scoring 10 of his game-high 28 points in the opening minutes of the final period, shoving the lead back to 15.

"Daequan is just in another dimension," observed Petrocelli, whose team finished 12-10.

Midway through the first quarter, with Springboro High's 2,700-seat gym already swollen to capacity, the public-address announcer advised fans to "please squeeze together close."

Dunbar (21-2) was in the midst of a 17-0 run and threatening to end the suspense early. But it was 44-38 going to the fourth, and then Alter's 6-foot-8 senior center Danny Bruner (19 points) nailed a 3-pointer.

Cook, who earlier had been content to set up teammates such as Aaron Pogue (16 points) and Mark Anderson, took this as his cue to reach for his cape.

"Just put us on his back and carried us," Dunbar coach Peter Pullen marveled.

There was little celebrating in the winning locker room. Dunbar's focus remains on returning to state and winning it. That quest continues March 8 in UD Arena against Bellefontaine.

Contact Sean McClelland at 225-2408.