Dunbar defense spurs payback win over Wilmington

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By Dave Long, Contributing Writer Updated 12:25 AM Sunday, December 20, 2009

WILMINGTON — Different night, different Dunbar team.

A night after beating Ponitz Tech 112-47, the Wolverines high school boys basketball team played a tough zone defense during a 53-40 defeat of Wilmington on Saturday, Dec. 19.

“We can play a tough zone if we have to, like tonight,” said junior guard Roger Williamson. “Most of the time we’re in a game where we can get out and go like last night.

“But it feels good to get down and shut down a team like Wilmington the way we did in the second half.”

There were plenty of subplots coming into the game, which drew almost 2,000 fans. Dunbar was 4-0 and ranked No. 1 in the DDN Division II ratings. Wilmington was 2-0 and the No. 3 D-II team in the Cincinnati area.

Plus, Wilmington beat Dunbar in the Dayton sectional tournament last year.

In the first half, both teams were in late season form getting up and down the floor with Wilmington leading 32-30. Dunbar was hampered with leading scorers Geron Johnson and Ryan Bass on the bench with foul trouble.

“We saw them (Wilmington) have trouble with a zone against Little Miami,” coach Pete Pullen said. “The first half the pace was so quick we never really had a chance to get into the zone set we wanted.”

Wilmington hit just 3-of-23 shots (13 percent) in the second half, including only one in the third quarter.

Williamson came off the bench to contribute six critical points in the third quarter. He scored back-to-back baskets to get his team within 36-34 and then tie it at 36.

His two free throws with 5:23 left in the game put his team ahead for good, 40-38.

Johnson had 18 points to lead Dunbar. Deon Stewart added 13 while Bass and Williamson each had eight. Quinten Rollins led Wilmington with 18.

“This was a good win for us coming down here against a good team,” Pullen said. “To play defense like that on the road is really satisfying.”

Wilmington coach Mike Noszka was not pleased with his team’s shooting.

“Obviously we’ve got to work on our zone offense,” he said.

Wilmington played without guard Jordan Berlin, one of its leading scorers, who reinjured a surgically repaired ankle Friday in a win over Amelia.

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