Labeling Thurgood Marshall as looking forward to a boys high school basketball game with Dunbar doesn’t do the anticipation justice. After a crushing beat-down last season, it was everything.

“We just felt like they didn’t rule the city,” beamed budding junior Thurgood guard Rachaun Martin. “We came out with an edge on our shoulder and went out and proved it.”

Thurgood’s 81-62 defeat of Dunbar on Sunday afternoon at Fairmont’s Trent Arena did that and more to a standing-room-only crowd of 4,000-plus.

The Cougars snapped Dunbar’s program-best 37-game winning streak. Dunbar, the defending Division II state champion, went 28-0 last season and came into this battle of unbeatens at 9-0. Ironically, it was Thurgood that last beat Dunbar in a 2011 regional semifinal.

It also pushed Thurgood to 9-0. Both teams could be 1-2 when the first Associated Press state poll is released tonight.

And the best part is this was just Round 1. Thurgood is the host team in the rematch next month. Round 2 also will likely be moved to a larger neutral site. And don’t count out a third matchup deep in the postseason.

“It’s great for our city,” Thurgood coach Darnell Hoskins said. “Obviously, it’s a game that both of us look forward to every year. It’s a knock-down, drag-out affair every time. This is Ohio State and Michigan.”

Dunbar fell behind early and caught up late. However, the Wolverines were betrayed at the free throw line throughout. Dunbar was down by 17 points at the break. Worse, the Cougars were schooling the Wolverines in pressure defense and appeared to be the far superior team.

But Dunbar found new life early in the fourth quarter as Thurgood stalled. The Wolverines pulled within 60-54 on Doriane Dawson’s trey. But a flurry of late missed free throws would be their undoing.

Dunbar hit just 23-of-43 free throws in the foul-plagued contest. Thurgood was 27-of-34.

“They hit theirs and we didn’t hit ours,” shrugged Dunbar coach Pete Pullen. “It was a great game and great atmosphere. I just wish we could have given a better performance.”

Thurgood’s Derrick Daniels gave the performance of his young career. The 6-foot-7 freshman unloaded a break-out effort of 20 points to go with seven rebounds and two blocks. Martin added 17 points and was especially effective at shutting down Dunbar guard AJ Harris early. Mark Alstork added 16 points.

Harris led the Wolverines (9-1) with 18 points after scoring just three in the first half. Damarion Geter added 15 points and Dawson 12.

“It’s big,” said Alstork, a sophomore starter in that 2011 game. “Last season they just beat us up. To get a win versus Dunbar, that’s real good, even if they’re not the team that they used to be.”