“The last two minutes, we got impatient with the lead. We weren’t as smart with the basketball as we should’ve been,” Dunbar coach Peter Pullen said. “We also still have to do a better job on defense.”
Led by 6-10 junior Dave Bell (18 points, 11 rebounds), the Bulldogs used their size advantage to outrebound 10-3 Dunbar, 35-25, and block eight of its shots. Garfield Heights, one of Cleveland’s better programs, also got 20 points from guard Richard Parker, who said the first meeting between the two schools in at least 15 years gave his area bragging rights.
“To me,” he said, “it was Cleveland versus Dayton.”
Pullen, though, saw the loss as a chance for his team to grow as the playoffs begin to move into sight.
“This just gets us prepared for the remainder of the season,” he said.
Prime Prep (Tex.) 82, Springboro 47: After watching video of his team's nationally touted opponent, Springboro coach Jay Byrne joked with another coach that they should instead suit up a team of all-stars from the Greater Western Ohio Conference for the event. As it turned out, even that might not have helped against Prime Prep.
A consensus top-10 team in the nation loaded with high-Division I recruits, Prime Prep used its wealth of talent and athleticism to turn a 10-point halftime lead into a blowout. The first-year charter school, formed by former NFL star Deion Sanders and marked by controversy for its recruiting practices, seemingly took the event’s name to heart, flying to the hoop for one soaring dunk after another.
“They’re just really, really good. I told my guys, you’ll probably see several of those guys playing in the NBA,” Byrne said. “I don’t have any problem with our effort. That’s just an extremely talented team.”
Louisiana State-bound forward Jordan Mickey posted 14 points and nine rebounds, while guards Emmanuel Mudiay — with Kentucky coach John Calipari eyeing him from the stands — and Damon Collins added 14 apiece. The bright spot for Springboro was Illinois-bound 6-11 senior Maverick Morgan, who scored 25 points, including a few dunks to delight the home crowd.
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