This weekend’s boys sectional final matchups
Today
Division II at Lebanon H.S.
• Alter vs. Dunbar, noon
• Wilmington vs. Marshall, 4 p.m.
Division II at Springfield H.S.
Graham vs. Tipp, 7:30 p.m.
Division IV at Piqua H.S.
Jackson Center vs. Lehman Catholic, 7 p.m.
Division IV at Troy H.S.
Arcanum vs. Jefferson, 7 p.m.
Sunday
Division I at UD Arena
• Xenia vs. Wayne, 2 p.m.
• Northmont vs. Springfield, 3:30 p.m.
Division I at Nutter Center
• Centerville vs. Trotwood-Madison, 2 p.m.
• Sidney vs. Fairmont, 3:30 p.m.
Mark Baker stood just outside the Trotwood-Madison boys basketball locker room, mere feet from the site of the epic game he was discussing.
He brightened at the mention of it.
“Probably the best game I’ve ever been part of,” Baker said after leading his Rams to a sectional victory on Thursday at UD Arena.
In 1987, the Alter and Dunbar basketball teams clawed to a 106-102 double-overtime decision won by the Wolverines, including Baker, that remains one of the most notable outcomes in area prep history.
The teams, who have met 25 times, will renew their unique rivalry today, March 6, when they meet in a Division II sectional final at Lebanon High School.
During a phone conversation this week, Alter coach Joe Petrocelli had plenty of Dunbar memories to share.
“They had a real good team in 1971,” Petrocelli said. “That year we held the tournament draw on TV, on the “Don Donoher Show.” Well, it was getting late in the draw and nobody drew Dunbar. I pulled out Dunbar’s pill, and you could hear laughter in the background.
“I saw some guy at Kroger that night, I didn’t know who he was, but he said, ‘Hey, it’s Mr. Lucky.’ ”
In the 25 meetings, Alter holds a 15-10 advantage, but no game matches the 1987 classic.
To increase the drama, Dunbar star Kirk Taylor had started his prep career at Alter as a freshman. Alter’s roster included Jeff Graham, the future Ohio State football player whose nephew, Marcus, is on Baker’s Trotwood roster, and Brian Donoher, son of the former University of Dayton coach who is now the Fairmont athletic director.
“We made some great defensive stops, and we got a steal late,” Baker said. “It was an amazing game.”
And now, the rivalry continues.
“I thought, ‘Well, we’re gonna have to play somebody good at some point,’ ” Petrocelli said. “Of course, now, I wish I was in any other bracket.”
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7389 or knagel@DaytonDailyNews.com
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