Trotwood advances despite Rockhold’s 2-game suspension

Anthony Parker DAYTON — pinch hit as coach of the surging Trotwood-Madison boys basketball team the past two games. And he’s grateful for an assist from fellow coaches Terry Toliver, Quinton Smith, Carl Blanton and Dante Dixon.

Those five came into prime-time play like never before while head coach Rocky Rockhold sat out a two-game suspension.

“We had the attitude that we is bigger than me,” Parker said of the group effort. “I’m happy he’s back, I’ll say that.”

Rockhold was issued two technical fouls in a previous sectional blowout of Northwestern at Springfield.

Rockhold sat out while Trotwood routed Northridge 96-49 in a sectional final and defeated Chaminade Julienne 78-60 in a rare matchup and district final on Thursday night at the University of Dayton Arena.

The win vaults Trotwood (23-3) and its 16-game winning streak into a Division II regional semifinal at 5:30 p.m. this Thursday at Fairmont’s Trent Arena in Kettering. The Rams will play the Columbus South/Columbus Eastmoor Academy winner. Those teams play in a Columbus 2 district final today.

In the other D-II regional semi at 8 p.m. Thursday, Cincinnati Hughes (23-3) will take on the Dunbar/Cincinnati Woodward winner. Dunbar and Woodward also will play in a district final at 3 p.m. today at Hamilton High School.

Trotwood and CJ, both long established area boys powers, hadn’t played since the visiting Rams defeated the Eagles 48-45 way back in December 2011.

Thursday night, Amari Davis had 22 points to lead Trotwood. Myles Belyeu added 16 points, 10 rebounds and three assists.

CJ (11-15) was paced by Gabe Turner’s 13 points and nine rebounds. Milton Gage added 12 points and Dominic Wilcox 10.

Cin. Hughes 57, Carroll 38: Hughes flexed its defensive might, limiting the Patriots (16-10) to just eight firsthalf points in a D-II district final Thursday at UD.

The Patriots were led by Eli Ramsey’s 13 points.

■ There will be four D-I boys district finals at UD Arena today. Wayne (23-1), Springfield (20-4) and Fairmont (16-9) will represent the Greater Western Ohio Conference. The Greater Miami Conference has Lakota East (16-8), Princeton (22-3) and Oak Hills (18-6). Out of the Greater Catholic League South are Cincinnati Moeller (22-3) and Elder (14-11).

All the winners advance to the D-I regional semifinals next week at Xavier’s Cintas Center. Divisions II, III and IV boys regionals will be at Trent Arena.

Princeton is facing a double-major handicap. Mr. Basketball candidate and senior Darius Bazley and another starter each were assessed two-game suspensions for leaving the bench after a hard foul in a previous defeat of GMC rival Sycamore. They can’t play again until a regional final, should Princeton qualify.

■ Dunbar’s D-II district final was switched to Hamilton today because of a conflict at Trent Arena. Dunbar defeated host Woodward 84-73 on Jan. 2 during the regular season.

The Wolverines needed a court order to re-enter the tournament after the Ohio High School Athletic Association ruled Dunbar had used an ineligible player. Dunbar edged Fenwick 27-26 in a D-II sectional final Wednesday night at UD. Contact this reporter at 937225-2381 or email Marc. Pendleton@coxinc.com. Twitter: @MarcPendleton