Dunbar, Jackson Center poll champs

Wolverines win second straight D-II title; Tigers final week D-IV winners.

Unbeaten Dunbar captured its second straight Associated Press boys high school basketball Division II poll title Monday night. But that’s not exactly the prize the Wolverines want most.

“We got one goal set at Dunbar and that’s to win it all,” said Wolverines coach Pete Pullen, referring to a D-II state championship.

Jackson Center, like Dunbar also 20-0, also rode its first perfect regular season to capture the D-IV poll title. The other poll champions were Columbus Northland (D-I) and Bloom-carroll (D-III).

Like the area, D-II was loaded with great boys teams throughout the state. Following Dunbar in the final poll were Alliance, Defiance and Franklin, all of which also posted unbeaten regular seasons.

“I’d take those four teams at state right now,” said Franklin coach Brian Bales.

Dunbar was No. 1 every week of the poll, just as it was for all of last season, too. However, the Wolverines lost to Thurgood Marshall in the D-II regional.

The sting of that shortened season has fueled Dunbar this season.

“This doesn’t mean anything,” Pullen said. “We were No. 1 last year so it doesn’t mean anything until we win it, especially since we’re undefeated. We’ve had a great season, but we need to follow it all the way through.”

Dunbar drew 14 first-place votes to three for No. 2 Alliance.

Berlin Hiland was voted No. 1 in D-IV all season until losing to Canton Glenoak last week. That allowed Jackson Center to vault from second to first. It was the only week the Tigers were No. 1. Jackson Center had 13 first-place votes to Hiland’s six.

The only other area teams to crack the top 10 were Versailles, No. 8 in D-III, and Fort Recovery, No. 5 in D-IV.

The polls are voted on by a panel of sports writers and broadcasters throughout the state.