Underdog Dunbar rallies for OT win in return from postseason ban
KETTERING — It’s not often the odds are stacked against Dunbar on a basketball court. But heading into Friday’s Division II boys sectional opener against Waynesville, the Wolverines were up against it.
Returning to the postseason after serving a one-year suspension due to penalties from a brawl at the end of a junior varsity game in 2018 and four days removed from the death of 15-year old freshman track sensation Qua’Lek Shelton due to a gunshot wound in a drive-by shooting, Dunbar willed its way to a 68-65 overtime win over the Spartans at Trent Arena.
The Wolverines, seeded an uncharacteristic 14th, improve to 7-16 and advance to play Eaton (6-16) at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Trent. Waynesville, the seventh seed, finishes 15-8.
“It’s good to make the news for something positive for a change,” Dunbar coach Lyle Cole said. “This win is the biggest this season for us. Especially with everything we’ve been going through.”
Ahead 12-10 after the first quarter and 29-23 at half, Dunbar blinked in the third. Led by junior Kohl Todd, who scored a game-high 22 points, the Spartans made a furious second-half charge. Todd hit back-to-back 3-pointers in the third quarter to give Waynesville a 38-36 lead and his bucket with a minute to play in regulation gave the Spartans a 54-49 lead.
Two Dunbar 3s, the second coming from sophomore Sa’mai Oglesby with 2.6 seconds left, forced overtime.
“I passed up the shot prior and I just came up with the mindset that I was going to shoot it next time,” Oglesby said. “It was a big shot. But I hit it.”
Oglesby also hit a 3 and two free throws in the extra period as Dunbar drained 8-of-11 free throws in the final four minutes to secure the win.
Foul shots were Waynesville’s downfall.
The Spartans went 4-for-9 from the foul line in the fourth quarter and OT combined.
Waynesville senior Mac Greeley scored all 11 of his points in the fourth quarter and overtime, while classmate Bryce Nolbertowicz added 10. Alex Dawkins led Dunbar with 21 points. Darren Leslie, Oglesby and Marcellis Thompson added 14, 14 and 11, respectively, for the Wolverines.
The game marked Waynesville’s first appearance in the D-II tournament (and third overall) since back-toback opening-round losses in 2016 and 2017 to Chaminade Julienne and Thurgood Marshall, respectively. The Spartans were D-III the last two seasons (and traditionally).
No. 1 seed Trotwood-Madison (21-2) won the opener, 101-51, over Graham for its ninth straight win. The Rams face Bellefontaine (3-19) in the second round Tuesday at 6 p.m.
Should Trotwood and Dunbar win, they’ll meet in the district semifinal next Friday at Trent (7 p.m.).
Trotwood won at Dunbar 108-87 on Jan. 11. The Wolverines held a 28-22 lead after the first quarter before being outscored 56-26 in the second and third.
“I’m proud of ours guys,” Cole said. “They could have given up any minute, but they hung in there and made the best of it. In this game there has to be a winner and loser. I’m just glad my kids came out on top and get a chance to celebrate.”