Wednesday, March 07, 2001
Dunbar girls run away from Badin
Uptempo game proves difference
By Mark Schmetzer
Enquirer contributor
VANDALIA — Defense fueled Hamilton Badin's run to Tuesday's Division II regional semifinals. But Dayton Dunbar, the team Badin met in the regionals, proved it could play some defense, too.
Both teams committed 26 turnovers, but Dunbar used full-court pressure to turn the tempo to its liking and run away with a 60-50 victory at Vandalia Butler High School.
“We prepared for it,” said Badin coach Dan Purcell, whose team equaled a season high for points allowed. “I don't think the intensity bothered us for the first quarter and a half. We thought a big key was to try to not let them set the tempo.”
“We don't get enough credit for our defense,” Dunbar coach Peter Pullen said. “We held Alter to 50 points in the district championship game, and we've held everybody else in the tournament in the 40s.”
Dunbar advanced Friday's 7:30p.m. regional final against McNicholas. McNick beat Trotwood Madison 63-59 Tuesday.
Badin opened up an 18-10 lead on Robin Parker's driving layup with 4:36 left in the second quarter. Cydney Overton, Badin's senior center and leading scorer, left with her second foul 15 seconds later. Her absence combined with the Rams' problems at the free throw line allowed the Wolverines to put together a 15-2 run going into halftime.
Badin missed four of six free throws in the stretch and was 3-of-11 from the line in the first half.
“We were up 18-10, and all of a sudden it was 25-20,” Purcell said. “If we make our free throws, we're still ahead and we don't have to play at their pace.”
Badin could get no closer than five points in the second half, while Dunbar led by as many as 13 points.
Overton finished with a game-high 14 points.
Shermeca Howard scored 13 to lead Dunbar.
“We went from a team that was 4-6 to 16-9 and the regional semis,” Purcell said. “I think that's a good accomplishment. It's a testament to how our seniors pulled together and made a good run.”
DUNBAR (60) - Davis 0 5 5, Howard 4 5 13, Bagley 2 0 4, Baldwin 1 0 2, Blunt 2 1 7, Johnson 5 1 11, Benson 5 2 12, Davis 3 0 6. Totals: 22 14 60.
BADIN (50) - Vilkoski 4 4 13, Cochran 1 0 2, Parker 4 0 8,Beckett 0 1 1, Brennan 1 0 3, Shull 1 1 3, Morner 1 4 6, Overton 7 0 14. Totals: 19 10 50.
Dunbar ....... 6 19 15 20-60
Badin ....... 9 11 12 18-50
3-pointers: D -- Blunt. B -- Vilkoski, Brennan. Records: D 22-3, B 16-9.
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Dunbar girls run away from Badin
