Dunbar Pulls Out LCAC Title with Last Second Shot
Thursday, February 5, 2009
By Aaron Seybert
SWFLHoops.com
Dunbar Tigers @ Fort Myers Green Wave
--Lee County Athletic Conference Championship--
FORT MYERS, FL— The Lee County Athletic Conference championship game could not have finished in a better fashion for the Dunbar Tigers on Thursday night. Dunbar standout sophomore guard Darius Perkins grabbed a long offensive rebound and was able to get a mid-range jump to swish through the net with just under a second remaining in the game, and as the buzzer sounded the Dunbar fans stormed the floor, as the Tigers took a 48-46 win away from the Fort Myers Green Wave (16-8).
The win means the Tigers finished the regular season going 9-2 in their last 11 games including a big district win over Bishop Verot and this win over a very solid Green Wave squad.
This one may have been what the doctor ordered though for a team that has looked as though it has been struggling to find a true cohesiveness all season long with so many new faces on the roster this season after reaching the Class 3A State final four just one season ago. But with such a big and emotional win over a cross town rival just before the district tournament, this win will hopefully give the Tigers the fuel on the fire they will need to make another run into the state tournament, as most expected entering the 2008-09 season.
The game as a whole was not the prettiest or cleanest of offensive displays by either squad, but Fort Myers took control in the second quarter outscoring the Tigers 16 to 7 in the frame and took a 29-20 advantage into halftime.
Then in the third quarter, after playing predominantly a soft zone defense through the first half, Dunbar started to apply more pressure in the full and half court. The tactic worked, as Dunbar held the Green Wave to just 3 points in the third frame. However, the Tigers also struggled to getting any rhythm on the offensive end, and were only able to net 7 points of their own, and the score sat at 32-27 entering the final period.
The poor shooting wasn't just limited to the field either, as both teams were able to get to the free throw line a good amount, but neither capitalized with Dunbar going 18 for 31 for the game and Fort Myers only hitting 14 of 24 from the free stripe.
In the fourth quarter, Dunbar (14-8) continued to be the aggresor, scoring the first 10 points and jumping ahead of the Wave 37-32 with 5:08 left in the game on a layup by senior Melvin German. Melvin's younger brother, Dunbar junior guard Joel German, also played a key role in the push, scoring all 5 of his points during the stretch, including a three pointer from the corner to start the run.
From there, Fort Myers would answer by scoring the next 7 points, and taking the lead back on a pair of free throws by junior forward Tyler Manning.
Then, with the game tied at 41 apiece, Fort Myers sophomore guard Evin Graham make a strong move to the basket, got fouled, and finished the play. He would then complete the three-point play with the free throw, putting the Wave ahead 44-41 with 1:45 left to play.
But of course good players usually answer back for their teams when the game is on the line. So Perkins did just that, answering Graham's three point play with a more challenging one of his own with a falling away runner off the glass while being fouled. He would fittingly make the free throw and knot the game at 44 apiece with 1:34 left.
Graham was then fouled just 11 seconds later, and proceeded to knock down both, putting Fort Myers back ahead 46-44.
Then with 35 seconds left in the game, Dunbar's Melvin German was fouled after grabbing an offensive rebound, and proceeded to knock down a pair of his own from the stripe, tying the game back up 46-46.
Fort Myers would then attempt to stall for the last shot, but with 13.4 seconds they turned it over due to pressure from the Tigers.
After a timeout, Dunbar took the ball up the court with the game still tied at 46. Perkins made a move to get his own shot, but when help came, he kicked it back out to Joel German for an open trey from the top of the key. Joel's attempt camp up short, and as fans might have thought it was headed for overtime, the ball shot off the front of the rim and directly into the hands of Perkins who improvised, made a quick move and put up a jump shot from jump outside of the right side of the free throw line with Green Wave defenders in his face. The shot found hit the back of the rim as it went through the net with under a second remaining, and as the buzzer sounded, the Dunbar faithful went nuts, and the Fort Myers players and fans stood in a bit of shock. Players and fans alike rushed the Fort Myers High School gymnasium floor, and the emotion of the rivalry could be seen in each player's face for the Tigers. Specifically Dunbar junior standout forward David Paulk who just signaled to the opposing fans, and specifically the always loud and enthusiastic student section with pointer finger over his lips as if to say "shhh."
For Dunbar, Perkins finished with game-high tying 14 points on 8 of 11 from the foul line. Melvin German added 11 of his own, and Paulk chipped in with 10. The Tigers' next game will be in the District 3A-12 championship game as they won a coin toss between Bishop Verot and themselves, giving them the #1 seed for the tourney and guaranteeing them a spot in the class 3A state tournament, as both finalists advance and there are only three teams in the district.
For the Green Wave, Graham led them with 14 of his own but was helped by junior Colin Henry who netted 10 to go along with a game-high 11 rebounds. Junior guard Buddy McClendon has 8 points as well as 9 rebounds, and sophomore James Whitfield added 8. Fort Myers will return to action for one more rivalry game as they faced Bishop Verot on the road this Saturday before heading into the 5A-15 district tourney. They will be hosting the winner of the 8 and 9 seeds play-in game next Wednesday in the first round of the district tourney.
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