Dunbar

COLLEGE PARK -- No. 2-ranked Dunbar defeated Potomac (18-8), ranked No. 20 by the Washington Post, 84-71, in a state Class 2A semifinal game at Cole Field House last night.Senior forward Rodney Elliott scored 18 points to lead the Poets.Norman Nolan added 15. William Peters scored 20 to lead Potomac.In tonight's state 2A title game, the Poets (22-3) will meet defending champion Allegany at 6. The Campers defeated No. 12 Edgewood, 63-60, in the other semifinal.Dunbar, ranked No. 15 nationally by USA Today, joins No. 1 Southern-Baltimore (4A)

Southern High overcame the loss of one of its top players and a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit and stunned No. 1 Dunbar last night, 72-71, in the Function at the Junction at Coppin State.It was the 18th straight victory for the No. 2-ranked Bulldogs, who climaxed a stirring comeback on a three-point shot from the corner by senior forward Alfonso Hawes with three seconds left.Dunbar, which played without two of its starters, had one last shot, but Sean Lipscomb's desperation attempt was not close.

WYE MILLS, Md. -- On the 1 1/2 -hour bus trip to the Eastern Shore yesterday, Dunbar coach Paul Smith worried that his No. 2 Poets might not be quite ready to play in the Class 2A, East Region semifinal.His fears came true, but were quickly erased.After a slow start, the top-seeded Poets (20-3) defeated fourth-seeded South River, 81-49, to advance to tomorrow's 7:30 p.m. title game against No. 2 seed Cambridge-South Dorchester (21-1) at Chesapeake College.Six-foot-7 senior Norman Nolan scored 20 points and had 15 rebounds to lead four Poets in double digits as Dunbar rolled to its 20th victory.

With a minute left and victory in hand, the No. 2 Dunbar boys basketball team played an impressive game of keep-away from No. 1 Patterson. Swiftly covering all four corners in the half-court, every Poet touched the ball before Rodrick Harrison found Aaron Parham alone under the basket for an easy two points with 54 seconds left. It was a fitting ending for Dunbar, which used balanced scoring and a stingy zone defense to keep the visiting Clippers frustrated for most of Friday night's game on their way to a 64-55 victory.

The last time Dunbar faced a top-notch Baltimore County team, it routed Milford Mill in the state 1A regional final last season. The Poets were spurred on in that game by comments by some Milford Mill players in an newspaper article preceding the game.Last night, No. 5 Woodlawn gained a rare opportunity to face Dunbar in the Fuel Fund Classic at the Baltimore Arena. And while the Warriors didn't spend the time preceding the matchup shooting off at the mouth, their shooting proved to have the damaging effect.

Dunbar's Poets are no longer Baltimore City's best-kept secret as they enter tonight's 2A state football title game against Fort Hill of Cumberland at South Hagerstown High.The Poets, who will attempt to become the city's first state champs, are ranked No. 1 in the Baltimore area with an 11-0 record. They've outscored their opponents by an average of 34 to 2.1, with seven shutouts.Fort Hill (12-0) has seen the Poets in their most recent wins -- over Lake Clifton, Aberdeen and Cambridge -- and is suitably impressed.

Seven area teams finished in the Associated Press' Maryland high school football Top 20, released for the final time two weeks ago.Dunbar (12-0), The Baltimore Sun's No. 1 team and state 2A champion, finished No. 2 behind Seneca Valley (13-0) of Montgomery County, which was No. 1 in the state for the second consecutive season after claiming its third straight and eighth overall 3A state title.North County (11-2), the state 4A champion, was fourth; Mount St. Joseph (8-1) was seventh. Patterson (11-1)

A packed gym is a definite Friday at Dunbar when the No. 2 Poets boys basketball team plays host to No. 1 Patterson.  Game time is set for 5:15 p.m., and anyone interested in attending should buy tickets in advance and plan to arrive much earlier. Dunbar coach Cyrus Jones said 1,000 tickets will be sold to reach the gym's capacity and people will be turned away after that. Tickets are on sale now at both Dunbar and Patterson.  The junior varsity game is set for 3:45 p.m., so it's likely the line will begin to form before that game.

Varsity Hoops games to aid former coach Pompey Two basketball games featuring Dunbar and Edmondson alumni, along with an after-party, will take place July 14 to raise money to help cover medical costs for legendary high school basketball and football coach Pete Pompey , who has Alzheimer's disease. Ads in the event's program can be purchased; costs are as follows: one-eighth page is $15 (best for business cards); a quarter-page is $20; half-page is $50; full page is $60; back page is $100; patron ads are $1. All ads will be in black and white.

No. 4 Edmondson at No. 3 Dunbar When: Wednesday, 5 p.m. Coaches: Darnell Dantzler, Edmondson; Cyrus Jones, Sr., Dunbar PLAYERS TO WATCH Edmondson: Isaiah Tripp, Sr., G; Darius Walker, Sr., G; Darius Hubbard, Sr., G. Dunbar: Daxter Miles, Sr., G; Kamau Stokes, Jr., G; Keandre Gibson, Jr., G KEYS TO VICTORY This Baltimore City rivalry always brings added intensity and emotion - the two coaches played...