Dunbar

City sank five of its first seven shots and raced to a 12-5 lead in just under four minutes at the start of Tuesday's game against visiting Dunbar. The Poets couldn't get started on offense, which delighted the screaming City fans in the packed gym. That's when Daxter Miles changed everything - very quickly. Miles needed just one minute, 20 seconds to score seven straight points as part of a 13-point run that gave Dunbar the lead for good. The senior guard finished with a game-high 21 points as No. 3 Poets rolled to a 61-45 victory over No. 8 City.

The Dunbar gym was sweltering during the Poets' boys basketball game against Baltimore City rival Edmondson earlier this season. It wasn't any different than countless other nights in past decades when the team had a big matchup, but the atmosphere was still new to Dunbar's transfer guard Daxter Miles. "There was a lot of emotions involved, a different vibe. That was the game so far," Miles said. "I know a lot about Poet Pride. You can see from all the banners on our wall. … It's great tradition here and an honor for me to play here.

The host Lake Clifton boys basketball team relied on man-to-man defense to shut down No. 2 Dunbar, and it won the first and the last quarters for a 54-47 upset victory Friday night. The loss marks a first in league play for the Poets (12-2, 6-1 City). The Lakers are 12-7 and 4-3. No. 8 City 57, Patterson 53: The host Clippers led by six at the half, but the Knights (15-3) came back late and held on to win. Timmy Bond had 20 points for City. No. 13 Oakland Mills 91, Hammond 32: Lavon Long scored 18 points to drive the host Scorpions (18-0, 15-0 Howard)

It was just two weeks ago that the Dunbar boys basketball team finally settled on its starting lineup. All the while, the No. 3 Poets, defending Baltimore City and three-time Class 1A state champions, have found different ways to win. On the road against No. 8 Poly in a showdown of unbeaten league teams, Dunbar mostly relied on a tough zone defense and poised play in the closing minutes for a 55-43 victory. Senior guards Daxter Miles (15 points) and Kamau Stokes (12) led the offense, and the defensive scheme frustrated the Engineers most of the way. The Poets improved to 11-1 overall and 5-0 in Baltimore City's Division I, while Poly, which got a game-high 19 points from forward Darrion Stokes-Graham, is now 11-3 and 4-1 in league play.

Media Sun's Preston named top Md. sportswriter The Baltimore Sun's Mike Preston has been honored as the Maryland Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association for the second straight year, it was announced Thursday. Preston, who has covered the Ravens since the franchise came to Baltimore in 1996, first as a beat reporter and then as a columnist, has worked for The Sun since 1983. He is a native of Essex and a graduate of Towson State, where he played football.

Dunbar standout newcomer Daxter Miles' immediate introduction to the Poets' boys basketball rivalry with Edmondson wasn't ideal, as he was quickly sent to the bench with two first-quarter fouls Wednesday. But the highly touted senior transfer was able to hang around, just like his Poets, and he made the most important moments of a marathon game his very own. Miles scored all nine of Dunbar's points in the second overtime - an exclamation dunk in the closing seconds completing a 32-point performance - as the No. 3 Poets rallied to come away with a 82-75 win over No. 4 Edmondson in a highly anticipated Baltimore City Division I game played in Dunbar's packed gym. Dunbar, which was without head coach Cyrus Jones Sr., improves to 9-1 overall and 3-0 in league play.

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...

The Maryland Media All-State High School Football Teams were announced Thursday for the small and big school divisions. The consensus All-State team, coaches of the year and players of the year will be released Friday. Following are the Small School first teams, which include Class 1A and 2A public schools, as well as private schools not in the A Conferences in the MIAA or the WCAC. Check back in a little while for the Big School teams. 2012 Small School All-State Football Team Offense QB: Collin Nusbaum, Brunswick, Sr. RB: Coleman Blackston, Dunbar, Jr. RB: Avery Ezell, Walkersville, Sr. RB: Dale Harris, St. Paul's, Sr. RB: Rachid Ibrahim, Avalon School, Sr. OL: Alec Auwaerter, St. Paul's, Sr. OL: Nicholas Bonaparte, Dunbar, Sr. OL: Justin Falcinelli, Middletown, Jr. OL: Dariz Hill, Dunbar, Sr. OL: Na'Ty Rodgers, McDonough, Jr. WR: James Harrell, McDonough, Sr. WR: Paul Harris, Douglass-PG, Sr. WR: Blaine Price, Brunswick, Sr. AP: Zach Welch, Middletown, Sr. PK: Alex Gambrell, John Carroll, Sr. Defense DL: Peter Angeh, Bullis, Sr. DL: D'Sean Cummings, Douglass-PG, Sr. DL: Nik D'Avanzo, Archbishop Curley, Sr. DL Marvin Gross Jr., Dunbar, Sr. DL: Derrick Hayward, Wicomico, Sr. DL: Malik Jones, Dunbar, Sr. LB: Andrew Caskins, Georgetown Prep, Jr. LB: Christian Cole, McDonough, Sr. LB: Ben Hummer, St. Mary's-AA, Sr. LB: Sean Wenner, Middletown, Sr. DB: Elvis Dennah, Annapolis Christian,...

Led by Tilman Dunbar's 20 points and a career-high 19 points from Thurgood Wynn, Navy men's basketball dominated the second half and beat host Monmouth, 85-66, Friday night. The Hawks (5-5), seeking their fifth straight win, were led by Stephen Spinella's 16 points and Andrew Nicholas' 15, but it wasn't enough to offset the Midshipmen, who shot 58percent (32-of-55) as they scored a season high in points and put five players in double figures while breaking a two-game losing streak.