LEXINGTON, Ky. – Another second-half blitz pushed the Paul Dunbar High School boys basketball team into the state final.
Down 29-27 at halftime, the Bulldogs took the lead for good midway through the third quarter and defeated Newport Central Catholic 55-47 in Saturday’s semifinals of the Whitaker Bank/KHSAA Sweet 16 at Rupp Arena.
Paul Dunbar finished with big advantages in points in the paint (38-10) and points off turnovers (22-5). Coach Scott Chalk credited his defense with the latter.
“We felt like speeding them up – even if it wasn’t making the score high – and constantly making them have to make decisions, running at people, trapping people … would make them have a little bit of trouble,” Chalk said.
Darius Williams posted 20 points, 11 rebounds and three steals to lead Paul Dunbar (32-6), No. 1 in the state in The Courier-Journal’s Litkenhous Ratings. Taveion Hollingsworth added 18 points and five rebounds.
The Bulldogs will face the Doss-South Laurel winner in Sunday’s 2 p.m. championship. It will be Paul Dunbar’s third trip to the final, having lost to Marion County in 1993 and Fairdale in 1994.
The Bulldogs have rebounded since last season’s 14-15 record, which included an 0-8 start.
“We tried to come out this year and prove something,” guard Jordan Lewis said.
Bellarmine University signee Ben Weyer posted 16 points, nine rebounds and two blocks to lead No. 9 Newport Central Catholic (30-5).
Chalk credited Paul Dunbar center Dontell Brown with keeping Weyer in check.
“That might be the low he’s had in a long time,” Chalk said. “He’s a load, so I thought (Brown) did a heck of a job.”
Williams’ tip-in gave the Bulldogs the lead for good, 33-32, with 4:55 left in the third quarter. Weyer’s basket pulled the Thoroughbreds within 44-41 with 2:41 remaining in the fourth before what NewCath coach Ron Dawn called the decisive stretch.
Williams rebounded his own miss, was fouled and made 1 of 2 free throws for a 45-41 lead with 2:22 left. NewCath failed to score on its next five possessions, including three turnovers.
“I think the pressure of the moment was part of it; we kind of panicked,” Dawn said. “But I have to give them a lot of credit. They’re quick, strong and very aggressive defensively.”
Jason Frakes can be reached at (502) 582-4046 and jfrakes@courier-journal.com.
PAUL DUNBAR 10 17 13 15 – 55
NEWPORT CENTRAL CATHOLIC 9 20 8 10 – 47
Paul Dunbar (32-6) – Kelley 4, Williams 20, D. Brown 6, Lewis 5, Hollingsworth 18, J. Brown 2.
Newport Central Catholic (30-5) – Weyer 16, Hall 9, B. Anderson 4, Moeves 14, E. Anderson 2, Neff 2.
3-point goals – Weyer 2, Hall, Moeves 3.