COLLEGE PARK -- Dunbar added another chapter to its seemingly endless book of basketball success yesterday, smothering Edgewood, 79-43, for the state Class 2A championship at Cole Field House.
The title was the Poets' sixth in seven seasons, the most ever by a Baltimore-area team. Only Gwynn Park of Prince George's County, which won six championships between 1968 and 1976, has had a comparable streak in recent state tournament history.
'We just took them [Edgewood] out of their rhythm, and I'm glad we did because they're quick," said Dunbar coach Lynn Badham, who won his second state title in three seasons. "We just wanted to slow down, and we did a good job of that."
Dontaz Dean led Dunbar scoring with 18 points and eight rebounds, and Calvin Dotson added 17 points. Antwon Smith had 12 to lead Edgewood (22-6).
The Poets finished the season at 24-3 with their second straight No. 1 ranking in the area, after the longtime power went five seasons without finishing atop the rankings.
With three regulars back and a host of newcomers entering the season, it wasn't clear how the Poets would perform. They weren't overwhelming, and were pushed often during the regular season, but Dunbar didn't lose to an area team.
"We thought we were kind of invincible," said Dotson, whose team's only losses were to nationally-ranked Good Counsel, Duncanville (Tex.) and Roman Catholic of Philadelphia. "In the middle of the season, a lot of teams began to test us, and we realized that we needed to start scrapping hard."
At the loser's end, Edgewood coach Bob Slagle had warned his team after Friday night's semifinal victory over Einstein that it would have to mature quickly to stay in the game with Dunbar.
The Rams have no seniors on their roster, and after an encouraging start were overwhelmed by the Poets. Edgewood has solid postseason credentials, having advanced to the semifinals for the seventh time this decade. But the Rams, who won the 1997 1A championship, had little chance.
"They were able to take us out of our game," said Slagle. 'We didn't handle it as well as we should have. They're just better. I hoped that we would compete better, but it's tough. They're not only big, but they're strong."
In the early moments, Edgewood stuck with the Poets, trailing 14-12 after a three-pointer by Smith. But Dotson single-handledly put Dunbar in control, scoring eight straight points, including two three-pointers, to give Dunbar a 22-12 first-quarter lead.
The lead grew to 35-15 as Edgewood missed 10 consecutive shots. The Poets led 40-19 at halftime, then scored the first eight points of the third period to put the contest far out of reach.
Dunbar shot 30-for-58 from the field, compared to 17-for-60 for Edgewood (3-for-21 from three-point range) and owned a 42-32 rebounding margin.
EDGEWOOD -- Maynard 7, Suber 6, Hancock 3, Butler 4, Smith 12, Kelley 3, Robinson 6, Alston 2. Totals 17 6-7 43.
DUNBAR -- Tucker 3, Ferguson 4, Dean 18, Johnson 15, Dotson 17, Miller 6, Akinola 4, Cornell 2, Dorsey 2, Minor 3, Dickerson 2, Molen 3. Totals 30 13-22 79. Half: Dunbar 40-19.
Boys Basketball playoffs
At Cole Field House
State finals
Yesterday's results
Class 4A
Lake Clifton 50, Oxon Hill 48
Class 3A Th. Johnson 64, Gwynn Park 62
Class 2A
Dunbar 79, Edgewood 43
Class 1A N. Dorchester 73, Pikesville 42
State semifinals
Thursday's results
Class 3A
Gwynn Park 62, City 60 T. Johnson 101, Aberdeen 60
Class 4A
Oxon Hill 68, Meade 56
Lake Clifton 61, Sherwood 49
Friday's results
Class 1A N. Dorchester 53, Oak. Mills 50
Pikesville 66, S. Hagerstown 62
Class 2A
Dunbar 58, Central 52
Edgewood 60, Einstein 55