Dobson leads Rams past Central

Mon. February 20, 2012 at 11:00 p.m. | By Jason Queen

Starmount's Dillon Dobson goes in for a dunk during the Rams' 2-A playoff game at Central Davidson on Monday. (Photo by Donnie Roberts/The Dispatch)

Starmount senior swingman Dillon Dobson played in his third game back from a concussion Monday night at Central Davidson.
He was a huge headache for the Spartans.

Dobson scored 24 points and showed off a dazzling display of inside-outside ability to lead the Rams to a 63-58 victory over the Spartans in the first round of the 2-A playoffs at Central. The Rams (17-7) advanced to Wednesday’s second round, while Central finished its season at 17-8.

The Spartans had their chances to knock off a highly talented Rams squad, but were doomed by turnovers and poor foul shooting throughout the second half. “The biggest thing was the turnovers in transition,” Central coach Brian Hege said. “Even down one in the second half, we’d turn it over every time we’d get an opportunity to get a lead or keep it close.

“Or, we’d take a quick 3. And what kept us in it all night was pounding it inside. I didn’t think they could stop us there, and they really didn’t all night.”

Greg Mininni was the key contributor in the post for the Spartans, as he maneuvered his way in for 18 points. But seemingly every time the Spartans were poised to get back in it, Dobson was there to pull the Rams back in front. The biggest dagger was the 3-pointer he hit early in the fourth, right after Chris Pompey scored in the paint to bring Central within 48-43. Will Ramsey answered with a 3 at the other end for Central, but Dobson — amid heavy pressure from the defense — slipped a pass to Dillon Bray in the corner for another 3, and the Spartans never recovered.

Having his senior leader back, and playing at a high level, brought a smile to Starmount coach Jeff Hague’s face. “He played really well tonight,” Hague said. “He’s been coming back off that injury, and he’s built up a lot of momentum every since he’s come back.”

Hege couldn’t disagree with that. “He might be the best player that’s walked into this gym in a long time,” Hege said. “Athletic, could shoot it, drive it, strong. But he’s a D-I baseball player (he’s verbally committed to play at Appalachian State), he’s not even a basketball player. But he was the best one on the floor.”

The Spartans certainly didn’t back down from the Rams. Ramsey opened with a fast-break bucket after a Pompey block, then Ramsey drained a 3 from the corner to set the tone early. But Fondae McDaniel (11 points) and Dobson hit consecutive treys, then Dobson turned a hard backdoor cut through the lane into a monster two-handed dunk to steal some momentum.

After Dobson nailed another 3 from the wing, Pompey highlighted a 5-0 Central run by driving baseline for a two-handed jam of his own. The Rams whittled away at the lead and tied it up late in the second quarter, but Forrest Reynolds bombed in a 3 to push Central ahead 29-26. Starmount scored the last four points of the half to take a 30-29 lead at the break. Mininni scored on Central’s first possession of the second half, but McDaniel and Bray drilled consecutive 3s to go up 36-31. Central made one final charge, taking its last lead of the night on Pompey’s 3-ball from the wing. But Dobson countered with a drive to the hoop then a coast-to-coast layup and the Spartans never led again, doomed by going 1-for-6 from the free throw line in the second half.
Ramsey finished with 14 points for the Spartans, and Reynolds kicked in 13. Charlie Wagoner added 12 points for the Rams.

Jason Queen can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 220 or jason.queen@the-dispatch.com.