Dunbar boys top rival Wyatt to advance in basketball

By Kevin Casas

Special to the Star-Telegram

Fort Worth Dunbar and Fort Worth Wyatt didn’t meet in boys basketball in the regular season for the first time since 1968, the year Wyatt opened.

But the rivalry’s passion and emotion was alive and well Friday, as Dunbar defeated the Chaparrals 66-61 in the Class 4A area playoffs before 1,350 fans at a packed Billingsley Field House.

Dunbar (22-9) advanced to the Region I quarterfinals to face Trophy Club Nelson or Waco University at an undetermined site and date.

“It was great to be a part of this,” Dunbar coach Robert Hughes Jr. said. “When they told me it was going to be at Billingsley, I knew the crowd would come out. It sure reminded me of the 70s and 80s.”

A full house was nothing new for the rivalry, but it was rare — maybe unprecedented — to see the losing team end its season.

Dunbar guard Dennis Jones scored a game-high 25 points to push the Wildcats past Wyatt (19-13) in the fourth quarter.

Jones knocked down a right-corner 3-pointer with 5:47 remaining to give Dunbar its first lead since midway through the second quarter.

“We had a lot of mental mistakes and I think we were just kind of mentally not right,” Jones said. “You know it was our first time in the playoffs, so I kind of think we didn’t know what to expect in a game like this.”

Wyatt slowed the game and took a 22-21 lead in the second quarter that grew to as much as seven points before Dunbar took off .

“They clearly beat us on the boards tonight and left it all out there,” Hughes said. “We just really had a few more plays than they did and they missed some free throws. Aside from that, it really felt like a one-point game.”

Dunbar shot 42 percent for the game, dropping in 23 field goals. Wyatt made 20 of 55 field goals and 19 of 30 free throws.

De’Lante Brooks backed up Jones with 17 points, and Trae Dary led Wyatt with 16.

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