Lithonia’s Jacara Cross and his No. 3 ranked Bulldog teammates set up a Battle for Lithonia against No. 1 ranked Miller Grove. (Photo by Mark Brock)
The Class 5A No. 1 ranked Miller Grove Wolverines and Class 4A No. 3 ranked Lithonia Bulldogs set up a semifinal game between ranked teams from DeKalb County/Lithonia with second round victories on Monday at the Chick-fil-A Invitational at Tucker High School.
Lithonia advance first with a tight 56-51 over Mississippi’s Class 6A No. 1 ranked Meridian handing the Wildcats (14-2) just their second loss on the season.
The Bulldogs (9-3) face Miller Grove at Tucker on Tuesday in the nightcap at 8:30 pm.
The Wolverines (10-2) led by guards Alterique Gilbert and Aaron Augustin ran past fellow DeKalb County foe Cedar Grove (6-5) 66-26.
Gilbert, a McDonalds’ All-America candidate and UConn signee, finished a solid night with 16 points, 9 assists and six steals to lead the Wolverines. Augustin finished his second consecutive double-double with 13 points and 10 assists on the night for Miller Grove.
The Tucker Tigers (9-3) made it three DeKalb County teams in the semifinals with an impressive second half to defeat previously undefeated Osceola, FL (9-1) 69-48 in the nightcap at Tucker.
Tucker and Osceola were all tied up at 27-27 at the half, but the Tigers spurred by Xavier Johnson and Kenton Eskridge outscored Osceola 42-21 in the second half.
Johnson finished the game with a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds while Eskridge hit for 15 points and added 8 assists.
North Clayton (7-3) advanced to the semifinals by rallying past Columbia (6-5) for a 49-45 victory. Columbia had led 32-31 at the half.
North Clayton and Tucker face off at 7:00 pm tomorrow (Tuesday) at Tucker.
Round 2 Schedule
Monday, Dec. 28
Sixth Place Bracket
South Miami, FL (12-3) 73, Tri-Cities (3-7) 59
Rockdale Co. (7-7) 65, Glenn Hills (1-10) 53
Brainerd, TN (9-3) 51, Butler (5-4) 41
Mays (7-7) 75, Rutland (4-7) 47
Championship Bracket
North Clayton (7-3) 49, Columbia (6-5) 45
Lithonia (9-3) 56, Meridian, MS (14-2) 51
Miller Grove (10-2) 66, Cedar Grove (6-5) 26
Tucker (9-3) 69, Osceola, FL (9-1) 48
Round 3 Schedule
Tuesday, Dec. 29
Sixth Place Bracket Semifinals
South Miami FL (12-3) vs. Rockdale Co. (7-7), 1:00 pm
Mays (7-7) vs. Brainerd, TN (9-3), 2:30 pm
Fifth Place Bracket Semifinals
Columbia (6-5) vs. Osceola, FL (9-1), 4:00 pm
Meridian, MS (14-2) vs. Cedar Grove (6-5), 5:30 pm
Championship Bracket Semifinals
North Clayton (7-3) vs. Tucker (9-3), 7:00 pm
Lithonia (9-3) vs. Miller Grove (10-2), 8:30 pm