2017 DCSD JV Boys’ Tournament Champions — Miller Grove Wolverines 12-1

The Miller Grove Wolverines built a nine point fourth quarter lead and then held off a late Lithonia Bulldog rally to win their fourth DCSD JV Boys’ basketball title by a score of 37-31 at Cedar Grove Middle School.

Torrance Edwards hit a three-pointer to open the fourth quarter putting the Wolverines (12-1) up 28-20 with 6:01 to play in the game. The lead was put at nine for the second time in the game with 3:38 to play on a three by Dontrelle Williams.

The Bulldogs (11-2) Kaveh Brantley started a 7-2 run with a drive to the basket followed moments later by Roderick Jones’ three-pointer and a pair of free throws by Quindarius Gibson trimmed the lead to just four 35-31 with 1:12 to play.

An offensive rebound and basket by the Bulldogs with 43 seconds to play that would have cut the lead to 35-33 was disallowed by a foul call.

Miller Grove’s Trayvon Hollinger and Edwards both hit one of two from the line in the final 20 seconds to provide the six-point final cushion.

Tournament MVP Terrance Edwards (right) and Miller Grove Coach Johnathan Robinson

The game was tight in the first period as the teams battled back and forth until Kyree Rice nailed a three-pointer with 25 seconds to play in the opening quarter for an 11-7 lead heading into the second quarter.

Elijah Lopez’s steal and basket with 4:20 to play in the first half had the Bulldogs within 16-13 before Miller Grove used a pair of free throws by Edwards and Coles rebound and drive to the basket ended the half strong with a 20-13 lead.

Jalen Stuckey’s three-pointer with 4:39 to play in the third quarter gave Miller Grove its biggest lead of the night at 25-15.

Lithonia continued to battle cutting the lead back to six (25-19) on baskets by Brantley and Gibson to end the period.

Brantley and Coles finished the game with eight points each to lead Miller Grove while Edwards finished with five points while directing the offense and being named Tournament MVP. Roderick Jones and Kaveh Brantley both finished with a game-high nine points to lead.

2017 DCSD Girls’ JV Champions — Southwest DeKalb Lady Panthers 12-1

Girls Championship
SW DeKalb 53, Stephenson 40
Tournament MVP Jayla Kimbrough scored 12 of her 18 points to help the Southwest DeKalb Lady Panthers pull away from the Stephenson Lady Jaguars for a 53-40 DCSD JV Girls’ Tournament championship.

The contest was a see-saw affair throughout the first three quarters with Southwest taking the lead for good at 33-31 on a Keteriaca Thornton drive to the basket with 2:51 left in the third quarter.

Zikiya Walker hit one of two from the line to make it a 33-32 game heading into the final quarter of play.

Kimbrough opened the fourth quarter hitting a pair of free throws and a drive to the basket for a layup to quickly push the lead out to 37-32.

Ajah Gaston hit back-to-back layups to make it 41-34 with 4:59 to play in the game. Kimbrough got back in the act hitting from behind the three-point arc on consecutive trips down the floor to increase the lead to nine at 47-38 with 3:18 remaining.

Tournament MVP Jayla Kimbrough (left) and Southwest DeKalb Coach Terrie Montgomery

Kimbrough’s two free throws along with two by Gaston pushed the lead over 10 at 51-40 with just 1:46 to play.

Ryan Tinch had a pair of offensive put backs in the first quarter to help Stephenson to a 15-11 lead after one period. Eric Taylor and Walker hit layups late in the half as the Lady Jaguars regained the lead after a short-lived 23-22 Southwest advantage. Stephenson took that 26-23 lead into the break.

Jewell Paver joined Kimbrough in double figures for Southwest (12-1) with 14 points. Kennedi Harris hit for 13 points to lead Stephenson followed by Zikiya Walker with 10 points and 7 rebounds and Ryan Tinch with 8 points and 9 rebounds.