Lorenzo Anderson spurred a 12-0 fourth-quarter run for the No. 2 ranked Miller Grove Wolverines as they defeated the No. 6 ranked Lithonia Bulldogs 60-57 in high school basketball action at Lithonia on Tuesday night.

Lithonia (17-6, 6-4) led for most of the game and was up 47-41 with 5:02 to play when Miller Grove’s Maurice Harvey drove to the basket to make it a four-point game at 47-43 to begin the 12-0 run for the Wolverines.

Timothy Stargell’s steal and pass up court to Anderson turned into a dunk to cut the lead to 47-45. Another Lithonia turnover had the Wolverines on the offensive end and Anderson drove the left baseline for a short jumper to tie the game at 47-47 with 3:50 to play. It was the first tie of the game.

Anderson missed a free throw after being fouled on the made shot and Jermon Clark rebounded and was fouled. Clark hit both free throws giving the Wolverines (17-6, 10-1) their first lead of the game at 49-47 with 3:49 to play.

A missed free throw by the Bulldogs sent the Wolverines back up the floor with Harvey getting the ball in the right corner. Harvey accelerated along the baseline on the way to dunk that brought the Miller Grove bench and fans to their feet with a 51-47 lead.

A free throw violation gave the Wolverines the ball back with 2:45 to play. A pass intended to go inside for the Wolverines was tipped and ended up in the hands of Anderson for an easy layup and a six-point (53-47) lead with 2:11 remaining in the game.

Eric Gaines who opened the game with 13 first quarter points stepped up for the Bulldogs with a three-pointer to cut the lead in half at 53-50 with 1:56 to play. A Miller Grove turnover led to a pair of free throws by Ziven Alexander to pull Lithonia back within 53-52 with 1:40 left.

Terrance Edwards responded with two free throws of his own and Anderson followed a free throw by Lithonia’s Christian Parker with a drive in the lane for a 57-53 Miller Grove lead with 1:00 left on the clock.

Gaines hit two of three free throws after being fouled with 23 seconds to play to make it 58-55 game. Edwards hit two more free throws with 12 seconds to play to push the lead out to 60-55.

D’Allen Pritchett hit a shot as time was running out to make the final of 60-57.

Gaines hit for 13 of his game-high 24 points in the first quarter as Lithonia built a 21-9 lead in the opening period. His third three-pointer of the quarter came at the buzzer to make it a 12-point lead. Pritchett sent the Bulldogs into the half up 29-17 with a basket in the final 50 seconds of the second quarter.

A three-pointer by Zion Cain and three baskets by Gaines in the final 4:39 of the third quarter helped the Bulldogs keep a 44-34 lead heading into the final quarter.

Pritchett scored 10 points to join Gaines (24) in double figures for the Bulldogs. Anderson and Harvey both scored all 13 of their points in the second half to tie for team-high honors for the Wolverines.

The win sealed the No. 1 seed for Miller Grove heading into next week’s Region 5-5A Tournament at Southwest DeKalb. Columbia (17-7, 7-4) and Southwest DeKalb (15-9, 7-4) are tied for second with Columbia holding two wins in region play against the Panthers.

(G) Miller Grove 59, Lithonia 30
Keshauna Patterson put up a 25-point, 16-rebound double-double as the Miller Grove Lady Wolverines pulled away from the Lithonia Lady Bulldogs for a 59-30 Region 5-5A victory on the road on Tuesday.

Patterson scored 12 of her points in the second quarter, including two three-pointers in the opening two minutes of the period, as Miller Grove (13-9, 7-4) pulled away from a 7-6 first quarter lead.

Shania Montoya sandwiched a Patterson basket with a pair of layups to end a 14-2 run to begin the second quarter to give Miller Grove a 21-8 advantage.

Margaritte McGill and Patterson both had a pair of baskets in the final three minutes of the first half to give Miller Grove a 31-19 advantage at the break.

Miller Grove held the Lady Bulldogs (2-17, 2-8) to a lone free throw in the third period and Christina Little’s three-point play with 25 seconds left in the quarter made it a 48-20 advantage.

A three-pointer by Lithonia’s L. Yates ended a 21-1 second half run by Miller Grove with 6:41 to play.

Margaritte McGill joined Patterson with her own double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds and Shania Montoya added 10 points for Miller Grove. Jamia Wright had seven points and 12 rebounds to lead Lithonia.

Miller Grove needs a win on Friday night against No. 3 Arabia Mountain (18-1, 11-0), who has sewn up the Region 5-5A Tournament No. 1 seed, to secure the No. 3 seed outright against Chamblee (13-10, 7-5). Southwest DeKalb (12-12, 9-2), who is hosting, comes in as the No. 2 seed on the girls’ side.