The Cedar Grove Saints and Salem Lady Lions got the defense of their 2022 DCSD championships with convincing wins to open the 2023 season last Saturday.

New Head Coach Adam Smith picked up his first win with a balanced attack from the Saints offense in the 41-20 victory over the Freedom Rams. Tayson Blunt led the way with 9 points while the trio of King Parrom, Isaiah Cosby and Josiah Street chipped in 8 points apiece. Chace Boyce finished with 5 points.

BOYS RECAPS
Lithonia 47, Columbia 12
The Lithonia Bulldogs opened the season with a big 47-12 victory over the Columbia Eagles on Saturday. Clayton Edmunds and Anthony Flournoy hit for 9 points each in the win.

Bethune 43, Peachtree 30
The Bethune Lions knocked of the Peachtree Patriots 43-30 to open the season on Saturday. Rashaad Silver and Mekyrius Miller were both in double figures with 14 points apiece to lead the Lions.

Henderson 36, McNair 19
Ashdon Sims had a solid all-around game to lead the Henderson Cougars to a 36-19 season opening win over the McNair Mustangs. Sims finished with 10 points, 5 rebounds and 5 steals for the Cougars. Hani Siddiqui added a nice stat line of 7 points, 4 rebounds and 7 steals.

Redan 65, Chamblee 55
Tristan Mitchell and Amare Medhin teamed up to score 54 of the Redan Raiders 65 points in the high-scoring 65-55 opening win over the Chamblee Bulldogs. Mitchell finished with 30 points, 3 steals and 5 rebounds and Medhin had 24 points and 5 steals on the day. Brandon Armstrong tossed in 8 points and had 3 steals. The Bulldogs had three players in double figures led by Ellison Eily with 17 points along with Eston McDow 16 and Christopher Oliver 15.

Stephenson 33, Tucker 30
The Stephenson Jaguars held off the Tucker Tigers for a 33-30 victory to debut the new season. Tucker got 10 points from Sterling Pritchett, 9 from Vance Wilder and 7 from DeCarlo Dickerson in the loss. Stephenson picked up 10 points each from Jayden Hayes and Terry Coleman.

Champion 59, Chapel Hill 40
Defense and a trio of players in double figures helped the Champion Chargers kick off the 2023 season with a 59-40 win over the Chapel Hill Panthers. A tough full court press by the Chargers clamped down on the Panthers with the aid of Carlin Cabbil (17 points), Jackson Ushery (15 points) and Rance McKenzie (10 points). Braylon Carter hit for a game-high 20 points for Chapel Hill.

Stone Mountain 63, Sequoyah 7
The Stone Mountain Pirates had a pair of players hit double figures in a 63-7 win over the Sequoyah Braves. Jordan Underwood connected for 18 points to lead the way for the Pirates while teammate Robert Banks was not far behind with 15 points in the game.

GIRLS RECAPS
Salem 52, Miller Grove 2
The Salem Lady Lions started the 2023 season just like they left off the 2022 championship season with a victory. Salem downed the Miller Grove Lady Wolverines 52-2 to open the defense of their title.

Bethune 43, Peachtree 9
Ryleigh Kimmons hit for a game-high 21 points to propel the Bethune Lady Lions to a 43-9 victory over the Peachtree Lady Patriots in the season opener. Assata McIntyre chipped 13 points for Bethune in the win.

Henderson 20, McNair 12
The Henderson Lady Cougars begin the season 1-0 following their 20-12 win over the McNair Lady Mustangs. Bella Matthews led the Cougars with 9 points in the game.

Druid Hills 32, Beacon Hill 17
The Druid Hills Lady Dragons jump started their 2023 season with a 32-17 opening weekend win over the Beacon Hill Bulldogs last Saturday. Azelia Shell was the catalyst scoring 15 points for Druid Hills in the victory.

Stephenson 52, Tucker 2
Loriel Murray hit for a game-high 18 points in a 52-2 win for the Stephenson Lady Jaguars over the Tucker Lady Tigers to kick off the 2023 season. Cyncere Sims-Turner joined Murray in double figures with 10 points on the day. Harmony Prejean added seven points while Faith Fuller and Jayla Walton chipped in six points each in the win.

Champion 51, Chapel Hill 27
The 2022 DCSD girls’ runners-up Champion Lady Chargers began a campaign to return to the title game with a 51-27 win over the Chapel Hill Lady Panthers. Charmaine Owens hit for a game-high 20 points to lead the way for Champion. Jhia Primsose contributed 9 points and 12 rebounds and Lailah Cox added 9 points.

Columbia 34, Lithonia 11
The Columbia Lady Eagles ran away to a 34-11 season opening win over the Lithonia Bulldogs. Tamicah Pate hit for a game-high 14 points to lead Columbia while Jada Supples joined her in double figures with 10 points and Angel Rice chipped in 6.

Stone Mountain 31, Sequoyah 2
Oluwaseyi Crawford put 17 points on the board for the Stone Mountain Lady Pirates on the way to a 31-2 opening win over the Sequoyah Lady Braves. May Sales contributed 9 points for Stone Mountain.

Cedar Grove 12, Freedom 9
The Cedar Grove Lady Saints pulled out a 12-9 low-scoring victory over the Freedom Lady Rams to kick off their 2023 season. Imani Coleman fueled the win with 3 points, 12 rebounds and 8 steals on the day.

Chamblee 29, Redan 25
The Redan Lady Raiders came up just short in a tight contest falling 29-25 to the Chamblee Lady Bulldogs in the season opener for both teams. Saniya Gist had a double-double to lead Redan with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Koryonia Magee also put up 10 points for Redan.

See link below for standings after the first weekend of play:

2023 DCSD MS Basketball Standings

BOYS RESULTS
Sat., 11/12/22
Champion 59, Chapel Hill 40
Druid Hills def. Beacon Hill
Cedar Grove 41, Freedom 20
Lithonia 47, Columbia 12
Henderson 36, McNair 19
Bethune 43, Peachtree 30
Redan 65, Chamblee 55
Salem 51, Miller Grove 27
Stone Mountain 62, Sequoyah 7
Stephenson 33, Tucker 30

GIRLS RESULTS
Sat., 11/12/22
Champion 51, Chapel Hill 27
Druid Hills 32, Beacon Hill 17
Cedar Grove 12, Freedom 9
Columbia 34, Lithonia 11
Henderson 20, McNair 12
Bethune 43, Peachtree 9
Chamblee 29, Redan 25
Salem 52, Miller Grove 2
Stone Mountain 31, Sequoyah 2
Stephenson 54, Tucker 2

BOYS SCHEDULE
Wed., 11/16/22
Champion at Lithonia* (1-0)
Freedom (0-1) at Druid Hills*
Henderson (1-0) at Peachtree* (0-1)
Redan (1-0) at McNair* (0-1)
Salem (1-0) at Cedar Grove* (1-0)
Stephenson (1-0) at Bethune* (1-0)
Open: Beacon Hill, Chamblee, Chapel Hill, Columbia, Miller Grove, Sequoyah, Stone Mountain, Tucker

GIRLS SCHEDULE
Wed., 11/16/22
Champion (1-0) at Lithonia* (0-1)
Freedom (0-1) at Druid Hills* (1-0)
Henderson (1-0) at Peachtree* (0-1)
Redan (0-1) at McNair* (0-1)
Salem (1-0) at Cedar Grove* (1-0)
Stephenson (1-0) at Bethune* (1-0)
Open: Beacon Hill, Chamblee, Chapel Hill, Columbia, Miller Grove, Sequoyah, Stone Mountain, Tucker