Chamblee’s Zayd Fisher (11) drives to the basket for two of his 12 fourth-quarter points in a 70-64 loss to Decatur on Tuesday night. (Photo by Mark Brock)
The Chamblee Bulldogs battled back late before coming up short in the nightcap to the Decatur Bulldogs 70-64 in a Region 4-5A doubleheader at Chamblee on Tuesday night.
Decatur (4-5, 1-1) led by 15 twice in the fourth quarter, the last 15-point margin coming on a basket by Luke Brooks with 6:10 to play in the game.
Chamblee (3-7, 0-2) rallied behind the play of Zayd Fisher who teamed up with Quay Wright on a pair of back-to-back baskets to cut the lead to 11 (60-49) with 4:58 to play.
The pair them combined for eight points (4 points each) in a three-minute span as the team cut the lead down to seven (64-57) with 1:58 remaining.
DJ Mays followed with a three on an assist by Fisher to close the gap to 64-60 with 1:22 left in the game. Decatur’s Brooks answered with a three-pointer from the left corner with 1:05 to play to push the lead back out to 67-60.
A par of free throws by Decatur’s Turner Cummings with 28 seconds to play all but sealed the game at 69-62.
Fisher hit a shot just before the buzzer to close out the fourth quarter with 12 points in the 70-64 loss.
Fisher finished with 24 points to lead Chamblee while Quay Wright added 16 points and 10 rebounds in the game. DJ Mays finished with 14 points.
Decatur’s Luke Brooks led all scorers with 28 points, including six three-pointers, to lead Decatur’s Turner Cummings added 10 points.
Chamblee’s Malena Shipley (5) drives to the lane during the Lady Bulldogs’ 74-49 loss to Decatur on Tuesday night. (Photo by Mark Brock)
GIRLS: Decatur 74, Chamblee 49
Decatur’s big fourth quarter keyed the visiting team’s 74-49 victory over homestanding Chamblee on Tuesday night to open the Region 4-5A twin bill.
Decatur hit five three-pointers in the decisive third quarter to extend the 36-27 halftime lead to 59-42. Ryan Evans and Cornelia Ellington both hit two treys in the period and Dejah Morgan added the fifth one.
Evans three at the buzzer made 59-42 heading into the fourth quarter. Kira Czech’s three-pointer to open the fourth quarter and Ellington’s drive for a bucket pushed the lead out to 64-42 with 6:04 to play.
Decatur (6-4, 2-0) scored 10 unanswered points as Marlo Sims and Ellington both scored five points to make it 74-44 with 2:29 to play.
Azeta added another bucket for Chamblee (5-4, 1-1) and Walls added a basket along with a one for two outing at the free-throw line to make the final score of 74-49.
Trinity Walls had 11 points to lead Chamblee with help from Brianna Wood (8 points, 9 rebounds), Malena Shipley (8 points, 8 rebounds) and Alissa McKinzy (8 points, 7 rebounds).
Cornelia Ellington led all scorers with 27 points for Decatur, Marlo Sims added 15 points and 17 rebounds and Ryan Evans added 10 points.
Chamblee Lady Bulldog basketball team members Alissa McKinzy (left) and Alana Azeta (right) present the banner going up in the Chamblee gym to honor the late Kurt Koeplin, the former girls’ basketball coach and gold team coach at Chamblee who passed away suddenly in June. (Photo by Mark Brock)
In between games, the Chamblee Lady Bulldogs honored their late coach, Kurt Koeplin who passed away suddenly last June. After a moment of silence in his memory they invited his wife, Cathy, down to present her with flowers. The team wore Chamblee Bulldog henna tattoos with Coach K underneath.
After short speeches by Chamblee Athletic Director Lori Reynolds and tennis/cross country coach Jennifer Tinnell the team brought out a banner with Koeplin’ s photo that will be put up in the gym in his memory. It said, in memory of Coach K (he was lovingly called by the students and staff at Chamblee), forever in our hearts.
And one last gesture the team also presented Cathy Koeplin with an autographed basketball signed by the team members. The ball was found in Kurt’s classroom, and they felt it fitting to give it to her.
He will be remembered by the many students and co-workers whose lives he touched in such a positive manner over his many years serving Chamblee High School,