Salem girls, Champion boys split match up of undefeated teams at top of Region 2 standings to remain the only two undefeated teams in middle school basketball action.
Following some exciting matchups last Saturday the Salem Lady Lions and Champion Chargers are the only remaining undefeated DeKalb middle school basketball teams headed down the stretch of the 2023 season.
Salem and Champion split games in a matchup of four undefeated teams atop the Region 2 girls’ and boys’ at Champion on Saturday.
The defending county champions Salem Lady Lions (9-0, 8-0) opened the night with a 49-26 over the Champion Lady Chargers (8-1, 7-1) in a rematch of last year’s title game won by Salem. Salem took advantage of 23 Champion turnovers and put three players in double figures on the night.
Shanya Heath led the way for Salem with a game-high 19 points with Mya Perry adding 17 and DeDe Spaulding chipping in with 10. Champion was led by Charmaine Owens with 7 points, Jhia Primrose with 5 points (8 rebounds) and Lailah Cox with 5 points (7 rebounds).
Champion (9-0, 8-0) led from start to finish in knocking off previously undefeated Salem (8-1, 7-1) 45-38 to keep the Chargers undefeated streak alive. The crowd made the game feel like a championship atmosphere as the gym was packed. Carlin Cabbil hit for 10 points to lead the Chargers.
GIRLS RECAPS
The Chapel Hill Lady Panthers claimed the top spot in the Region 1 girls’ standings by upending the previously undefeated Stephenson Lady Jaguars 41-40. The game turned out to be a battle between Chapel Hill sixth grader Mauri Barnes (24 points, 4 steals, 2 rebounds) and Stephenson’s Loriel Murray (21 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocked shots).
Avontie Gilreath contributed 7 points, 6 rebounds and 3 blocked shots for Chapel Hill (8-1, 8-0) and MacKenzie Copeland added 6 points, 4 steals, 3 assists and 3 rebounds. Jayla Walton put up 8 points (3 rebounds) and Cyncere Sims-Turner added 7 points (2 rebounds) for Stephenson (8-1, 7-1).
Druid Hills 47, Redan 33
The Druid Hills Lady Dragons solidified their spot as the No. 3 team in Region 1 with a 47-33 win over the Redan Lady Raiders. Azelia Shell had a game-high 25 points and Kassidy Manning hit for 19 to pave the way in the win for Druid Hills (7-2, 6-2). Redan (5-5, 5-4) got 18 points from Koryoonia Magee in the loss.
Cedar Grove 39, Peachtree 10
The Cedar Grove Lady Saints are trying to move up the seeding for the county tournament following a 39-10 win over the Peachtree Lady Patriots in Region 2 action. Imani Coleman had a triple double of 14 points, 10 rebounds and 10 steals for Cedar Grove while Faith Andrews added 15 points, 5 steals and 3 rebounds. Cedar Grove (7-3, 6-3) moved into fourth in the region while Peachtree (3-7, 3-6) tries to hold on to a tournament spot in a tie for sixth.
Freedom 22, Bethune 20
Freedom moved into a tie for sixth in Region 1 with an upset of No. 4 Bethune (6-3, 5-3) by a score of 22-20. Grace Kasongo hit for 10 points (6 rebounds) and Destiny Swint added 8 points (3 steals) for Freedom (3-6, 3-5).
Stone Mountain 36, Miller Grove 19
Stone Mountain moved closer to sealing a tournament spot with a 36-19 win over Miller Grove (1-8, 1-7). Oluwaseyi Crawford hit for 19 points (2 three-pointers) and added 2 assists for Stone Mountain (3-6, 2-6). Mya Sales scored 10 points while adding three big blocks and 2 assists for Stone Mountain.
Columbia 40, McNair 15
The Columbia Lady Eagles evened their record at 5-5 (3-5) on the season with a Region 1 40-15 win over the McNair Lady Mustangs (0-9, 0-8). Kennedy Johnson hit for 10 points to lead Columbia.
In other action Lithonia (3-7, 3-6) defeated Sequoyah (0-10, 0-9) 38-5 in Region 2 play.
BOYS RECAPS
The Columbia Eagles picked up their first win of the season with a 34-27 victory over the McNair Mustangs (1-8, 1-7). Columbia (1-9, 1-8) were led by an eight-point performance by Phamethius Mosley. Chris Glenn and Cy’Mun Yeates both came off the bench to score 7 points each.
Cedar Grove 40, Peachtree 37
The Cedar Grove Saints rallied from a halftime deficit to get past Peachtree 40-37 in Region 2 play. Cedar Grove (7-3, 6-3) sit in fourth place after the win led by Tayson Blunt’s 17 points and a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double by Isaiah Cosby. Kaiden Horton and Mason Scharf hit for 10 points apiece to lead Peachtree (3-7, 3-6).
Chamblee 63, Beacon Hill 28
Chamblee had three players hit in double figures to propel the Bulldogs (5-5, 5-4) to a 63-28 win over the Beacon Hill Bulldogs (4-6, 4-5) in Region 2 action. Eston McDow hit for 17 points, Ellison Eily for 12 and Dante Cutillo 10.
Lithonia 56, Sequoyah 12
Caleb Cooper had a 10-point, 12-rebound double-double to lead the Lithonia Bulldogs (8-2, 7-2) to a 56-12 Region 2 win over Sequoyah (0-10, 0-9). Clayton Edmonds added 9 points while Armani Myco and Jordan Holland knocked down 8 points each in the game.
Bethune 58, Freedom 25
The Bethune Lions sit in second place in the Region 1 standings following a 58-25 win over the Freedom Rams. Mekyrius Miller led the way for Bethune (8-1, 7-1) with 14 points, L’Markus Scott chipped in 10 points while Rashaad Silver and Maxwell Awani hit for 8 points each in the game. Mojwok Ajobong hit for a team-high 12 points for Freedom (3-6, 3-5) and Geordan Curry added 9 points.
Redan 53, Druid Hills 44
Tristan Mitchell hit for a game-high 26 points to lead the Redan Raiders to a key 53-44 Region 1 win over the Druid Hills Dragons (7-2, 6-2). Brandon Armstrong tossed in 12 points for Redan (9-1, 8-1) which sits in the top spot in Region 1.
Chapel Hill 51, Stephenson 33
The Chapel Hill Panthers 51-33 win over the Stephenson Jaguars coupled with the loss by Druid Hills moved the Panthers into a tie for second place in the Region 1 standings with Bethune. Just Taylor hit for 23 points for the Panthers as one of three Chapel Hill players in double figures including Keshawn George (11 points) and Braylon Carter (10 points).
Tucker 53, Henderson 36
The Tucker Tigers took a step towards reaching the county tournament with a 53-36 win over the Henderson Cougars (2-7, 1-7). Vance Wilder hit for 11 points to lead the Tigers (2-7, 2-6) and was joined in double figures by Sterling Pritchett with 10 points. DeCarlo Dickerson added 8 points to the Tucker total.
See link below for updated DCSD Middle School Basketball Standings:
DCSD MS BASKETBALL RESULTS
BOYS
Sat., 1/14/23
Bethune 58, Freedom* 35
Cedar Grove 40, Peachtree* 37
Chamblee 63, Beacon Hill* 28
Champion* 45, Salem 38
Chapel Hill* 51, Stephenson 33
Columbia* 34, McNair 27
Lithonia* 56, Sequoyah 12
Redan* 53, Druid Hills 44
Stone Mountain* 45, Miller Grove 42 OT
Tucker* 53, Henderson 36
GIRLS
Sat., 1/14/23
Beacon Hill* 28, Chamblee 26
Cedar Grove 39, Peachtree* 10
Chapel Hill* 41, Stephenson 40
Columbia* 40, McNair 15
Druid Hills 47, Redan* 33
Freedom* 22, Bethune 20
Henderson 24, Tucker* 16
Lithonia* 28, Sequoyah 5
Salem 49, Champion* 26
Stone Mountain* 36, Miller Grove 19
DCSD MS BASKETBALL SCHEDULE
Wed., 1/18/23
Beacon Hill at Salem*
Bethune at Druid Hills*
Champion at Tucker*
Chapel Hill at Stone Mountain*
Freedom at Miller Grove*
Stephenson at McNair*
Open: Cedar Grove, Chamblee, Columbia, Henderson, Lithonia, Peachtree, Redan, Sequoyah