The 2023 DeKalb County Middle School Basketball Championships feature All-Region matchups in both the girls’ and boys’ championships set for Saturday (Feb. 11) at Miller Grove following Wednesday’s semifinal round action.

The boys’ semifinal round was an all-Region 1 affair with Redan (15-1) and Chapel Hill (14-2) coming out on top to set up a rematch of their regular season meeting back on November 30 won 50-42 by Redan.

Redan defeated the Druid Hills Dragons (11-5) 49-42 to move into the championship round for the first time since 2012, a 53-40 loss to Lithonia. Tristan Mitchell led the Raiders with a game-high 31 points (3 assists, 2 steals) and Amare Medhin hit for 16 more (4 assists, 3 steals).

Druid Hills got 20 points from Stone Richards in the hard-fought loss.

Chapel Hill enters the championship game on a 13-game win streak since dropping the decision to Redan in November and knocking off the Bethune Lions (13-3) for the second time this season in a 45-31 semifinal win.

The Panthers are in the title game for the third time since 2013. Chapel won the 2013 title against defending champion Lithonia and fell to Renfroe (now Beacon Hill) in the 2018 game.

Sixth grader Just Taylor and teammate Braylon Carter both hit for a game-high 17 points to lead the Panthers in the win. Bethune got 12 points from Rashaad Silver and 10 from Mekyrius Miller.

The boys’ championship is set for a 3:30 pm tip at Miller Grove on Saturday.

GIRLS SEMIFINALS
The girls’ title game comes down to a rematch of last year’s matchup featuring Salem (16-0) and Champion (14-2) in an all-Region 2 girls’ game.

Salem is riding a 22-game win streak that includes a 39-36 win over the then undefeated Champion Lady Chargers in the title game and a 49-26 win in 2023 regular season action.

Salem got past a Stephenson Lady Jaguar squad (14-2) that had put together a six-game streak following a 41-40 loss to Chapel Hill on January 14 by a 43-39 margin to reach the championship for a second consecutive year. Mya Perry hit for 17 points to lead the way while Shanya Heath added 12 and DeDe Spaulding chipped in 8 more.

Stephenson was led by Ji’Asiah Coggins with 14 points with Loriel Murray added 12 and Jayla Walton 9.

Champion reached the championship game for the seventh consecutive year with its 50-36 win over Chapel Hill (13-3). Charmaine Owens hit for a game-high 20 points to lead the Lady Chargers in the win and Jhia Primrose added 17 points.

Chapel Hill was led by Janise McCoy with 12 points and Mauri Barnes with 10.

Salem is trying to complete the first undefeated run to the title since Champion did it in back-to-back seasons in 2016 and 2017. Champion has lost the past two title games but also won in 2019 (16-1) and fell in 2018.

The girls’ championship is set for a 2:00 pm tip at Miller Grove on Saturday.

See links below for current standings and updated playoff brackets:

DCSD MS BASKETBALL STANDINGS

DCSD MIDDLE SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS BRACKET

DCSD MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS BRACKET

DCSD MIDDLE SCHOOL BASKETBALL CHAMPIOSHIPS
SEMIFINAL ROUND
Wed., 2/8/23
GIRLS
Champion (14-2) 50, Chapel Hill (13-3) 36
Salem (16-0) 43, Stephenson (14-2) 39

BOYS
Redan (15-1) 49, Druid Hills (11-5) 42
Chapel Hill (15-1) 45, Bethune (13-3) 31

DCSD MIDDLE SCHOOL BASKETBALL CHAMPIOSHIPS
CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND AT MILLER GROVE
Saturday, 2/11/23
GIRLS
Champion (14-2) vs. Salem (16-0), 2:00 pm
BOYS
Chapel Hill (15-1) vs. Redan (15-1), 3:30 pm