Close in on the midway point of the 2023 middle school basketball season five boys’ teams sit at 3-0 in their respective region standings heading into this weekend’s contests.

The last remaining undefeated boys squad moved to 6-0 as the Chapel Hill Panthers (6-0, 3-0) knocked off the Stephenson Jaguars (4-2, 2-1) 53-31 on Wednesday night. The Panthers defense and offense were clicking early as they started the game on a 20-0 run. Jacob Reid hit for 17 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to go with 3 blocked shots for Chapel Hill.

Tucker 54, Cedar Grove 20
The Tucker Tigers (5-1, 3-0) kept pace with Champion atop the Region 2 standings by giving the Cedar Grove Saints (4-2, 2-1) their first region loss of the season 54-20 on Wednesday. Vance Wilder hit for a game-high 23 points and Sterling Pritchett added 15 while Tre Sutton led the Tigers defensively with 5 rebounds and 3 blocked shots. Toney Braziel hit for 7 points and Tayson Blunt added 6 for Cedar Grove which got 6 rebounds from Chad Mahomes.

Champion 54, Beacon Hill 27
The Champion Chargers (5-1, 3-0) stayed on top of the Region 2 standings with big 54-27 win over the Beacon Hill Bulldogs (3-3, 2-1) on Wednesday. Dakota Freeman led the way with 22 points aided by the Chargers’ pressure defense. Coby Mitchell topped the Bulldogs roster in the game with 8 points and 6 rebounds.

Redan 43, Bethune 26
The defending middle school champions Redan Raiders (5-1, 3-0) won their fifth consecutive game of the season to remain in a three-way tie at 3-0 in the Region 1 standings by defeating the Bethune Lions (2-4, 0-3) 42-26. Amare Medhin led with 12 points (4 steals) followed by Zafar Robinson’s double-double of 10 points and 15 rebounds, Ke’Shawn Briggs 8 points (2 steals) and Brandon Armstrong with 7 points.

Miller Grove 27, Stone Mountain 21
The Miller Grove Wolverines (4-2, 3-0) stayed in the three-way tie in Region 1 with a 27-21 win over the Stone Mountain Pirates (3-3, 0-3). No stats were turned in for this game.

Druid Hills 58, Columbia 20
The Druid Hills Dragons (5-1, 2-1) took a 58-20 decision over the Columbia Eagles (0-6, 0-3) to pick up their fifth win in six outings on the season. Phillip Claybrook and Clayton Humphries both hit in double figures with 12 and 10 points, respectively, to lead Druid Hills.

Lithonia 42, Henderson 32
The Lithonia Bulldogs (3-3, 1-2) got into the Region 2-win column via a 42-32 decision over the Henderson Cougars (2-4, 1-2). Anthony Flournoy hit for a team high 11 points followed by Jordan Washington with 9 and 7 apiece from Kameron Alexander and DeAngelo Grisham.

Peachtree 49, Salem 30
The Peachtree Patriots (2-4, 1-2) grabbed their first Region 2 victory 49-30 over the Salem Lions (0-6, 0-3). Darius Hall led the charger with 15 points and Kaiden Horton added 9.

Chamblee 51, Sequoyah 6
The Chamblee Bulldogs (3-3, 2-1) improved to .500 on the season with a runaway 51-6 win over the Sequoyah Braves (0-6, 0-3) in Region 2 play. Ryder O’Malley knocked down 10 points to lead Chamblee on the night.

McNair 29, Freedom 21
The McNair Mustangs (3-3, 1-2) broke a three-game skid by winning 29-21 over the Freedom Rams (1-5, 1-2) on Wednesday. Freedom’s Jonoxe Claxton had 8 points, 5 rebounds, 6 steals and 2 blocked shots and Marquez Roundtree added 10 rebounds.

GIRLS RECAPS
Four girls’ teams remain undefeated in region play and two are undefeated on the season as teams hit the midway point as the holidays move closer.

The Druid Hills Lady Dragons (5-1, 3-0) remained in a tie with Chapel Hill at 3-0 in Region 1 with a thrilling 42-40 win over the Columbia Lady Eagles (3-3, 1-2). Trailing by three late in the game Druid Hills got a game-tying three-pointer by Azelia Shell to knot the game at 40 apiece. Shell was then fouled with less than a minute to play and knocked down two free throws for the 42-40 win.

Champion 40, Beacon Hill 10
The Champion Lady Chargers (6-0, 3-0) shut down the Beacon Hill Lady Bulldogs (3-3, 2-1) offense on the way to a 40-10 win to stay undefeated. Kamaya Rivers (11 points) and Lailah Cox (6 points) combined for 13 steals, 7 and 6 respectively, to lead the Chargers defensively. Brooklyn Smith added 7 points and Jade Redding 5 more. Lydia Robillard led Beacon Hill with 6 points and teammate Shania Lee added 4.

Cedar Grove 47, Tucker 14
The Cedar Grove Lady Saints (5-1, 3-0) remained in a first-place tie with Champion in Region 2 following a 47-14 win over the Tucker Lady Tigers (2-4, 1-2). Ziryah Bell put together a 21-point, 9-steal performance for Cedar Grove and was joined in double figures by Conner Hall with 12 points (6 steals, 5 rebounds). Jessica Morton added 8 points and 9 rebounds for the winners.

Chapel Hill 63, Stephenson 28
The Chapel Hill Lady Panthers (6-0, 3-0) stayed undefeated with a 63-28 win over the Stephenson Jaguars (5-1, 2-1). Mauri Barnes hit for a game-high 24 points (4 assists, 4 steals, 3 rebounds) and Kennedi Thomas added 12 points (7 steals, 3 assists, 5 rebounds). Other key contributors in the win were Janise McCoy with 9 points (7 steals, 4 assists, 4 rebounds), Avantey Gilreath with7 points (9 rebounds, 3 steals, 4 blocks) and Khloe Wilson with 6 points (2 steals, 4 rebounds, 5 assists). Jayla Walton scored 16 points and Cyncere Sims-Turner added 8 for Stephenson.

Lithonia 21, Henderson 8
The Lithonia Lady Bulldogs (2-4, 1-2) grabbed their first Region 2 win of the season 21-8 over the Henderson Lady Cougars (0-6, 0-3). Jakiyah Jackson hit for a game-high 13 points to lead Lithonia.

Bethune 39, Redan 15
The Bethune Lady Lions (4-2, 2-1) picked up their fourth win of the season by defeating the Redan Lady Raiders (2-4, 0-3) 39-15 on Wednesday night. Ryleigh Kimmons knocked down 15 points to lead Bethune on the night.

Salem 36, Peachtree 12
The Salem Lady Lions (5-1, 2-1) notched their fifth win of the season 36-12 over the Peachtree Lady Patriots (1-5, 1-2) in Region 2 play on Wednesday. DeDe Spaulding (7 points) and Chloe Pace (4 points) both pulled down 10 rebounds in the win. Faith Andrews and Zee Boone hit for 6 points each in the win. Kai Gyles led Peachtree with a game-high 9 points.

Freedom 44, McNair 9
The Freedom Lady Rams (4-2, 2-1) added their fourth win of the season 44-9 over the McNair Lady Mustangs (2-4, 1-2) in Region 1 play. Destiny Swint 16 points (4 assists, 3 steals) and Ayana Miller 10 points (8 rebounds) both hit in double figures for Freedom. Grace Kasongo added 9 points (5 rebounds, 2 steals and Kennedy Taveras notched 4 points (5 assists, 3 steals) for the winners.

Miller Grove 34, Stone Mountain 8
The Miller Grove Lady Wolverines (1-5, 1-2) tallied their first win on the season 34-8 over the Stone Mountain Lady Pirates (0-6, 0-3). No stats were reported for this game.

Chamblee 10, Sequoyah 9
The Chamblee Lady Bulldogs (3-3, 2-1) edged the Sequoyah Lady Braves (1-5, 0-3) 10-9 in Region 2 action on Wednesday. No stats were reported on this game.

DCSD MS BASKETBALL RESULTS
BOYS
Wed., 12/6/23
McNair 29, Freedom* 21
Druid Hills* 58, Columbia 20
Miller Grove* 27, Stone Mountain 21
Chapel Hill* 53, Stephenson 31
Redan* 43, Bethune 26
Peachtree* 49, Salem 30
Lithonia 42, Henderson* 32
Champion* 54, Beacon Hill 22
Chamblee* 51, Sequoyah 6
Tucker* 54, Cedar Grove 22

GIRLS
Wed., 12/6/23
Bethune 39, Redan* 15
Cedar Grove 47, Tucker* 15
Chamblee* 10, Sequoyah 9
Champion* 40, Beacon Hill 10
Chapel Hill* 63, Stephenson 28
Druid Hills* 42, Columbia 40
Freedom* 44, McNair 9
Lithonia 21, Henderson* 8
Miller Grove* 34, Stone Mountain 8
Salem 36, Peachtree* 12

DCSD MS BASKETBALL SCHEDULE
Sat., 12/9/23
Chamblee at Cedar Grove*
Champion at Sequoyah*
Chapel Hill at Bethune*
Druid Hills at Stone Mountain8
Freedom at Columbia*
Henderson at Beacon Hill*
McNair at Redan*
Miller Grove at Stephenson*
Peachtree at Lithonia*
Salem at Tucker*