There was one upset in the first round of the 2024 DCSD Middle School Basketball Playoffs on Saturday as all but one of the top four seeds advanced to the quarterfinals on Wednesday.

The No. 6 seeded Beacon Hill Bulldogs (6-8) pulled off the lone upset of the first round by taking a 43-36 road win over the #3 seeded Druid Hills Dragons (11-3) to advance to the quarterfinals. The Bulldogs got balanced scoring from Matthew Norman, Hollis Rucker and Michael Cook in the win. Isaiah Wright played a big role with his defensive presence in the paint for the Bulldogs.

Beacon Hill moves on to play at Champion at 6:30 pm on Wednesday as the No. 2 seeded Chargers knocked off the No. 7 seeded McNair Mustangs (54-41 at home. Champion’s Dakota Freeman led all scorers with 19 points in the win.

BOYS FIRST ROUND RECAPS
Cedar Grove 44, Miller Grove 43/Chapel Hill 67, Peachtree 37
The No. 4 seeded Cedar Grove Saints (8-6) pulled out a 44-43 last second home win over the No. 5 seeded Miller Grove Wolverines (8-6). Tayson Blunt gave the Saints the lead on a free throw with seven seconds to play. Blunt finished with 17 points (5 steals, 3 assists) while Brenden Flornory added 12 points (4 rebounds) and Jake Morton scored nine points (9 rebounds, 5 assists).

Cedar Grove advances to a quarterfinal matchup on Wednesday at 6:30 pm No. 1 seed and undefeated Chapel Hill following the Panthers 67-37 win over No. 8 seeded Peachtree Patriots (4-10). The Panthers had six players score in double figures in the win including Jacob Reid with 12 points (10 rebounds, 3 blocks), Kei-Sean Roberts with 10 points (8 assists, 2 steals), Tavaris Roberts with 10 points (7 rebounds), Treu Taylor with 10 points (4 assists, 2 steals), Demetrius White with 10 points (3 steals) and Tyrese Jones with 10 points (5 rebounds, 3 blocks).

Stephenson 52, Lithonia 46/Tucker 53, Freedom 15
The No. 4 seeded Stephenson Jaguars (10-4) had four players in double figures in a 52-46 home victory over the Lithonia Bulldogs (6-8) to advance to the quarterfinals. Kai Jackson led the quartet in double figures with 15 points followed by Lamario Dorsey with 14, Terry Coleman with 11 and Kenneth Peek with 10.

The Jaguars’ quarterfinal game is set for 5:30 pm on the road against the No. 1 seed Tucker Tigers (13-1) who advanced with a 53-15 win over the No. 8 seed Freedom Rams (2-12). Sterling Pritchett was the top scorer for the Tigers with 17 points and was joined in double figures by Tim Gibbs with 14 points and Vance Wilder with 11.

Henderson 33, Stone Mountain 26/Redan 49, Chamblee 31
The No. 3 seeded Henderson Cougars (9-5) picked up a home playoff win 33-26 over the No. 6 seeded Stone Mountain Pirates (6-8) to advance to the quarterfinals. Joshua Mosley topped the Cougars’ scoring list with 13 points while Aahdon Sims and Julian Russell hit for 10 points each in the victory.

Henderson goes on the road for a 5:30 pm contest at No. 2 seed Redan as the Raiders (11-3) defeated the No. 7 seeded Chamblee Bulldogs (5-9) 49-31 to advance.

GIRLS RECAPS
Undefeated No. 1 seeds Chapel Hill and Champion advance with ease in the girls’ tournament and prepare for home games in the quarterfinals.

Chapel Hill (14-0) moved into the quarterfinals via a 51-13 home court win over the No. 8 seeded Lithonia Lady Bulldogs (4-10). The Panthers were led by the duo of Avantey Gilreath (17 points, 8 rebounds) and Mauri Barnes (14 points, 6 assists). Ava Gilreath (6 points, 8 rebounds) and Kennedi Thomas (5 points, 6 steals, 4 rebounds) added to the Lady Panthers victory.

The Panthers play host to the No. 4 seeded Beacon Hill as the Lady Bulldogs (8-5) advanced to the quarterfinals via a 30-27 win over the No. 5 seeded Freedom Lady Rams (7-7). Zola Vander Els (4 points) hit the go-ahead jumper late in the fourth quarter and Leighellen Lucas (7 points) hit five of six free throws down the stretch to seal the win. Kendale Lanier led the scoring for Beacon Hill with eight points. Lydia Robillard added five points and Lucy Wallace four for the winners.

Champion 53, Miller Grove 10/Druid Hills 42, Peachtree 28
Kamaya Rivers and Jalaina Alford scored 16 points each to lead the No. 1 seeded Champion Lady Chargers (14-0) to a 53-10 win over the No. 8 seeded Miller Grove Lady Wolverines (2-12) to advance to the quarterfinals on Wednesday. Lailah Cos added 14 points (9 rebounds, 5 steals) to join Rivers (6 steals) and Alford (7 rebounds) in double figures and Rakiah Miller had five steals.

Champion moves on to host No. 4 seed Druid Hills (10-4) as the Lady Dragons knocked off the No. 5 seeded Peachtree Lady Patriots (5-9) by a score of 42-28 to reach the quarterfinals. The Lady Dragons had a great team effort to secure the win. Kai Gyles led Peachtree with seven points in the loss.

Stephenson 64, Chamblee 12/Salem 45, Columbia 24
Cyncere Sims-Turner stroked the nets for 27 points to lead the No. 2 seeded Stephenson Lady Jaguars into the quarterfinals with a 64-12 win over the Chamblee Lady Bulldogs (4-10). Jayla Walton came up just short of the 20-point mark with 19 points to join Sims-Turner in double figures and Jazzlyn Dallas added eight points.

Stephenson is set to play host to the No. 3 seeded Salem Lady Lions (12-2) who advanced to the quarterfinals by taking care of the Columbia Lady Eagles (8-6) 42-28.

Cedar Grove 45, McNair 12/Bethune 43, Tucker 12
Ziryah Bell had a game-high 18 points to pace the No. 2 seeded Cedar Grove Lady Saints (12-2) to a 45-12 victory over the No. 7 seeded McNair Lady Mustangs (4-10). Kenidee Blackshear 7 points (2 steals, 3 rebounds) and Conner Hall five points (8 rebounds, 5 steals) aided the Saints cause.

Cedar Grove advances to host a quarterfinal game against No. 3 seeded Bethune (8-5) as the Lady Lions eased past the Tucker Lady Tigers (6-9) by a score of 43-12. Bethune was led by K. Simmons and J. Kelly in the win.

See links below for updated brackets with scores and record:

2024 DCSD MS BOYS BASKETBALL BRACKET

2024 DCSD MS GIRLS BASKETBALL BRACKET

DCSD MS BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS
Wednesday, 1/31/24
BOYS
Henderson (9-5) at Redan (11-3), 5:30 pm
Stephenson (10-4) at Tucker (13-1), 5:30 pm
Beacon Hill (6-8) at Champion (12-2), 6:30 pm
Cedar Grove (8-6) at Chapel Hill (14-0), 6:30 pm

GIRLS
Beacon Hill (9-5) at Chapel Hill (14-0), 5:30 pm
Bethune (9-5) at Cedar Grove (12-2), 5:30 pm
Druid Hills (10-4) at Champion (14-0), 5:30 pm
Salem (12-2) at Stephenson (13-1), 5:30 pm