The DCSD Middle School Basketball County Championships semifinals are set for Friday with all the top 2 seeds advancing one step closer to the championship game.
The top two seeds from regular season region play advanced to the semifinals of the 2024 DCSD Middle School Basketball County Championships with victories on Wednesday night.
Both No. 1 girls’ seeds and undefeated squads Chapel Hill and defending titlist Champion advanced along with No. 2 seeds Stephenson and Cedar Grove.
The 15-0 Chapel Hill Lady Panthers rolled past No. 4 seed Beacon Hill (9-6) 51-16 after taking a 32-7 halftime lead. Avantey Gilreath led the Lady Panther with a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double along with three blocked shots. Mauri Barnes added 10 points (6 assists, 4 steals) and Janise McCoy put in eight points (3 steals, 3 assists). Juliet Janke, Lydia Robillard and Zoe Vander Els had four points each for the Lady Bulldogs.
Chapel Hill plays host to Cedar Grove in the semifinal round on Friday night as the No. 2 seeded Lady Saints (13-2) advanced to the semifinals by taking down the Bethune Lady Lions (9-6) 31-24. Ziryah Bell led Cedar Grove with 15 points to top the scoring. Kenidee Blackshear (4 points, 8 steals, 4 rebounds) and Jessica Morton (4 points, 6 rebounds) contributed to a good all-around team effort for Cedar Grove.
Champion 56, Druid Hills 24/Stephenson 40, Salem 33
The No. 1 seeded Champion Lady Chargers (15-0) moved a step closer to defending their title by knocking off the No. 4 seeded Druid Hills Lady Dragons (10-5) 56-24 to reach the semifinals. Lailah Cox was the leading scorer for Champion with 15 points (7 rebounds, 7 steals) and was joined in double figures by Jalaina Alford with 11 points (8 rebounds) and Kamay Rivers-Childs with 10 points (5 rebounds, 5 assists).
Champion is set to host the Region 1 No. 2 seed Stephenson on Friday at 5:30 pm following the Lady Jaguars (14-1) 40-33 win over the Salem Lady Lions (12-3). Stephenson’s Cyncere Sims-Turner led all scorers with 24 points and teammate Jayla Walton added 12 more in the win.
BOYS RECAPS
Chapel Hill 70, Cedar Grove 35/Champion 44, Beacon Hill 41
The No. 1 seeded and undefeated Chapel Hill Panthers (15-0) had four players in double figures in scoring a season-high 70 points to take down the No. 4 seeded Cedar Grove Saints (8-7). Treu Taylor was the top scorer with 15 points (3 assists, 3 steals) followed by Brandon Daniel Jr. with 13 points (5 rebounds, 3 assists), Jacob Reid with 12 points (15 rebounds, 4 blocks) and Demetrius White with 11 points (4 steals) Cedar Grove was led by Tayson Blunt with nine points (3 assists) and Makai Frank with seven points (3 steals).
Top performers for the Bulldogs were Ryan Sharp with two critical 3 pointers in the 4th quarter, Matthew Norman, and Hollis Rucker.
Chapel Hill plays host to No. 2 seed Champion at 6:30 pm on Friday following the Chargers (13-2) 44-41 win over the No. 6 seeded Beacon Hill Bulldogs (6-9). Jayden Ponce and Dekota Freeman both hit for 12 points to lead the Chargers to the win.
Tucker 51, Stephenson 46/Redan 52, Henderson 31
The No. 1 seeded Tucker Tigers (14-1) held off the No. 4 seeded Stephenson Jaguars (10-5) 51-46 to advance to the semifinals set for Friday. Tim Gibbs was the leading scorer for the Tigers with 17 points.
Tucker plays host to No. 2 seeded Redan at 5:30 pm on Friday as the defending champions Raiders blew past the No. 3 seeded Henderson Cougars (9-6) 52-31. Ke’Shawn Briggs led the three Raiders in double figures with 14 points (4 assists) including Amar Medhin with 13 points (5 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks) and Brandon Armstrong with 11 points (5 assists, 3 steals).
See links below for the semifinal brackets:
DCSD MS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT RESULTS
Wednesday, 1/31/24
BOYS
Redan (12-3) 52, Henderson (9-6) 31
Tucker (14-1) 51, Stephenson (10-5) 46
Champion (13-2) 44, Beacon Hill (6-9) 41
Chapel Hill (15-0) 70, Cedar Grove (8-7) 35
GIRLS
Chapel Hill (15-0) 51, Beacon Hill (9-6) 16
Cedar Grove (13-2) 31, Bethune (9-6) 24
Champion (15-0) 56, Druid Hills (10-5) 24
Stephenson (14-1) 40, Salem (12-3) 33
DCSD MS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Friday, 2/2/24
SEMIFINALS
BOYS
Redan (12-3) at Tucker (14-1), 5:30 pm
Champion (13-2) at Chapel Hill (15-0), 6:30 pm
GIRLS
Cedar Grove (13-2) at Chapel Hill (15-0), 5:30 pm
Stephenson (14-1) at Champion (15-0), 5:30 pm