Stephenson’s Morgan McDonald (20) works to get a shot off against Renfroe’s Taliah Cornish (0) and Quinch Booth (11). (Photo by Mark Brock)
A third-place sweep in the 2018 DCSD Middle School Basketball Championships went to Stephenson with wins over Renfroe (girls) and Miller Grove (boys) at Cedar Grove Middle School on Saturday.
The Lady Jaguars (14-3) opened the sweep with a 34-26 win over their Region 2 rivals Renfroe Lady Bulldogs (14-3) who had defeated Stephenson twice in the regular season.
Stephenson had led by as much as seven points three times in game including 24-17 on Morgan McDonald’s drive to the basket with 5:48 left in the game.
Jukanie Washington completed a three-point play for Renfroe with 5:29 to play to pull Renfroe within four (24-20) which was the closest the Lady Bulldogs had been since pulling within 16-14 with 4:10 left in half on another basket by Washington.
Trinity Coleman hit a pair of layups and a free throw to push the lead back out to 29-20 with 3:55 remaining.
Washington had a layup and Jasmine Jones another, both on assists from Chazadi Wright to cut the lead to seven.
Coleman’s offensive put back and Jada Richardson’s free throw in the final 38 seconds sealed the 34-26 victory for Stephenson.
Coleman had 10 points in the second half to lead Stephenson while Wright hit for 11 in leading Renfroe.
Stephenson’s Moriano Moment (23) and Miller Grove’s Marques Sharp (24) battle for rebounding position on a free throw. (Photo by Mark Brock)
The Jaguars (13-4) and Miller Grove Wolverines (9-8) had a tight game throughout most of the first three quarters including four lead changes and two ties.
Stephenson began to get the upper hand in the third quarter before taking a 29-22 lead into the fourth period behind Anyhr Dawson’s layup and the third of six three-pointers by Nasir Hargrave.
Hargrave would hit back-to-back three-pointers in the first 85 seconds of the fourth quarter as Stephenson took a double-digit lead of 35-23. Trevon Ferrell added a free throw and a layup before Hargrave hit his sixth trey of the night to make it 41-24 with 2:31 to play.
Nasir Hargrave finished with a game-high 21 points to lead the Jaguars and Shaun McKenzie contributed four points and 10 rebounds.
Ethan Wright and Marques Melton both hit for eight points to lead Miller Grove.