The championship game matchups for the 2018 DCSD Middle School Basketball Championships are set with Chapel Hill having an entry in both title games on Saturday at Cedar Grove Middle School.
The undefeated Chapel Hill Lady Panthers (16-0) defeated Stephenson (13-3) 45-33 to reach the championship game. Mikayla Jamison hit for 13 points and Tylah Willingham added 10 to lead Chapel Hill in the win. Chapel Hill defeated Stone Mountain 48-16 and Henderson 55-25 in the first two rounds of the tournament.
The two-time defending title holders Champion Lady Chargers return to the finals with a 34-32 upset of No. 1 seeded Renfroe (14-2). Champion came out of Region 2 as the No. 3 seed behind Renfroe and Stephenson and have knocked off three No. 1 seeds in the first three rounds. Cedar Grove, the Region 4 champ, was first in another tight game 52-51 and Peachtree, the Region 1 champ fell 45-41.
Chapel Hill and Champion collide in the 5:00 pm girls’ title game while Stephenson and Renfroe face off for the third time this season in the girls’ consolation game at 2:00 pm.
The Panthers from Chapel Hill (11-5) knocked off Region 2 champ Stephenson (12-4) in a nail biting 37-35 contest at Chamblee on Wednesday to advance to the championship game. Courtney Forrest came up big for Chapel Hill scoring 18 points, including the go ahead basket with 1:20 to play. The Panthers’ defense forced a couple of turnovers in the final minute to seal the win.
The Panthers were in third place in Region 4 with two weeks to play before closing in on Bethune to take the No. 2 seed heading into the tournament. Chapel Hill defeated Druid Hills 53-47 and Region 1 champ Tucker 50-43 in the first two rounds of the tournament.
Region 2 champ Renfroe Bulldogs (13-3) advanced to the boys’ title game with a 54-27 win over Miller Grove (9-7) which was a No. 3 seed that advance to the semifinals. Renfroe will be playing for the title for the first time and defeated Bethune 67-36 and Region 3 champ Lithonia 53-38 in the opening rounds of the tournament.
Chapel Hill and Renfroe will be playing for the first time this season as they meet in the 6:30 pm boys’ title game at Cedar Grove Middle on Saturday. Stephenson and Miller Grove renew their rivalry in the boys’ consolation game at 3:30 pm.
The Junior Varsity County Championships are set for 11:00 am (girls) and 12:30 pm (boys) at Cedar Grove Middle on Saturday as part of Championship Saturday.
CHAMPIONSHIP SATURDAY
Sat., Feb. 10 at Cedar Grove Middle
JV CHAMPIONSHIP
(G) Lakeside (10-0) vs. Arabia Mountain (12-0), 11:00 am
(B) Miller Grove (8-4) vs. Arabia Mountain (9-3), 12:30 pm
MIDDLE SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIPS
CONSOLATION
(G) Stephenson (13-3) vs. Renfroe (14-2), 2:00 pm
(B) Stephenson (12-4) vs. Miller Grove (9-7), 3:30 pm
CHAMPIONSHIP
(G) Champion (11-5) vs. Chapel Hill (16-0), 5:00 pm
(B) Chapel Hill (11-5) vs. Renfroe (13-3), 6:30 pm