The 2024 middle school basketball season has hit the halfway point and with one game remaining before the holiday break four boys’ squads sit undefeated in region play.

Chapel Hill (7-0, 4-0) remains the lone undefeated boys’ team as the Panthers upended the Bethune Lions (2-5, 0-4) 53-20 last Saturday to stay atop the Region 1 standings. The Panthers were efficient on both ends of the court dishing out 20 assists and forcing over 12 turnovers on defense as four players reached double figures. Brandon Daniel Jr. led the way with 15 points (3 steals) followed by Tavaris Roberts with 14 points (7 rebounds, 3 steals), Treu Taylor 12 points (4 assists, 2 steals) and Kei-Sean Roberts with 10 points (8 assists, 3 steals).

Tucker 61, Salem 36
The Tucker Tigers (6-1, 4-0) stayed tied with Champion at the top of the Region 2 standings by taking down the Salem Lions (0-7, 0-4) 61-36 on Saturday. Sterling Pritchett and Vance Wilder teamed up for 44 points as both scored 22 to lead the Tucker charge.

Redan 74, McNair 64
Amare Medhin hit for a season high 40 points to lead the Redan Raiders (6-1, 4-0) to a 74-64 Region 1 victory over the McNair Mustangs (3-4, 1-3) to stay tied with Chapel Hill on top of the standings. Medhin also had 4 assists, 4 rebounds, 4 steals and 2 blocked shots to go with his 40-point output. Brandon Armstrong joined him in double figures with 11 points (2 assists, 2 rebounds, 2 steals) while Zafar Robertson (11 rebounds, 2 steals, 3 blocks) and Ke’shawn Briggs (5 assists, 3 rebounds) hit for eight points apiece.

Champion 56, Sequoyah 3
The Champion Chargers (6-1, 4-0) used their bench of sixth and seventh graders to stay undefeated in Region 2 with a 56-3 win over the Sequoyah Braves (0-7, 0-4). Devin Brown led the way with 17 points.

Druid Hills 41, Stone Mountain 27
A 41-27 Region 1 victory by Druid Hills (6-1, 3-1) over the Stone Mountain Pirates (3-4, 0-4) kept the Dragons in a tie for third in the standings. Clay Humphries hit for 12 points and Amadi Echebelu added 11 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead Druid Hills. Robert Banks had 11 points to lead Stone Mountain.

Stephenson 44, Miller Grove 38
The Stephenson Jaguars (5-2, 3-1) took advantage of their free-throw opportunities to knock the Miller Grove Wolverines out of a first-place tie in the Region 1 standings and into a third-place tie. Terry Coleman led the way with 19 points (13 free throws) and Lamario Dorsey added 10 points (6 free throws) as both shot better than 83 percent from the line.

Henderson 43, Beacon Hill 34
The Henderson Cougars ((3-4, 2-2) moved into a four-way tie for fourth place in Region 2 by picking up a 43-34 win over the Beacon Hill Bulldogs (3-4, 2-2) on Saturday. Joshua Mosely put up a solid 14 points along with 7 rebounds and 7 steals for the Cougars. Ashdon Sims added 11 points and Nate White contributed 8 points and 10 rebounds.

Cedar Grove 51, Chamblee 40
Tayson Blunt led the Cedar Grove Saints (5-2, 3-1) with 18 points and 4 steals in a 51-40 Region 1 win over the Chamblee Bulldogs (3-4, 2-2) to become the lone team in third place. Makai Frank added 8 points and Chase Thomas pulled down a team-high 6 rebounds for Cedar Grove. Jake Morton and Toney Braziel combined for 8 assists in the win.

Lithonia 47, Peachtree 39
The Lithonia Bulldogs (4-3-2-2) moved into a four-way tie for fourth in Region 2 by collecting a 47-39 win over the Peachtree Patriots (2-5, 1-3) on Saturday. Jordan Washington hit for a team-high 18 points (3 steals) and Anthony Flournoy put up 16 points (6 rebounds, 4 steals) in the Bulldogs’ win. Kaiden Horton hit for 12 points and Cody Krieger added 8 points for Peachtree.

Freedom 54, Columbia 14
Marquez Roundtree’s 18-point, 14-rebound double-double propelled the Freedom Rams (2-5, 2-2) to a 54-14 win over the Columbia Eagles (0-7, 0-4) to even their Region 1 record at 2-2. Roundtree also had 4 blocks and a steal to round out his performance. Jonoxe Claxton added 10 points (3 rebounds, 3 steals) and Dejuan Grier scored 7 points (8 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 blocks) for the Rams.

GIRLS RECAPS
Two girls’ middle school basketball teams kept clean slates and four total are undefeated in region action as they head into the final game before the holiday break.

The Champion Lady Chargers (7-0, 4-0), the defending county champs, kept their undefeated streak intact with a 53-6 win over the Sequoyah Lady Braves (1-6, 0-4) on Saturday. Rakiah Miller (14 points, 5 rebounds) led a trio of players in double figures including Brooklyn Smith (10 points, 5 rebounds) and Jade Redding (10 points). Kamaya Rivers-Childs (9 points), Jalaina Alford (8 points, 5 rebounds) and Lailah Cox (5 rebounds) also contributed to the win.

Chapel Hill 52, Bethune 19
Three players hit in double figures as the Chapel Hill Lady Panthers (7-0, 4-0) defeated the Bethune Lady Lions (4-3, 2-2) 52-19 to keep an unblemished record on the season. Mauri Barnes topped the Lady Panthers with 15 points followed by Kennedi Thomas with 13 and Avantey Gilreath with 11.

Druid Hills 57, Stone Mountain 3
Azelia Shell scored 34 points for the Druid Hills Lady Dragons (6-1, 4-0) in a 57-3 win over the Stone Mountain Lady Pirates (0-7, 0-4). The win kept Druid Hills in a tie for first with Chapel Hill in Region 1.

Cedar Grove 46, Chamblee 9
Ziryah Bell had an unconventional double-double scoring 18 points and picking up 12 teals to lead the Cedar Grove Lady Saints (6-1, 4-0) to a 46-9 win over the Chamblee Lady Bulldogs (3-4, 2-2) to keep pace with Champion in the Region 2 standings. Bell also added 5 assists to go with 10 points by Malania Davis and Leah Jolly’s 7 points and 4 rebounds.

Freedom 37, Columbia 36
A thrilling 37-36 Region 1 win by the Freedom Lady Rams (5-2, 3-1) over the Columbia Lady Eagles (3-4,1-3) moved the Lady Rams into a third-place tie in the standings as teams wind down the first half of the season. Columbia had rallied from a 10-point deficit early in the fourth quarter to take a 36-35 lead and had the ball with time running out. Freedom’s Destiny Swint produced the play of the game with a steal for the go-ahead basket and Freedom’s defense kept Columbia from scoring in the remaining seconds. Grace Kasongo (3 steals, 2 assists, 2 blocks) led Freedom with a 16-point, 11-rebound double-double and Swint finished with 13 points (3 assists, 2 steals).

McNair 22, Redan 20
The McNair Lady Mustangs (3-4, 2-2) evened their record in Region 1 to 2-2 by pulling out a 22-20 win over the Redan Lady Raiders (2-5, 0-4) on Saturday. Redan got 13 points from Jamiya Holmes.

Lithonia 19, Peachtree 15
The Lithonia Lady Bulldogs (3-4, 2-2) pulled to .500 in Region 2 action by picking up a 19-15 win over the Peachtree Lady Patriots (1-6, 1-3). Kai Gyles, Jade Barnes and Lauren Dowhower hit for five points each in the loss for Peachtree.

Stephenson 46, Miller Grove 4
The Stephenson Lady Jaguars (6-1, 3-1) remained in third place in Region 1 following a 46-4 win over the Miller Grove Lady Wolverines (1-6, 1-3). Cyncere Sims-Turner was the team leader with 14 points and Jayla Walton added 13 points.

Beacon Hill 36, Henderson 10
The Beacon Hill Lady Bulldogs (4-3, 3-1) stayed in a two-tie in Region 2 by knocking off the Henderson Lady Cougars (0-7, 0-4) 36-10. Kendale Lanier topped the scoring for Beacon Hill with 10 points as 11 different Lady Bulldogs scored in the game.

Salem 40, Tucker 3
The Salem Lady Lions (6-1, 3-1) remain one game behind the Region 2 leaders with a 40-3 win over the Tucker Lady Tigers (2-5, 1-3). No stats were turned in for this game.

See link below for sixth standings update:

2023 MS BASKETBALL STANDINGS – 7 GAMES

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

GIRLS
Sat., 12/9/23
Beacon Hill* 36, Henderson 10
Cedar Grove* 46, Chamblee 9
Champion 53, Sequoyah* 6
Chapel Hill 52, Bethune* 20
Druid Hills 57, Stone Mountain* 3
Freedom 37, Columbia* 36
McNair at Redan*
Lithonia* 19, Peachtree 15
Salem 40, Tucker* 3
Stephenson* 46, Miller Grove 4

DCSD MS BASKETBALL SCHEDULE
Wed., 12/13/23
Beacon Hill at Peachtree*
Chamblee at Champion*
Chapel Hill at Miller Grove*
Columbia at Redan*
Lithonia at Tucker*
McNair at Bethune*
Salem at Cedar Grove*
Sequoyah at Henderson*
Stephenson at Druid Hills*
Stone Mountain at Freedom*