The semifinals for the 2025 DCSD Junior Varsity Basketball Tournament are all set for Wednesday.
Two-time defending girls’ champ Southwest DeKalb was one of four girls’ teams to move into the DeKalb County Junior Varsity Championships semifinals with wins on Saturday night.
Southwest DeKalb (9-1) is the No. 2 seed out of Region 1 this season and grabbed a 41-33 victory over the Decatur Lady Bulldogs (7-3) to move into the semifinals against the Region 2 No. 1 seed Lithonia Lady Bulldogs (10-0) on Wednesday at 5:00 pm.
Lithonia advanced to the semifinals with a 47-30 victory over the McNair Mustangs (5-7). A trio of players scored nine points each for Lithonia including Essence Grier, Jakiyah Jackson and Myiah Cutler.
The Stephenson Lady Jaguars also moved to 10-0 on the season as the No. 1 seed from Region 1 to match Lithonia’s undefeated mark with a 39-25 home win over No. 5 seed Cedar Grove (5-6) on Saturday. Freshman Faith Fuller was a key in the win for Stephenson. Up next for the Lady Jaguars is the Columbia Eagles on Wednesday at 5:00 pm at Stephenson.
The Columbia Lady Eagles (9-2) are the No. 3 seed from Region 1 coming into the semifinals following a 41-32 win over Region 2 No. 2 seed Lakeside Lady Vikings (7-4) at Lakeside on Saturday. Kennedi Johnson hit for 10 points to lead Columbia in the victory.
BOYS RECAPS
Two-time defending champion Arabia Mountain did not make the tournament this year so a new champion will be unveiled on Saturday from the four teams that won to reach the semifinals on Wednesday.
Tucker’s Decarlo Dickerson And Amadi Echebele powered the Tigers (7-3) to a 70-45 road upset of No. 2 seeded Columbia (8-3) to advance to the semifinals against Region 2 No. 1 seed Cedar Grove (10-0) in a rematch of the Saints’ 43-38 win early in the regular season.
Cedar Grove knocked off the Stephenson Jaguars (7-5) 54-43 behind a big day from Tayson Blunt with 26 points (5 assists, 3 steals. Derico Welch joined Blunt in double figures with 10 points and 10 rebounds to go with two blocked shots and Cameron Clark (4 steals) added nine points.
The No. 1 seeded Southwest DeKalb Panthers (9-1) evened up their season record against the McNair Mustangs (8-4) with a home court 61-23 victory in the quarterfinals. Jourden Smoak hit for a game-high 22 points and Tavaris Johnson joined him in double figures for the Panthers with 10 points. The Panthers play hosts to Region 2 No. 2 seed Chamblee (8-2) at 5:00 pm on Wednesday.
Chamblee advanced with a convincing 63-26 home win over the Redan Raiders (6-5). Christopher Oliver led the way for the Bulldogs with 11 points.
The winners on Wednesday advance to the championship games on Saturday at Miller Grove High School. The girls’ play at 10:00 am with the guys following at 11:30 am.
See links below for complete JV Championship brackets: