Chamblee earns first playoff berth since 2012
Chamblee High School’s boys’ basketball team secured its first playoff berth since 2012 with a 53-49 win over Arabia Mountain on Feb. 13.
As of Feb. 15, Chamblee is one of 14 DeKalb County School District teams that have already secured playoff berths.
Despite being up by 15 (31-16) at halftime, the Chamblee Bulldogs (8-15) had to hold off a determined Arabia Mountain Rams (11-15) squad that was vying for the program’s first playoff berth.
The Rams cut the Bulldogs’ lead to nine twice in the third quarter, the last time at 37-28 on a pair of free throws by David Williams with 2:17 remaining in the quarter.
Chamblee held a 42-31 advantage after Ari Myer sank all three free throws after being fouled on a three-point shot attempt with 15 seconds to play in the period.
Julian Shanks’ layup on a pass from Williams trimmed the lead to six (48-42) with 2:09 to go in the game. Shanks would cut it to 50-44 with 1:03 to play.
Zayd Fisher drove for a basket with 45 seconds to play and, after a Rams turnover, Chris Garrett hit a pair of free throws to push the lead back out to 53-44.
Shanks got a steal and cut the lead to 53-46 with 6.2 seconds. Another turnover by the Bulldogs led to a three-pointer by Joseph Smith with 0.03 seconds left for the final of 54-49.
Chris Garrett had 13 points and six rebounds to lead the Bulldogs. He was joined in double figures by Quay Wright with 11 points (eight rebounds) and Fisher with 10 points. Joseph Smith led Arabia Mountain with 16 points (six rebounds), Williams followed with 15 points (six rebounds) and Shanks added 14 points.
(Girls) Lithonia 39, Tucker 31
The Lithonia Lady Bulldogs (8-17) pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 39-31 win over the Tucker Lady Tigers (4-16) in Region 4-5A girls’ high school basketball action at Arabia Mountain High School.
Lithonia picked up its ninth state tournament berth in program history and first since the 2020 season with the win.
Asia Freeman made it an 11-point game with 2:26 to play with a layup on an assist from Tiara Edwards. Lashaj Cline hit one of two free throws with 44.7 seconds to play to extend the lead to 39-27. Hinari Yusef closed the gap with two free throws along with a layup by Diyah Ruger for a final of 39-31.
Freeman finished with a game-high 16 points for Lithonia. Jacinta Hollins had 15 points and 14 rebounds for Tucker.
(Boys) Lithonia 54, M.L. King 51
The Lithonia Bulldogs (17-8) survived a come-back attempt by the Martin Luther King Jr. Lions (6-20) to claim a spot in the Class 5A state playoffs in a 54-51 win on Feb. 13 at Arabia Mountain High School.
Lithonia earned its ninth consecutive state playoff berth in the win despite missing five of its last six free throw attempts in the final 53.8 seconds of the game.
The Bulldogs had led by as much as 47-36 with 5:58 to play on a short jumper by Caleb Taylor along the baseline on a pass from Josh Daniels.
King then went on a 7-0 run with a three-pointer by Zion Vassal closed the gap to 47-43 with just 4:13 to play. Kennedy Ruzvidzo’s three-pointer with 3:31 to play cut the lead to just three (49-46).
Lithonia responded with two free throws by Taylor and a baseline drive by Chase Lawrence for a reverse layup to make it a 53-46 margin.
Devin Bowers hit a three-pointer with 35 seconds left to cut the lead to two (53-51), but Lithonia ran out the clock as King could not get a good look at the basket as time wound down.
Taylor led all scorers with 22 points for Lithonia while Bowers finished with 17 points (seven rebounds) for the Lions. Joshua Brown added 13 points and nine rebounds for King.
The Chamblee Lady Bulldogs got a forfeit win over the Martin Luther King Jr. Lady Lions due to sickness to also get a state tournament berth.
The Arabia Mountain girls and Tucker boys earned state tournament berths via their placement as the No. 1 seeds and play Feb. 15.
OTHER STATE TOURNAMENT BOUND TEAMS
The Columbia Lady Eagles and Eagles flew into the Class 2A state playoffs via wins over Towers in both girls and boys play.
Both Towers and McNair’s boys’ and girls’ teams were eliminated on Feb. 13.
The Redan Raiders picked up a state tournament berth with its 53-18 win over Elite Scholars.
Lakia Morton’s Lakeside Lady Vikings’ basketball grabbed a spot in the 2023 GHSA girls’ basketball state playoffs by holding on to defeat the North Atlanta Lady Warriors 38-37 in the Region 4-6A Girls’ Basketball Tournament at Riverwood on Tuesday night.
All DCSD teams already in the playoffs:
Girls: Arabia Mountain, Cedar Grove, Chamblee, Columbia, Lakeside, Lithonia, Southwest DeKalb.
Boys: Cedar Grove, Chamblee, Columbia, Lithonia, Miller Grove, Redan, Tucker.
16 more teams need wins on Feb. 15 and Feb. 16 for state playoff berths.
Full region tournament schedules may be found at: https://www.dekalbschoolsga.org/athletics/
