DeKalb teams represent in holiday tournaments
Over the holiday break, several DeKalb high school varsity basketball teams represented the region in competitive holiday tournaments, facing top-tier opponents that tested their depth, resilience, and team chemistry midway through the season.
Some squads returned home with clean slates, while others delivered statement performances as they push through region play and set their sights on the postseason.
Southwest DeKalb, Cedar Grove, Towers, and McNair traveled to Chicago, Illinois to compete in the Adidas Legacy Showcase from Dec. 19 to Dec. 20, playing at least two games each on one of the biggest stages in the Midwest region.
Cedar Grove went 2-0 in the showcase, getting wins over Brooklyn Collegiate High School and Narbonne High School. Saints forward Manny Green led the charge in both victories, putting up a stat line of 23 points, seven rebounds, and five assists in the victory over Brooklyn Collegiate. Cedar Grove guard Kevin Rogers also chipped in 17 points to help seal the Saints’ first win in the showcase. In the matchup against Narbonne, Green followed up his last outing with a 25-point performance, while tacking on eight rebounds and four assists in the victory.
The Southwest DeKalb Panthers split with a 1-1 record during their time in Chicago, facing off against Curie High School and Crane Medical High School. Against Curie—which is ranked top 30 nationwide according to Maxpreps.com—the Panthers took a 3-point loss. Thomas Glanton III and Jackson Ushery had 26 points and 20 points, respectively, with Ushery hitting six threes to help keep the Panthers a possession away from tying or winning the game. Against Crane Medical, Southwest DeKalb took a 15-point win, with Ushery leading the charge with 19 points in the 65-50 victory.
Towers also split games in Chicago with a win over Prosser High School and a loss to Clark High School. Jalen Kellyled the Charge in both games, putting up 20 points in the 68-52 win against Prosser and 23 points in the 65-46 loss to Clark.
McNair also played in the tournament and, although scores were not recorded for their game against Bowen High School, the Mustangs fell to Brooklyn Collegiate 71-32 in their second game of their road trip.
The Columbia Eagle also took a road trip up to Bristol, Tennessee to compete in the Classic at Tennessee High School. The Eagles went 2-2 on their road trip with wins against Fairdale High School and Dobyns-Bennett High School. Carlin “CJ” Jacobs, Deven Nelson, and Chance Reynolds scored 19 points, 16 points, and 18 points, respectively, in the 84-83 win against the Bulldogs. In the 59-53 victory over Dobyns-Bennett Jacobs and Nelson took charge again with Jacobs putting 24 points and Nelson tacking on 18 points in the victory over the Indians.
