Decatur Basketball: Boys Lose to Grady; Girls Win In Another Romp

Playing without point guard Kurt Robinson, the team’s most important player, and starting forward Cordele Jackson, Decatur’s boys hung around with Grady for a half before dropping a 65-38 decision at home Tuesday night.

The Bulldogs actually ran off the game’s first five points, but Grady forged ahead 25-19 at halftime, setting the stage for a third-quarter blowout.

Grady’s Tyrius Walker, a 5-10 sophomore point guard led his team with 12 points, all of them coming in the third quarter when Decatur was outscored 16-7.

The girls team ran their record to 8-1 with a 66-27 rout of Grady. Decatur remains ranked seventh in this week’s coaches polls. Other Region 6-AA teams who are ranked include Buford (first in the state), Lovett (now second) and Greater Atlanta Christian (fourth).

Decatur plays GAC this Friday at GAC.

The girls play at 6 p.m., the boys at 7:30 p.m. The GAC boys are ranked fifth in the state.

On Tuesday the boys were once again plagued by horrendous shooting, 14 of 47 from the field for a shade under 30 percent, including 3 for 20 three pointers. In the last five games Decatur has shot 11 for 79 from the three-point arc for 14 percent.

“It’s a work in progress,” said Decatur coach Charlie Copp. “Our kids have to learn how to pump fake and take a mid-range jumper, or take it to the rack. Only when you learn to mix up your shots, to add variety to your shooting, can you get the real good [three-point] looks.”

Sophomore Davante Meadows led the Bulldogs with 12 points and 12 rebounds.

Decatur is now 4-5 while Class AAA Grady, with unquestionably its best team in years, is 6-0.

Robinson may have a broken bone in his foot, though he will find out for sure Wednesday. Copp is uncertain how long he’ll be out. Jackson took an elbow to mouth in practice, tearing his lip on his braces, and has six stitches. He will likely not play Friday.