Decatur Boys, Girls Romp Over Cross Keys

With one week remaining in the regular season, both Decatur High teams easily handled Cross Keys Friday night at the Decatur High Arena, the girls winning 59-2, the boys 69-22.

The last two games next week are Tuesday at Cedar Grove, the girls at 5:30 p.m., boys at 7 p.m., then Senior Night at home next Friday against Towers at the same times.

This sets up the Feb. 12-15 Region 6-AAA tournament, with every game scheduled for the Decatur High Arena. 

The girls, 17-6 and 10-2, ranked ninth in the state, are a shoo-in to finish second behind St. Pius X, with the top two teams earning first-round byes.

The top four teams in the tournament earn state tournament berths, and the top two host a state playoff game.

The boys side is far more intriguing, especially if Friday is any indication. First place Woodward (now 11-1 in the region) barely slipped past third-place Pius 40-38, while second-place Cedar Grove edged fourth-place Blessed Trinity 34-31.

Decatur, though in fifth place at 14-9 and 5-7, may be the regional wildcard, especially considering the Bulldogs have played their best basketball the last two weeks.

Decatur of late has mixed in a 1-3-1 zone – which it played almost exclusively on Friday – with its man-to-man, a recipe that seems to have turned a mediocre defensive team into a good one.

And judging from Friday’s scores among the top four teams, the teams playing the best defense are going to advance the furthest. . 

If the standings remain as they are, Decatur will play Blessed Trinity in the tournament’s first round.

“We’re improving a lot,” said Decatur coach Charlie Copp, “but we’ll have to be at our best [against Cedar Grove]. They make you guard them a long time in the half court, they hit the offensive boards, and they pressure you constantly. It’ll be a good test to see how far we’ve improved.”

Decatur lost at home to Cedar Grove 58-39 on Jan. 11. 

Seldom-used senior Charlie Shew scored a career-high 12 points Friday, while Cordele Jackson had 11 and Davonte Meadows 10.

Another seldom-used player, promising freshman Kierra Edge led the girls with 11, also her career high. Kori Anderson had 9 points while Villanova-bound and McDonalds All-American nominee (15 players from Georgia were nominated) Jordan Dillard had 8 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds.