Schools
DeKalb Schools Basketball: Converse Invitational Update
Tucker defeated Mississippi Class AAAAAA state champion Meridian 45-44 in the opening round, and Columbia took the title with four wins.
The Class AAA No. 1 ranked Columbia Eagles (14-1) defeated the No. 2 ranked Eagles Landing Golden Eagles (14-1) 44-37 to win the inaugural Converse Invitational at Columbia over the holiday break.
Senior post player Jhaustin Thomas put together a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds, his fourth double-double of the tournament, to lead Columbia to the victory while handing Eagles Landing its first loss of the season.
Columbia had advanced to the finals with a 65-41 victory over the Tucker Tigers (10-4) in the semifinals as Chris Horton (14 points, 10 rebounds, 4 blocks) and Thomas (13 points, 10 rebounds, 3 blocks) combined for a pair of double-doubles to go with an 18 point, 10 assists double-double by junior point guard Tahj Shamsid-Deen.
Columbia used 14 points from Nate Mason (4 of 5 from three-point range), 12 points and 11 assists from Tahj Shamsid-Deen and another double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds from Thomas to get past Crisp County (4-3) 53-51 in second round action.
Shamsid-Deen hit for 27 points and added 10 assists in an opening round 71-39 victory over Butler while Thomas finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Tucker defeated Mississippi Class AAAAAA state champion Meridian 45-44 in the opening round on the way to capturing third place in the tournament. Tucker then knocked off Norland of Miami 40-37 to advance to the semifinals. The Tigers defeated Martin Luther King Jr. 59-48 for third place.
The Lions (11-4) knocked off Christian Life of Louisiana 52-37 in the opening round and then beat Harrison 68-57 to advance to the semis against Eagles Landing where they fell in tight 55-54 contest.
Weekly Schedule
Tuesday, Jan. 10
(All games set for 5:30 start unless noted)
M.L. King at Luella, 6 p.m.
Langston Hughes at Stephenson
Chamblee at Redan, (boys first)
Dunwoody at Mays
Lakeside at Miller Grove (boys first)
Marist at Lithonia
Tucker at SW DeKalb
Cedar Grove at Arabia Mountain
Columbia at McNair
Druid Hills at North Springs
Towers at Woodward Academy
Buford at Cross Keys
Thursday, Jan. 12
Miller Grove vs. St. Rita-Chicago, 5 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 13
Newnan at M.L. King, 6 p.m.
Westlake at Stephenson
Chamblee at Mays
Dunwoody at SW DeKalb
Lakeside at Douglass
Carver-Atl at Lithonia
Miller Grove at Rockdale Co. (girls only), 7 p.m.
Tucker at Redan
Towers at Arabia Mountain
Stone Mountain at Columbia (JV and Varsity boys only)
Woodward Academy at McNair
Cross Keys at Clarkston
Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions
Missouri State University, Springfield, Missouri
Miller Grove vs. TBA
Saturday, Jan. 14
Towers at Grady
North Springs at McNair
M.L. King at Cedar Grove
Mt. Pisgah at Dunwoody
Chamblee at MLK Classic at Centennial (TBA)
Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions
Missouri State University, Springfield, Missouri
Miller Grove vs. TBA
Mark Brock is the Statistician and Information Officer for DeKalb County Schools Athletics