Top-ranked Miller Grove survives

The first half saw eight lead changes before Class AAAAA No. 1-ranked Miller Grove took control of the game and handed No. 3 M.L. King a 61-55 defeat.

The visiting Lions led Miller Grove (19-3, 11-0 in Region 6) 12-10 at the end of the first quarter and held starting point guard Alterique Gilbert scoreless, but the junior erupted in the second quarter and finished with a teamhigh 27 points.

Miller Grove’s Lamont West tied the score at 14-14 with an early second-quarter tip-in and then Gilbert got it going with back-to-back 3-pointers to spark a 19-12 scoring advantage in the quarter.

M.L. King (16-4, 8-2) stayed in the game with the sharp shooting of Jordan Martin, who knocked down 14 first-half points and finished tied with Gilbert for a game-high 27 and five made 3-pointers. Miller Grove extended its lead to 41-35 entering the fourth quarter, but the Lions climbed back and cut the lead to 48-46.

However, M.L. King committed turnovers on four consecutive possessions, and the six-time defending state champions took advantage of the mis- cues and reclaimed a 5746 lead before icing the game with clutch freethrow shooting.

Lambert 69, Chattahoochee 51: Tanner Hall scored 24 points and Ross Morkem added 14 as the Longhorns (17-3, 1210) knocked off the Cougars (11-8, 5-7) in Region 6-AAAAAA play. Marcus Sheffield led visiting Chattahoochee with 15 points while Taffy Tela pitched in 11 in the loss.

Norcross 72, Collins Hill 61: In Region 7-AAAAAA, No. 5 Norcross (16-3, 8-1) received big plays from Ricky Madison and Rayshaun Hammonds to take down host No. 7 Collins Hill (16-4, 6-3). Madison scored 25 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Hammonds scored 18 and notched nine boards. Devin Watson scored 17 points for the Eagles. Kai Lambert and Jalen Mitchell posted 11 a piece.

Pace Academy 71, Greater Atlanta Christian 40: In a Region 6-AA matchup, No. 1 Pace Academy rolled at home against No. 5 GAC. Wendell Carter Jr. posted a double-double with 19 points, 12 rebounds, and also blocked five shots for the Knights (17-2, 9-0). Elijah Holyfield scored 15 points and grabbed seven rebounds while Zack Kaminsky added 12 points. GAC (11-7, 6-3) received 12 points from Eric Jamison.

Girls

Alexander 51, Allatoona 47 (OT): Allatoona’s Ann Wilson made a 3-pointer with three seconds left in regulation to send the it to overtime, but Alexander put the game away in overtime. Alexander (118 overall and 9-3 in region 5-AAAAAA) was led by Claudia Hester and Kiara Watson, both with 11 points. Imari Montalvo added 11. Allatoona (712, 6-6) was led by Wilson with 14 points.

Greater Atlanta Christian 60, Pace Academy 48: Caeden Price led the way for GAC (7-10, 4-4 in Region 6-AA) with 17 points followed by Lexi Mann with 14 points and Caria Reynolds with 12. Hannah Ferry led Pace (513, 0-7) with 19 points and Lauren Hadley had eight.

Harrison 67, Hillgrove 60: Harrison (14-5, 6-3 in Region 4-AAAAAA) had four players in double figures. Sydne Wiggins was tops with 18 points followed by Kaylyn Brooks and Raicheal Tringali, who both had 11, and Tobi Woghiren finished with 10. Hillgrove (10-8, 4-5) was led by Tene Thompson with 25 points.

Miller Grove 57, M.L. King 44: Miller Grove’s Imani Richardson ignited in the second half, scoring 17 of her game-high 21 points to lead the host Wolverines (11-7, 8-2 in Region 6-AAAAAA ). M.L. King (1-8, 0-7) was led by Azhana Maxwell’s 19 points.

Norcross 48, Collins Hill 29: Ninth-ranked Norcross improved its record to 17-3 overall and 8-1 in region 7-AAAAAA. Taylor Mason and Ty Gillespie led the way, both with 10 points. Nia Lee paced Collins Hill (10-10, 3-6) with seven points, all on freethrows.

Osborne 59, Kennesaw Mountain 31: Second-ranked Osborne (18-2, 8-0 in Region 7-AAAAAA) continued their winning ways with Nikira Goings going for 15 points and Astavea McCowann adding 10. Kennesaw (10-10, 2-8) got eight points from Anna Stewart.

St. Pius 51, Columbia 37: Asia Durr had 43 points and top-ranked St. Pius moves to 13-0 in Region 6-AAAA and 18-1 on the season. Columbia (107, 6-6) was led by Malisha Harris and Amanda Thompkins, both with seven points.

Demetris Robertson is best known as the fivestar football recruit whose high school season was limited to five games last year while he appealed his eligibility to Savannah Christian after transferring from another Savannah private school.

It turns out that Robertson, who committed to Alabama to play defensive back, is almost as good on a high school basketball court.

Robertson had 11 points, 14 rebounds and 10 steals last week in a 5853 victory against Bryan County, then ranked No. 7 in Class AA.

Earlier in the week, Robertson had 22 points, 12 rebounds and six assists in a 50-47 upset of No. 6 Claxton. Robertson held Claxton’s Cornelius Walker, who is averaging 28 points per game, to 15.

Here are more top individual performances in Georgia high school basketball last week: