OTR Hoops – Play for a Change Game Recaps – January 16, 2024
Pace Academy hosted the 4th annual Judge Clyde Reese Playing for a Change on Saturday, pitting some of metro Atlanta’s best against each other. The matchups did not disappoint as we saw multiple games come down to the last possession including one that took three overtime periods to decide. Here we break down all four games from Saturday night.
By: Staff
Chapel Hill (69) vs. Fayette County (67)
The first game of the afternoon provided a dogfight between Chapel Hill and Fayette County that came down to the very last possession. Sophomore DJ Alexander finished a tough layup at the buzzer to give Chapel Hill the win. Jordan Jones was excellent for Chapel Hill, rattling off 10 points in the 2nd and then 9 more in the 3rd. For Fayette County, it was Christian McAllister leading the charge with 22 points.
Tucker (77) vs. Langston Hughes (76)
When the season ends, there is a good chance we look back at this Tucker-Langston Hughes came and call it the best game of the year. We saw two of the best unsigned seniors in the state battling out it, each posting 30+. Josiah Lawson was the go-to guy for Tucker and he delivered time and time again late in the game. He finished with a game-high 38 points. Meanwhile, Brentis Schaeffer did everything he could to keep Langston Hughes in it but his 31 points were not enough. This game took three overtime periods to decide but Tucker pulled it out in the end.
Pace Academy (61) vs. Riverwood (60)
Pace seemed like the sure favorite in this one but when Karris Bilal is on the floor, you cannot count Riverwood out and this game served as a reminder of that. Bilal came out firing and everything was finding the bottom of the net. However, Pace was able to match him bucket for bucket and their combination of depth and coaching proved to be too much in the end. LJ Moore and Chandler Bing both played well in the frontcourt, combining for nearly half of Pace’s points. Two takeaways from this game, Pace knows how to finish games and Riverwood will be dangerous in February.
Alexander (61) vs. Dutchtown (49)
The primetime game brought lots of intrigue as two of the top forwards in the state squared off, Braedan Lue and Joah Chappelle. Lue finished with a game-high 24 points and ultimately came away with the win. It was a strong showing from Chapelle too though as he put up 22 points and earned an offer from Morehouse after the game. Alexander’s press was just too much for the Dutchtown guards to handle as they were limited to only 19 points in the 1st half. While Alexander’s team looks a bit different this year, they look primed to repeat in 6A.
