The 2017 GHSA State Basketball Playoffs get underway with girls’ action on Friday and boys’ action on Saturday.
DeKalb County is sending almost half its basketball teams (17) to the playoffs in search of state titles in their respective classifications.
Tucker and Stephenson both came away with what was considered upsets in winning the girls’ and boys’ Region 4-6A titles, respectively, on Saturday night at Tucker.
The Tucker Lady Tigers (21-6) had lost a pair of close games to Lovejoy in Region 4-6A regular season play, but pulled out a 53-48 home win in the 4-6A title game to earn the No. 1 seed and host role in this weekend’s Class 6A State Playoffs. It was Lovejoy’s (23-4) first loss in region play this season. Tucker will host Bradwell Institute (13-14) on Friday at 6:00 pm.
The Stephenson Jaguars (18-9) ended No. 3 ranked Jonesboro’s three-year undefeated streak in region play with a 61-58 upset at Tucker on Saturday night to win the boys’ title. Stephenson gets the No. 1 seed heading into the Class 6A State Playoffs and will host Glynn Academy (15-12) on Saturday at 2:30 pm.
Tucker earned the No. 3 seed in boys’ action with a 69-48 win over Forest Park (12-15) on Saturday at Tucker. The Tigers (17-10) must go on the road to open the state playoffs against Effingham County (18-10) on Saturday at 4:30 pm.
The Stephenson Lady Jaguars (18-10) lost 52-33 to Jonesboro (14-14) on Saturday night to fall to the No. 4 seed. Stephenson travels to Brunswick (16-11) on Friday for a 6:00 pm tipoff.
In other Class 6A boys’ action the Dunwoody Wildcats (13-15) came up just three-points short in the Region 7-6A championship game against Pope (24-4). Dunwoody is the No. 2 seed and will host Langston Hughes (19-8) on Friday at 7:00 pm.
Miller Grove and Southwest DeKalb added the Region 5-5A titles to the trophy case on Saturday in boys’ and girls’ play at Miller Grove.
Southwest DeKalb (23-4) knocked off Arabia Mountain 53-39 to win the girls’ championship and the No. 1 seed. The Lady Panthers host Kell (15-13) at 6:30 on Friday night. Arabia Mountain as the No. 2 seed also earns a host role on Friday at 6:30 pm against Villa Rica (25-3).
Miller Grove scored late to defeat Columbia 58-56 to capture the boys’ 5-5A title. Miller Grove is set to host Paulding County (11-17) on Saturday at 6:00 pm. Columbia (20-7) entertains Carrollton (19-9) at 6:00 pm on Saturday.
Columbia (15-7) defeated Chamblee (11-12) 56-42 on Saturday at Miller Grove to earn the No. 3 seed in girls’ action. Columbia travels to Cass (20-7) for a 7:00 pm on Friday. Chamblee hits the road to Carrollton (27-1) on Friday at 6:00 pm.
Southwest DeKalb (16-12) picked up a 65-56 victory over Lithonia (11-16) to earn the boys’ No. 3 seed from 5-5A. The Panthers go on the road to Kell (21-7) at 4:00 pm on Saturday. Lithonia travels to Villa Rica (21-6) for a 7:00 pm tip on Saturday.
In Class 3A girls’ state tournament play, Cedar Grove (15-5) travels to Greater Atlanta Christian (20-7) for a 6:00 pm game on Friday. The Redan Lady Raiders (19-6) play hosts to East hall (16-10) on Friday night at 5:30 pm.
The Cedar Grove Saints (16-6) host as the No. 2 seed out of Region 5-3A and face Lumpkin County (14-14) at 6:00 pm on Saturday in the Class 3A State Playoffs.
Druid Hills (12-15) by virtue of its Region 4-4A runner-up finish hosts Perry (20-8) at 6:00 pm on Saturday. Druid Hills dropped a close 68-65 decision to Henry County in the final moments of the Region 4-4A championship game.
DCSD REGION TOURNAMENT RESULTS
Saturday, Feb. 11
Region 4-6A at Tucker
Girls Consolation
Jonesboro (14-14) 52, Stephenson (18-10) 33
Boys Consolation
Tucker (17-10) 69, Forest Park (12-15) 48
Girls Championship
Tucker (21-6) 53, Lovejoy (23-4) 48
Boys Championship
Stephenson (18-9) 61, Jonesboro (22-5) 58
Region 7-6A at John’s Creek
Boys Championship
Pope (24-4) 61, Dunwoody (13-15) 58
Region 5-5A at Miller Grove
Girls Consolation
Columbia (15-7) 56, Chamblee (11-12) 42
Boys Consolation
SW DeKalb (16-12) 65, Lithonia (11-16) 56
Girls Championship
SW DeKalb (23-4) 53, Arabia Mountain (19-5) 39
Boys Championship
Miller Grove (18-8) 58, Columbia (20-7) 56
DCSD BASKETBALL STATE PLAYOFFS SCHEDULE
Friday, Feb. 17
GIRLS
Class 6A
Bradwell Institute (13-14) at Tucker (21-6), 6:00 pm
Stephenson (18-10) at Brunswick (16-11), 6:00 pm
Class 5A
Kell (15-13) at SW DeKalb (23-4), 6:30 pm
Villa Rica (25-3) at Arabia Mountain (19-5), 6:30 pm
Columbia (15-7) at Cass (20-7), 7:00 pm
Chamblee (11-12) at Carrollton (27-1), 6:00 pm
Class 3A
Cedar Grove (15-5) at Greater Atlanta Christian (20-7), 6:00 pm
East Hall (16-10) at Redan (19-6), 5:30 pm
BOYS
Class 6A
Langston Hughes (19-8) at Dunwoody (13-15), 7:00 pm
Saturday, Feb. 18
BOYS
Class 6A
Glynn Academy (15-12) at Stephenson (18-9), 2:30 pm
Tucker (17-10) at Effingham Co. (18-10), 4:30 pm
Class 5A
Paulding Co. (11-17) at Miller Grove (18-8), 6:00 pm
Carrollton (19-9) at Columbia (20-7), 6:00 pm
SW DeKalb (16-12) at Kell (21-7), 4:00 pm
Lithonia (11-16) at Villa Rica (21-6), 7:00 pm
Class 4A
Perry (20-8) at Druid Hills (12-15), 6:00 pm
Class 3A
Lumpkin Co. (14-14) at Cedar Grove (16-6), 6:00 pm