The No. 8 ranked Cedar Grove Saints jumped out to an early lead and pulled away for a 58-40 win over No. 9 ranked Westside of Augusta on Friday night at Augusta University.
Cedar Grove was up 15-5 at the end of the third quarter and 25-15 at the half. Westside still trailed 36-27 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Saints put up 22 points in the fourth quarter to pull away to the win and into the Class 3A Boys’ State Playoffs Final Four in Augusta on Saturday.
The Saints take on defending state champ and No. 5 ranked Jenkins, an 84-78 winner of previously undefeated Calhoun on Friday, in the 8:15 pm semifinal on Saturday.
Girls Class 4A
The Arabia Mountain Lady Rams had their magical season come to an end at the hands of No. 5 ranked Buford in a 53-25 loss at Fort Valley State on Friday evening.
Buford jumped out to an early 18-2 lead and never looked back.
Arabia Mountain finishes the year with its first two state playoff victories, a program first Elite 8 appearance and team season record for wins with 20.
Class 6A Girls
No. 5 Tucker vs. No. 8 Douglas Co.
Tucker returns to a state semifinal for the first time since their Class 5A state title in 2014 and will have a rematch of their Peach State Tournament semifinal game with Douglas County (26-1), a 74-64 win by Tucker.
The game is set for 3:00 pm at West Georgia on Saturday.
Class 5A Girls
No. 1 SW DeKalb vs. No. 7 Sequoyah
The No. 1 ranked Southwest DeKalb Lady Panthers (25-6) take on No. 7 Sequoyah (25-6) in the 6:30 pm semifinal at Columbus State on Saturday.
Sequoyah advanced with a 53-48 win over Loganville to set up the second consecutive Top 10 battle for Southwest DeKalb. It is Southwest’s fourth Final Four in the last five seasons.
Class 5A Boys
No. 1 Miller Grove vs. No. 3 McIntosh
The No. 1 ranked Miller Grove Wolverines (28-2) meet up with No. 3 McIntosh (29-2) in the Class 5A Boys’ State Playoffs Final Four game at 8:15 pm at Columbus State University on Saturday.
McIntosh rallied from a 15-point deficit to knock off Riverwood 65-59 to advance to the semifinal against Miller Grove.
The Wolverines are in their 8th Final Four in 9 seasons (08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16) after falling in the quarterfinals a year ago to end a six-year run as state champions.
Class 4A Boys
No. 5 Lithonia vs. No. 2 Liberty Co.
Lithonia is set to face No. 2 ranked Liberty County (26-1) which knocked off Monroe 71-61 on Thursday to advance to the Final Four.
The two play at 4:45 pm on Saturday at Fort Valley State University.
The trip to the Final Four is Lithonia’s first since a Class 5A semifinal loss to Tift County in 2004.
DCSD State Playoff Results
Friday, Feb. 26
Class 5A Girls
SW DeKalb (25-6) 65, Columbus (23-6) 50
Class 5A Boys
Miller Grove (28-2) 66, South Paulding (25-5) 41
Class 4A Girls
Buford (25-5) 53, Arabia Mountain (20-11) 25
Class 3A Boys
Cedar Grove (21-7) 58, Westside-Augusta (18-6) 40
DCSD State Playoff Schedule
Saturday, Feb 27
Girls’ Class 6A Semifinals at West Georgia University
Tucker (26-4) vs. Douglas Co. (26-1), 3:00 pm
Class 5A Semifinals at Columbus State University
Girls
SW DeKalb (25-6) vs. Sequoyah (25-6), 6:30 pm
Boys
Miller Grove (28-2) vs. McIntosh (29-2), 8:15 pm
Boys’ Class 4A Semifinals at Ft. Valley State University
Lithonia (25-5) vs. Liberty Co. (26-1), 4:45 pm
Boys’ Class 3A Semifinals at Augusta University
Cedar Grove (21-7) vs. Jenkins (27-4), 8:15 pm