Six ranked DeKalb County basketball teams are set to face tough Elite 8 opponents as the GHSA High School Basketball State Tournaments resume on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The No. 5 ranked Stephenson Lady Jaguars (25-5) are fresh off an upset of No. 1 ranked and previously unbeaten Brunswick on Saturday and are the first DeKalb team to head into the state quarterfinals with a trip to face No. 4 ranked Sequoyah (27-3) on Tuesday at 7:00 pm.
Stephenson which has run its consecutive playoff appearance streak to 15 this year is in the quarterfinals for the third consecutive year, but dropped the past two appearances to DeKalb rival Southwest DeKalb in 2013 and 2014. The two playoff wins move Stephenson into second place on the DeKalb County girls’ playoff victory list at 35-12 which includes state titles in 2004 and 2008.
Sequoyah comes in as the No. 1 seed from Region 7 and advance to its first ever playoff meeting with Stephenson with a 50-34 win over Grovetown in the second round.
The No. 6 ranked Tucker Tigers (28-2) host the No. 8 ranked Hillgrove Hawks (23-5) in a Class 6A boys’ quarterfinal matchup.
The Tigers are coming off a 55-32 win over Archer in the second round to make their third consecutive Elite 8 appearance. The past two Elite 8 appearances ended in losses to six-time state champion Miller Grove.
Hillgrove is coming off a 73-59 victory over Lambert in the second round and meets Tucker in the playoffs for just the second time. Tucker, 41-25 all-time in the playoffs with state titles in 1996 and 2007, defeated Hillgrove 62-59 on the way to the state finals in 2009. Game time for the third round clash is set for 7:00 pm.
Two DeKalb Class 5A boys’ teams play for a berth in the state semifinals on Wednesday as both Martin Luther King Jr. and Miller Grove go on the road.
The No. 1 ranked Miller Grove Wolverines (27-3) travel to face No. 8 Warner Robins (23-4) at Veterans High School in a rematch of the 2014 Class 5A state title game won by Miller Grove 70-43.
The Wolverines are coming off hard fought wins against Chapel Hill (49-46) and Statesboro (50-42) as they enter their eighth consecutive state playoff quarterfinal which includes six consecutive state titles (2009-2014). Warner Robins knocked off Carver-Columbus (68-47) and Apalachee (79-60) to reach the quarterfinals. Game time is set for 6:00 pm
Another road contest featuring a Class 5A boys’ team from DeKalb County has the No. 5 ranked Martin Luther King Jr. Lions (24-5) traveling to Athens to take on Cedar Shoals (22-6).
The Lions are making their first quarterfinal appearance since a 2007 run to the Final Four after rallying to defeat No. 2 ranked McIntosh 66-65 to spoil an undefeated season. Cedar Shoals also won a tight contest 57-56 to advance to the quarterfinals. Game time is set for 7:00 pm at Cedar Shoals.
One Class 4A DeKalb boys’ entry remains as the No. 4 ranked Lithonia Bulldogs (27-2) play host on Wednesday at 6:00 pm to the Cairo Syrup Makers (19-11).
The Bulldogs tied the school’s best record of 27-2 (1972) with the second round 81-60 win over Mt. Zion-Jonesboro and is one win away from setting a new win total as Wallace Corker’s team hosts the surprising Cairo team. Lithonia is in the quarterfinals for the first time since a Final Four run in 2004.
Cairo is the No. 4 seed from Region 1 and has upset Perry (56-50) and Monroe Area (65-50) to reach the quarterfinals.
Cedar Grove rounds out the DeKalb Elite 8 entries as the No. 3 ranked Saints (22-4) travel to Macon to take on No. 9 ranked Rutland (26-3) after knocking off Calhoun 52-42 on Saturday. Tipoff time is set for 6:00 pm.
The Saints are in the quarterfinals for the first time since a 2002 run to the semifinals and own a 23-13 playoff record that includes the 1997 Class AA title. Rutland is coming off an 80-40 shellacking of Banks County last weekend.
DeKalb Co. State Tournament Schedule
Tuesday, Feb. 24
Class 5A Girls
Stephenson (25-5) at Sequoyah (27-3), 7:00 pm
Wednesday, Feb. 25
Class 6A Boys
Hillgrove (23-5) at Tucker (28-2), 7:00 pm
Class 5A Boys
M.L. King (24-5) at Cedar Shoals (22-8), 7:00 pm
Miller Grove (27-3) vs. Warner Robins (23-4) at Veterans, 6:00 pm
Class 4A Boys
Cairo (19-11) at Lithonia (27-2), 6:00 pm
Class 3A Boys
Cedar Grove (22-4) at Rutland (26-3), 6:00 pm