Tucker’s Ayinde Russell shoots a pair of late free throws on the way to a game-high 29 points in win over Hillgrove. (Photo by Mark Brock)
An offensive explosion in the third quarter propelled the Tucker Tigers to a 66-52 victory over the Hillgrove Hawks and into the Class 6A Final Four.
Hillgrove led at the half 33-31 behind the play of Jordan Julian and Collin Sexton as the hosts and No. 6 ranked Tigers (29-2) struggled defensively to contain the pair.
Coach James Hartry got the attention of his players at halftime and the intensity level on defense and offense ramped up in the third quarter.
Defensively, the Tigers clamped down on the Hillgrove duo to allow just three baskets (7 points) in the third quarter while exploding for 20 of their own. Ayinde Russell who finished with a game-high 29 points, scored 9 points and Kenton Eskridge added 7 as the Tigers took control of the game up 51-40 entering the fourth quarter.
Russell continued his hot hand in the fourth quarter opening with a three-pointer from the left corner and steal for a basket as the lead built to 58-43 following a dunk by Courtland Rogers that brought a deafening roar from the home crowd.
Bryce Brown, who finished with 16 points on the night, hit a pair of free throws and a dunk driving the baseline while Russell would hit four free throws to close out the 66-52 victory.
Julian finished with a game-high 16 points for No. 8 ranked Hillgrove (23-6) with Sexton adding 13 and Antonio Wade 10.
Kenton Eskridge had 10 points to join Russell (29) and Brown (16) in double figures for the Tigers.
Tucker moves on to the Class 6A Final Four to play No. 1 ranked Wheeler (28-2), a 72-54 winner over Newton on Thursday night, on Saturday in an 8:15 pm tip at Georgia Tech’s McCamish Pavilion.
The Final Four appearance is the first for the Tigers since reaching the Class 4A state finals where they lost to Miller Grove.
Class 5A
Warner Robins 63, Miller Grove 57
Miller Grove’s playoff run came to an end in with a 63-57 overtime loss to Warner Robins in a rematch of the 2014 Class 5A state championship game won by Miller Grove.
Warner Robins controlled the game for over two quarters leading 26-20 at the half before Miller Grove got going in the third quarter to pull into a 34-34 tie heading into the fourth quarter.
Raylon Richardson gave the Wolverines their first lead on a pair of free throws to go up 36-34. Lamont West’s three-point play late in the fourth quarter gave Miller Grove a 45-41 lead.
Miller Grove led 50-45 with 1:02 to play, but Warner Robins roared back to tie the game at 51-51 on Marquez Callaway basket with 7.9 seconds to play. Miller Grove could not score and the game went into overtime.
Miller Grove’s All-State guard Alterique Gilbert had control of the ball with Miller Grove leading 57-55 when he drove to the basket and scored for an apparent four-point lead. The basket was disallowed and Gilbert fouled out after being called for a charge.
Callaway, who hit 18 of 18 from the free throw line in the game, was fouled on a three-point attempt and hit all three to put Warner Robins up for good at 58-57.
Miller Grove finished the season 27-4, its ninth consecutive 20 plus win season in 11 years of being a varsity basketball program. The loss ended a 32 playoff game win streak (36-3 overall) which included a Georgia boys’ basketball record six consecutive state titles (2009-2014).
Cedar Shoals 62, M.L. King 58
A long and winding season came to an end for the No. 5 ranked Martin Luther King Lions as Cedar Shoals scored five points in the final 17 seconds to pull out the Class 5A boys’ quarterfinal victory.
The Lions jumped out to a 30-22 halftime lead behind seven three-pointers in the half, but cooled off in the second half as Cedar Shoals began to climb back into the game. The Lions held a 41-39 lead after three quarters.
The lead would change hands five times in the fourth quarter with the Lions up 58-57 with just 17 seconds to play. Cedar Shoals would drive the length of the floor for a basket and get fouled to take a 59-58 lead. The free throw was missed, but Cedar Shoals rebounds for a basket and foul to close out the game.
The Lions finished 24-6 on the season.
Lithonia’s Rodney Chatman (1) plays defense against Cairo. (Photo by Mark Brock)
Class 4A
Cairo 61, Lithonia 47
Cairo’s Trey Sparrow shot his team to a 61-47 upset victory over the No. 4 ranked Lithonia Bulldogs at Lithonia on Thursday night.
Sparrow finished with a game high 26 points including 7 three-pointers, mostly from the left corner as teammates set picks to get him open.
He rallied his team from a 27-18 deficit at the half to a 35-all tie heading into the fourth quarter as he hit two of his seven threes in the third period.
Sparrow gave his team the lead three different times in the fourth quarter, the third on his second of three three-pointers in the period put the Syrup Makers up 46-44 and they never trailed again. Offensive rebounds and scores by Cole Bennett and Stacy Masten helped seal the win before Sparrows seventh three of the night gave Cairo a 58-46 lead with just over a minute to play.
Lithonia finished with an outstanding record of 27-3 which tied the program’s best win total. Tyheem Freeman finished with a team high 13 points for the Bulldogs.
Class 3A
Rutland 77, Cedar Grove 65
The No. 3 ranked Cedar Grove Saints fell behind early at No. 8 ranked Rutland before falling 77-65 in the Class 3A boys’ quarterfinal.
Jacara Cross had 20 first half points as the Saints battled back from a 12-point deficit to pull within 41-36 at the half.
Rutland was able to pull away to a 56-45 lead at the end of the third quarter on the way to the win.
DeKalb State Tournament Schedule
Saturday, Feb. 28
Class 5A Girls’ Final Four at Ft. Valley State
Stephenson (26-5) vs. Forest Park (28-4), 3:00 pm
Class 6A Boys’ Final Four at Georgia Tech
Tucker (29-2) vs. Wheeler (28-2), 8:15 pm