Stephenson’s Nailah Manning (11) drives the lane against Banneker in Stephenson’s playoff clinching win. (Photo by Mark Brock)

Defending Class 5A girls’ champ Stephenson, six-time champs Miller Grove Wolverines and four-time champs Southwest DeKalb Lady Panthers all claimed a spot in the Class 5A state playoffs with victories on Wednesday night at Banneker.

The defending state champion Stephenson Lady Jaguars reached the state tournament for the 16th consecutive season with a 45-33 victory over Banneker on its home floor.

Twice Banneker (12-12) made runs at the Lady Jaguars (19-7) and Stephenson responded to pull away both times. The first run came in the early stages of the second quarter when Stephenson went 5 ½ minutes without scoring.

Selena Robinson pulled Banneker within 11-10 on a layup with 2:55 to play in the first half. Stephenson responded with a 12-0 run to finish the half led by Kennedi and Kerrington Larkins as the two freshmen scored four points each in the run. Unique Cotton finished off the half with a jumper for a 23-10 Stephenson halftime lead.

Both teams had a tough third quarter with Stephenson holding a 30-15 lead with a quarter to play. Nailah Manning’s basket to open the fourth quarter gave Stephenson a 17-point lead (32-15).

Stephenson was up 36-19 on a Miracle Gray basket with 4:53 when Banneker began another run to close within 38-32 on a Jullia Morris steal and layup with 2:00 minutes to play.

A pair of turnovers and fouls led to Gray hitting four consecutive free throws to push the lead back out to 42-32 with 50 seconds remaining in the game.  Manning’s two free throws with 5 seconds to play made the final of 45-33.

Manning finished with 12 points and Miracle Gray added 11 points and 14 rebounds for Stephenson. Selena Robinson finished with a game-high 13 points to lead Banneker.

The win set up the third meeting of the season against Southwest DeKalb, an 81-26 winner over Carver-Atlanta on Wednesday, in the semifinals on Friday night at Banneker.

Southwest DeKalb’s Michaela Bennefield shoots a free throw in her team’s win over Carver-Atlanta. (Photo by Mark Brock)

Carver’s Jamia Brewer pulled her team within 11-8 with 3:57 to play in the first quarter, but Southwest DeKalb (20-6) would not allow Carver another basket for the next 9 minutes as the Lady Panthers went on a 28-0 run to take complete control of the game.

Southwest forced 23 first half turnovers, including 13 in the 28-0 run, as Jada Walton (8 points) and Daisa Alexander (6 points) led the way on the offensive end. Chantz Cherry’s layup on an assist from Alexander made it 39-8 with 3:34 to play in the first half.

Brewer who had the last basket before the run ended the drought for Carver with a layup with 2:48 to play.

Alexander’s three just before the buzzer gave Southwest DeKalb an imposing 48-11 lead at the half.

Alexander and Walton would finish with 15 points each in the game while Raven Thurman added 11 points and Cori Bostic chipped in with 11 rebounds. Brewer finished with 11 points to lead Carver.

Miller Grove’s Colin Young beats a pair of Carver defenders to the basket in Miller Grove’s playoff clinching win. (Photo by Mark Brock)

(B) Miller Grove 82, Carver-Atlanta 54
Miller Grove claimed its ninth consecutive state playoff spot with an 82-54 victory over Carver-Atlanta at Banneker on Wednesday.

Four Wolverines reached double figures in the game and a 27-point third quarter put Carver in the rearview mirror as the lead went from 12 (36-24) at the half to 27 (65-38) entering the fourth quarter.

Colin Young (17 points, 7 rebounds) hit for nine of his points in the third period roll for No. 1 ranked Miller Grove (23-2) as the team posted Coach Sharman White’s 260th career victory. Joshua Jackmon (16 points, 11 rebounds) had seven points and four rebounds in the big third quarter.

George Wilson’s three-pointer with three seconds left in the third quarter sent Miller Grove into the final period with the 27 point lead.

McDonald’s and Jordan Brand All-American Alterique Gilbert hit for 16 points (12 in the first half) and Naquante Hardy added 11 points and 7 rebounds.

Mays 55, Druid Hills 53

Druid Hills’ Jordan Foote (10) gets off a shot against a pair of Mays defenders in the Red Devils tough Region 6-5A loss. (Photo by Mark Brock)

The Druid Hills Red Devils (14-12) came within seconds of picking up their first playoff berth since 2013 in a heartbreaking 55-53 loss to Mays at Banneker on Wednesday.

The Red Devils trailed by as much as 11 points (24-13, end of 1st quarter) and 7 (43-36 heading into the fourth quarter) but clawed their way back into the game.

Cameron Starkes two free throws gave the Red Devils a brief 46-44 lead with 5:05 to play in the game. Mays answered with baskets by Horace Wyatt and C.J. Arnold to regain a 51-46 advantage with 3:51 remaining.

Seth Asra’s three-pointer with 11.6 points left in the game pulled Druid Hills within 54-53 to keep his team alive. Qua Jackson hit one of two free throws with 8.7 seconds remaining to give Mays a 55-53 advantage.

Asra got another open look with a couple of seconds to play and the ball rimmed out, but the rebound went out of bounds on Mays with 0.6 seconds left on the clock. Asra got the inbounds pass and hurried a shot before the buzzer that came up short and Mays had survived to face Miller Grove in the semifinals on Friday.

Starkes had a game-high 20 points to lead Druid Hills and Jordan Foote finished with 14.

Region 4-3A Boys
The Towers Titans (5-20) closed out there season with a 67-54 loss to Blessed Trinity (12-13) at Maynard Jackson on Wednesday afternoon.

DCSD Region Results
Wednesday, Feb. 10
Region 4-3A at Maynard Jackson
Boys (PPD from Tuesday)
Blessed Trinity (13-13) 67, Towers (5-20) 54

Region 6-5A at Banneker
Girls
Stephenson (19-7) 45, Banneker (12-13) 33
SW DeKalb (20-6) 81, Carver-Atl (8-17) 26

Boys
Mays (11-12) 55, Druid Hills (14-12) 53
Miller Grove (23-2) 82, Carver-Atl (10-12) 54

Thursday, Feb. 11
Region 6-5A at Banneker (PPD From Tuesday)
Girls
Tri-Cities (11-10) vs. Miller Grove (14-10), 4:00 pm
Creekside (5-17) vs. Mays (18-6), 7:00 pm

Boys
Dunwoody (8-18) vs. SW DeKalb (21-4), 5:30 pm
Stephenson (12-11) vs. Tri-Cities (9-12), 8:30 pm

Region 6-4 at Chamblee
Girls Semifinals
St. Pius (16-9) vs. Redan (19-4), 4:00 pm
Marist (24-2) vs. Arabia Mountain (18-8), 7:00 pm

Boys Semifinals
St. Pius (22-4) vs. Grady (23-3), 5:30 pm
Lithonia (21-4) vs. Columbia (12-11), 8:00 pm

Region 4-3A at Maynard Jackson
Boys
Cedar Grove (15-7) vs. Therrell (14-8), 4:00 pm