Southwest DeKalb 1,000 point club member Daisa Alexander (20) leads the No. 2 ranked Lady Panthers into the Class 5A State Playoffs tonight. (Photo by Mark Brock)
Six boys’ and six girls’ teams from DCSD are on the #MarchtoMacon after securing GHSA Basketball State Tournament berths in their respective classifications over the weekend.
The twelve teams include four No. 1 seeds, 3 No. 2 seeds, 3 No. 3 seeds and 2 No. 4 seeds out of their respective regions.
Eight of the teams are set to host first round games this week beginning with newly No. 1 ranked Southwest DeKalb in Class 5A girls and No. 9 Redan in Class 4A girls tonight (Tuesday).
Southwest DeKalb (23-6) rolled through the Region 6-5A Tournament this past week ending with a 64-48 victory over No. 9 ranked Mays (20-7) at Banneker on Saturday.
The Lady Panthers host Region 7 No. 4 seed Rome (18-9) at 6:00 tonight in the opening round of the Class 5A state playoffs.
Southwest DeKalb is making its fifth consecutive trip to the state playoffs, a streak that includes a state title in 2013 and state championship game appearances in 2012 and 2014. The Lady Panthers under the direction of 300 game winning coach Kathy Walton put together a string of three state titles from 2008-2010 and are the only DeKalb girls’ program with four state championships, all under Walton.
Redan (20-5) hosts Region 7 No. 3 seed Southeast Whitfield (18-9) at 6:00 tonight in the first round of the Class 4A state playoffs.
The Lady Raiders extended their playoff appearance streak to 17 consecutive seasons with a runner-up finish to Marist in the Region 6-4A Tournament this past weekend. Redan has the only undefeated state championships in DeKalb coming in 2009 under Rhonda Malone and in 2014 under current coach Jerry Jackson.
The other 10 teams play on Wednesday (tomorrow) with five in host roles in their respective classifications.
Class 6A
Tucker will host a Class 6A first round state playoff doubleheader on Wednesday against Campbell.
The No. 5 ranked Tucker Lady Tigers (23-4) won the Region 2-6A title over Newton last Saturday and open the night against Region 3-6A No. 4 seed at 6:00 pm.
Tucker’s second consecutive region title extended the Lady Tigers’ playoff streak under Coach Robin Potter to four consecutive seasons which includes a 2014 Class 5A state title.
The Tigers are unranked despite a solid 20-6 record on the season and enter their fourth consecutive postseason appearance as the No. 2 seed our of Region 2-6A following their championship game loss to No. 8 ranked Newton. Tucker hosts Campbell in the boys’ game at 7:30 on Wednesday.
Coach James Hartry has compiled a 317-148 record since taking over the Tiger program in 2001, including 10 state playoff appearances and the 2007 Class 4A state title. His team reached the Class 6A semifinals a year ago, falling to eventual state champion Wheeler.
Senior Aidan Saunders and his Miller Grove teammates are aiming to reclaim the Class 5A state title. (Photo by Mark Brock)
Class 5A
The No. 1 ranked Miller Grove Wolverines (25-2) and No. 10 ranked Southwest DeKalb Panthers (23-5) come out of Region 6-5A as the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds, respectively, followed Miller Grove’s 86-58 championship game victory over the Panthers.
Miller Grove plays host to Region 7 No. 4 seed Sprayberry (18-10) as they continue their on their goal of regaining their six-time championship crown lost in the quarterfinals a year ago. Miller Grove won state titles from 2009-2014 and Coach Sharman White has 262 wins at Miller Grove. It is the Wolverines ninth consecutive trip to the postseason.
The Panthers are returning to the state playoffs for the first time since a 2012 run to the Class 5A state finals where they fell to Miller Grove.
Southwest DeKalb will play host to Region 7 No. 3 seed Kell (16-12) at 6:00 pm tomorrow.
Both Class 5A girls’ teams in action on Wednesday are Miller Grove (15-12) and Stephenson (20-8) as they travel to Region 7 opponents.
Stephenson is the No. 3 seed out of Region 6-5A on the back of a thrilling last second 64-63 victory over Miller Grove in the third place game on Saturday. Stephenson goes on the road to No. 2 seed Creekview (22-5) as the Lady Jaguars make their 16th consecutive playoff appearance under 400 game winner Dennis Watkins and goes into the tournament as the defending champion having won the program’s third state title a year ago.
Miller Grove (15-12) goes on the road to face No. 7 ranked and Region 7 No. 1 seed Sequoyah (22-6) at 6:00 pm tomorrow.
Class 4A
Three DCSD teams play in the Class 4A state playoffs on Wednesday led by the No. 4 ranked Lithonia Bulldogs who will host Region 7 No. 3 seed Northwest Whitfield (20-6) at 6:00 pm.
The Bulldogs (22-5) enter the state tournament as the Region 6-4A No. 2 seed after losing a heartbreaking 61-58 championship game to No. 3 Grady (25-3) on a half-court shot at the end of regulation. Lithonia has reached the playoffs and won at least 20 games in consecutive seasons under Coach Wallace Corker and for the first time since the 2003-2004 seasons under Lewis Jones.
The Columbia Eagles (13-12) knocked off No. 8 ranked St. Pius (22-5) 63-59 in overtime of the Region 6-4A third place game on Saturday at Chamblee to earn the No. 3 seed and a trip to face Region 7 No. 2 seed Heritage-Catoosa (20-8) at 7:30 pm.
The Eagles are making their 13th consecutive playoff appearance dating back to the 2004 season which includes five state championships.
The final entry in Class 4A from DeKalb is Arabia Mountain (18-10) travelling to Region 7 No. 1 seed Heritage-Catoosa (20-8) in a Class 4A girls’ state tournament game.
Arabia Mountain is making its second consecutive and second overall state tournament appearance. Coach Yolanda Redmond and her Lady Rams are looking for their first state tournament victory as they face Heritage.
Class 3A
The Cedar Grove Saints and Coach James Martin (210-130) captured the Region 4-3A title with a 60-55 victory over North Clayton on Saturday night to earn the No. 1 seed heading into the Class 3A State Playoffs.
Cedar Grove entertains Region 1 No. 4 Dodge County (18-7) at 6:00 pm on Wednesday as the Saints make their fourth consecutive state tournament appearance under Martin.
The Saints were sitting at 10-7 overall following a loss to South Atlanta on January 19th, but have put together an eight-game win streak heading into the state playoffs, including a 71-61 upset of No. 6 ranked South Atlanta in the region semifinals last Friday.
Girls State Tournament Brackets
Boys State Tournament Brackets
DCSD State Playoff Schedule
Tuesday, Feb. 16
Class 4A Girls
SE Whitfield (18-9) at Redan (20-5), 6:00 pm
Class 5A Girls
Rome (18-9) at SW DeKalb (23-6), 6:00 pm
Wednesday, Feb. 17
Class 6A
Girls
Campbell (15-11) at Tucker (23-4), 6:00 pm
Boys
Campbell (19-8) at Tucker (20-6), 7:30 pm
Class 5A
Girls
Miller Grove (15-12) at Sequoyah (22-6), 6:00 pm
Stephenson (20-8) at Creekview (22-5), 6:00 pm
Boys
Sprayberry (18-10) at Miller Grove (25-2), 6:00 pm
Kell (16-12) at SW DeKalb (23-5), 6:00 pm
Class 4A
Girls
Arabia Mountain (18-10) at Heritage-Catoosa (22-5), 6:00 pm
Boys
Columbia (13-12) at Heritage-Catoosa (20-8), 7:30 pm
NW Whitfield (20-6) at Lithonia (22-5), 6:00 pm
Class 3A
Boys
Dodge Co. (19-8) at Cedar Grove (18-7), 6:00 pm