The No. 1 ranked Miller Grove Wolverines clamped down on defense in the fourth quarter to rally from a six-point deficit for a 64-57 victory over Richmond Academy to advance to the Elite 8 for the ninth consecutive season.

Richmond Academy which lost to the Wolverines in the 2009 state semifinals as Miller Grove started its run of six consecutive state titles came out hot to open the fourth quarter. Leading 47-44 to open the final period of play Madison Williams hit nothing but net on a three with a hand in his face and then later drove to the basket for a 52-46 lead with 7 minutes to play.

Miller Grove’s Aaron Augustin cut the lead to 52-48 with a drive to the basket and followed a defensive stop by finding Colin Young open in the left corner for a three-pointer that  pulled Miller Grove within 52-51 with 4:27.

The home crowd which had been fairly quiet throughout the game came to their feet with chants of  “defense, defense” and got what they asked for from their team. During the final 7 minutes of the game Miller Grove limited Richmond (22-7) to just seven points.

The Wolverines would force five turnovers and several bad shots by the Musketeers over the final 4:50 of the game as they took the lead (53-52) on a pair of Augustin free throws with 3:35 to play.

Richmond would tie the game at 53-53 and 55-55 before Miller Grove took the lead for good on an Alterique Gilbert drive with 1:44 remaining.

Gilbert made it 59-55 with a pair of free throws with 58 seconds to play and then made a steal and found Young for an easy layup and a 61-55 advantage with 40 seconds remaining.

Rashad Callaway hit a pair of free throws with 20 seconds remaining for the final points of the game for Richmond.

Augustin would add two more free throws and Joshua Jackmon one to close out the 64-57 victory for the 27-2 Wolverines.

Gilbert, who was honored before the game for scoring his 2,000th career point and becoming the Wolverine’s all-time assist leader last weekend, finished with a game-high 24 points and grabbed 9 rebounds, three in the final 1:40 of the game, to lead the Wolverines. Augustin added 12 points to aid the Miller Grove cause.

Williams had 22 points to lead Richmond in the loss and Moses Williams added 12.

The Wolverines will face No. 8 South Paulding (25-4) in the Elite Eight at Columbus State University on Friday at 4:45 pm. South Paulding advanced with a 62-60 win over No. 9 LaGrange.

In other Class 5A boys’ action, Southwest DeKalb (25-5) reached the Elite Eight with a 65-60 win on the road over No. 7 Warner Robins (21-3).

The Panthers outscored the Demons 8-3 in the final 2:39 of the game to pull out the victory. Southwest had taken a 46-42 lead into the fourth quarter only to see Warner Robins put together an 11-2 run to start the fourth for a 53-48 lead with under six minutes to play.

Southwest roared back to take the lead again at 54-53 with 3:45 to play. The two teams would go into the final 2:39 tied at 57-57.

Warner Robins turned the ball over after the timeout and then missed a three. The Panthers made them pay as they took a 63-58 lead into the final 42 seconds. Warner Robins closed to within 63-60 with 23 seconds to play and the Panthers got the insurance they needed with 7 seconds to play to close out the 65-60 victory.

Darius Hogan led the Panthers with 17 points followed by Madarius Dickerson with 16, Keith Gilmore 15 and Nathaniel Ambersley added a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Southwest moves on to Columbus State to face No. 2 and undefeated Allatoona (29-0) at 8:15 pm on Thursday. Allatoona defeated Morrow 52-41 to move into the quarterfinals.

Class 4A Boys
The No. 4 ranked Lithonia Bulldogs (24-5) rolled to an 82-61 victory at home against New Hampstead to move into the Elite Eight for the second consecutive season.

Jacara Cross had 18 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks to lead the Bulldogs. Ty Patterson added 16 points and 8 rebounds while Ty Freeman hit for 14 points in the win.

Lithonia travels to Ft. Valley State on Thursday for a 4:45 pm tipoff against No. 10 ranked Sandy Creek (21-7). Sandy Creek advanced with an 85-71 win over No. 9 Bainbridge.

The Columbia Eagles (14-13) had their season come to an end on the road against No. 2 ranked Liberty County (25-1) in a 78-60 loss.

Class 3A Boys
The No. 8 ranked Cedar Grove Saints advanced to the Elite Eight for the third consecutive season with a 68-54 home victory over East Jackson (17-12).

Jalani Woods led a group of four players in double figures for the Saints as he put together his fourth double-double in five games of the postseason with a 21 point, 17 rebound effort. Ja’Quan Acie and Jamari Dean hit for 11 points apiece and Antonio Reeves added 10.

The Saints (20-7) have won 10 in a row after a slow start of 10-7 and will take on No. 9 Westside of Augusta (18-5) 8:15 pm on Friday at Augusta University. Westside advanced with a 79-59 win over No. 10 East Hall.

The four wins on Saturday gave DeKalb seven teams in the Elite Eight following Friday wins by the girls’ teams from Arabia Mountain, Southwest DeKalb and Tucker.

DCSD State Playoff Results
Saturday, Feb. 20
Class 5A Boys
Miller Grove (27-2) 64, Richmond Academy (22-7) 57
SW DeKalb (25-5) 65, Warner Robins (21-3) 60

Class 4A Boys
 Lithonia (24-5) 82, New Hampstead (17-11) 61
Liberty Co. (25-1) 78, Columbia (14-13) 60

Class 3A Boys
Cedar Grove (20-7) 68, East Jackson (17-12) 54

DCSD State Playoff Schedule
Thursday, Feb. 25
Class 6A Girls
Tucker (25-4) vs. Woodstock (26-3), West Georgia Univ., 3 pm

Class 5A Boys
SW DeKalb (25-5) vs. Allatoona (29-0), Columbus State, 8:15 pm

Class 4A Boys
Lithonia (24-5) vs. Sandy Creek (21-5), Ft. Valley State, 4:45 pm

Friday, Feb. 26
Class 5A Girls
SW DeKalb (24-6) vs. Columbus (23-5), Columbus St., 3 pm

Class 5A Boys
Miller Grove (27-2) vs. South Paulding (25-4), Columbus St., 4:45 pm

Class 4A Girls
Arabia Mountain (20-10) vs. Buford (24-5), Ft. Valley State, 6:30 pm

Class 3A Boys
Cedar Grove (20-7) vs. Westside-Augusta (18-5), Augusta University, 8:15 pm