Tucker’s Najila Shamsid-Deen (with ball) runs the point for the No. 5 ranked Lady Tigers as they take on No. 9 ranked Woodstock on Thursday at West Georgia. (Photo by Mark Brock)

Last year DeKalb County sent six teams to the Elite 8 round of the GHSA Basketball State Playoffs and have topped that in 2016 with seven teams headed to their respective quarterfinals.

Three teams open play on Thursday led by the No. 5 ranked Tucker Lady Tigers (25-4) meeting No. 9 ranked Woodstock (26-3) in a 3:00 pm tipoff at West Georgia University.

Tucker has won 15 consecutive games since a December tournament loss to Ridgeview of South Carolina. The run includes the Region 2-6A title and tournament wins over Campbell (81-63) and Mountain View (72-54).

The Lady Tigers have a balanced offensive attack led by Kierra Johnson Graham (11.6 pts/gm) and a group including Bria Bass (9.8 pts/gm), Jayla Morrow (9.5 pts/gm), Mariyah Trimble (9.0 pts/gm) and Najila Shamsid-Deen (8.1 pts/gm).

Tucker won the Class 5A title in 2014 and is in their third Elite 8 in the past four seasons.

Woodstock is riding a six-game win streak and comes in off of playoff victories over Grayson (55-34) and Colquitt County (52-41) as well as being a region champ.

Class 5A Boys
SW DeKalb vs. Allatoona
Southwest DeKalb (25-5) is the Region 6-5A runner-up and takes on Region 5 champ and undefeated No. 2 ranked Allatoona (29-0) at 8:15 pm on Thursday at Columbus State.

The game was moved from the original 4:45 pm scheduled start to allow the Mays boys and girls to play back-to-back.

The Panthers have spent time in the Top 10 this season with three of their losses coming to DeKalb/Region 6-5A foe and No. 1 ranked Miller Grove. Southwest DeKalb is in the state tournament for the first time since a 2012 runner-up finish to

Southwest Ti’Quan Lewis (5) is a threat inside for the Panthers as they meet No. 2 ranked Allatoona on Thursday at Columbus State. (Photo by Mark Brock)

Miller Grove and is facing Allatoona for the first time in the state playoffs.

Keith Gilmore leads the Panthers on offense averaging 16.6 points and 6.3 rebounds a contest. He is joined in double figures by Nathaniel Ambersley (12.9 points, 4.3 assists, 3.0 steals) and Ti’Quan Lewis (10.9 points, 7.0 rebounds).

Allatoona is riding a 29-game win streak and reached the quarters with wins of 61-49 over Salem and 52-41 over Morrow. Trey Doomes (14.3 points, 5.5 rebounds) and Ephraim Tshimanga (12.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.5 assists).

Both teams have defeated Salem and New Manchester this season.

Lithonia’s Jacara Cross and the Bulldogs take on No. 10 ranked Sandy Creek at Ft. Valley State on Thursday. (Photo by Mark Brock)

Class 4A Boys
Lithonia vs. Sandy Creek
The No. 4 ranked Lithonia Bulldogs (24-5) lock up with No. 10 ranked Sandy Creek (21-5) in a 4:45 pm game at Ft. Valley State University on Thursday.

Lithonia was an 82-61 winner over New Hampstead last weekend to advance to the Elite 8 for the second consecutive season. The Region 6-4A runner-up is led by Jacara Cross (15 points, 9 rebounds), UT-Chattanooga signee Rodney Chatman (13.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.8 assists) and Ty Freeman (12.6 points).

This is the first back-to-back Elite 8 appearance for the Bulldogs since the 1999-2000 seasons.

Sandy Creek comes into the game as the Region 5-5A champion with playoff wins over Bainbridge (85-71) and North Oconee (84-38). Elias Harden (21.1 points, 5.8 rebounds) and Chris Turner (14.3 points, 6.7 assists) lead the Patriots.

GHSA Boys’ State Playoff Brackets

GHSA Girls’ State Playoff Bracketts

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