DeKalb County is guaranteed 17 teams (8 girls, 9 boys) into their respective state playoff tournaments beginning on Friday, February 17 and Saturday, February 18.

DeKalb girls’ teams with state tournament bids include Redan (3A), Cedar Grove (3A), Chamblee (5A), Southwest DeKalb (5A), Columbia (5A), Arabia Mountain (5A), Stephenson (6A) and Tucker (6A).

DCSD boys’ teams with state tournament berths include Cedar Grove (3A), Druid Hills (4A), Columbia (5A), Lithonia (5A), Miller Grove (5A), SW DeKalb (5A), Dunwoody (6A), Stephenson (6A) and Tucker (6A).

Four teams punched their tickets into the Class 5A State Playoffs in action at the Region 5-5A Tournament at Miller Grove on Wednesday night.

The Southwest DeKalb Panthers (15-11) earned a second consecutive trip to the state playoffs via a thrilling last second 56-55 win over the Chamblee Bulldogs (13-11).

Chamblee led for most of the game until the fourth quarter and was trailing 53-52 when a jump ball call went the Bulldogs’ way with 19.2 seconds to play. Chamblee inbounded the ball and called time at half court to set up a shot to tie or win the game with 12.6 seconds to play.

Odell Ferrell got the ball following the inbounds and squared up from the top of key to launch a three-pointer that hit the rim and bounced into the net for a 55-53 Bulldog lead with 4.5 seconds to play.

The two teams both called timeouts trying to see what the other had set up for the final 4.5 seconds. The Panthers inbounded the ball and as the Chamblee defense collapsed to prevent a drive to the basket the ball was passed to the right corner for Darius Hogan. Hogan let fly just before the buzzer and stripped the net for a three to give the Panthers the 56-55 victory and trip to the state playoffs.

It was Hogan’s fourth three-pointer of the game as he finished with 14 points to go with 11 from Eugene Brown. Ferrell finished with a game-high 18 to lead Chamblee while Glenn Robinson chipped in 17.

The Columbia Lady Eagles (14-6) are set to return to the state playoffs for the first time in three years after a convincing 63-25 win over the Lithonia Bulldogs (3-22).

Ilia Mathis hit for a game-high 17 points to lead Columbia to the win while teammate Deidre Harris added a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds. Mathis scored 11 of her points in the first half as the Eagles soared to a 34-3 advantage at the break.

Kaylnn Geer had 14 points to lead Lithonia in the loss.

A third consecutive trip to the state tournament came the way of the Arabia Mountain Lady Rams (18-4) as they eliminated Clarkston (0-22) 65-21.

Alina Shoemake got off to a hot start with eight points in the first quarter on two three-pointers as Arabia Mountain jumped to a 17-4 lead at the end of the period.

Ke’Andrea Middlebrooks continued the pace for the Lady Rams with six points early in the second quarter as the lead expanded to 36-8 at the half. Iyanla Kitchens would finish with 12 points and Shoemake 10 to lead the Rams.

Clarkston got nine points each from Tyneisha Tillery and Dorissa Smart.

Coach Phil McCrary guided the Columbia Eagles (19-6) to their 14th consecutive playoff appearance with an 82-36 win over the Clarkston Angoras (4-20) in the nightcap at Miller Grove.

McCrary was out of coaching for four years after 2012’s run to a third consecutive state title and had his team hitting on all cylinders behind the trio of Josh Taylor, Reyhan Cobb and Kenton Eskridge on the way to a 52-26 halftime lead.

Josh Taylor hit for all 11 of his points in the first half and grabbed eight rebounds while Eskridge who finished with 13 hit for 10 in the first half along with Cobb who finished with a game high 15.

James Multry hit for 11 points to lead the Angoras.

Region 5-3A
The Redan Lady Raiders and Cedar Grove Saints secured home playoff games with semifinal wins on Wednesday at Redan.

Redan (18-6) gunned its way past Lovett (17-10) 58-37 to earn the home playoff bid and a date with Pace Academy (13-10) which upended No. 1 seed Cedar Grove (15-4) 47-44 in the other girls’ semifinal. Cedar Grove places for the three seed on Friday against Lovett.

The Saints (16-5) won a low-scoring 39-34 victory over Westminster on Wednesday to solidify their home playoff game in the first round of the Class 3A State Playoffs next weekend. Cedar Grove collides with Pace Academy (22-8), 55-51 winner over Lovett (17-10) in the other boys’ semifinal, on Friday at 8:30 pm at Redan. The two split their regular season series.

Region 7-6A
The Dunwoody Wildcats (12-14) defeated Chattahoochee (15-10) for the second time this season to pick up one of the four state tournament berths out of Region 7-6A.

It is the Wildcats first state tournament appearance since 2008. Dunwoody faces off with Alpharetta (24-2) which has defeated Dunwoody by two points in both the 7-6A games played this season, at 5:30 pm on Friday at John’s Creek.

DCSD REGION TOURNAMENT RESULTS
Wednesday, Feb. 8
Region 5-3A at Redan (semifinals)
(G) Redan (18-6) 58, Lovett (17-10) 37
(B) Pace (22-8) 55, Lovett (17-10) 51
(G) Pace (13-10) 47, Cedar Grove (15-4) 44
(B) Cedar Grove (16-5) 39, Westminster (12-15) 34

Region 5-5A at Miller Grove
(G) Columbia (14-6) 63, Lithonia (3-22) 25
(B) SW DeKalb (15-11) 56, Chamblee (13-11) 55
(G) Arabia Mountain (18-4) 65, Clarkston (0-22) 21
(B) Columbia (19-6) 82, Clarkston (4-20) 36

Region 4-6A at Tucker
(G) Jonesboro (12-13) 57, Forest Park (15-11) 31
(B) Forest Park (12-13) 52, Mt. Zion-Jonesboro (8-14) 48
(G) Lovejoy (22-3) 62, M.L. King Jr. (7-19) 33
(B) Jonesboro (21-4) 67, M.L. King Jr. (7-16) 38

Region 7-6A at John’s Creek
(B) Dunwoody (12-14) 59, Chattahoochee (15-10) 48

DCSD REGION TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Thursday, Feb. 9
Region 4-4A at Woodward Academy
(B) Eastside (16-8) vs. Druid Hills (11-14), 6:00 pm

Friday, Feb. 10
Region 5-3A at Redan
Girls Consolation
Cedar Grove (15-4) vs. Lovett (17-10), 4:00 pm
Boys Consolation
Lovett (17-10) vs. Westminster (12-15), 5:30 pm
Girls Championship
Redan (18-6) vs. Pace (13-10), 7:00 pm
Boys Championship
Cedar Grove (16-5) vs. Pace (22-8), 8:30 pm

Region 5-5A
Semifinals at Miller Grove
(G) Columbia (14-6) vs. Arabia Mountain (18-4), 4:00 pm
(B) Columbia (19-6) vs. SW DeKalb (15-11), 5:30 pm
(G) SW DeKalb (21-4) vs. Chamblee (11-10), 7:00 pm
(B) Miller Grove (16-8) vs. Lithonia (11-14), 8:30 pm

Region 4-6A
Semifinals at Tucker
(G) Tucker (19-6) vs. Stephenson (18-8), 4:00 pm
(B) Stephenson (16-9) vs. Tucker (16-9), 5:30 pm
(G) Lovejoy (22-3) vs. Jonesboro (13-13), 7:00 pm
(B) Jonesboro (21-4) vs. Forest Park (12-13, 8:30 pm

Region 7-6A
Semifinals at John’s Creek
(B) Dunwoody (12-14) vs. Alpharetta (24-2), 5:30 pm