DeKalb County Schools is sending half the basketball teams to the state playoffs that start this weekend at home school sites.

The group includes ten boys’ teams and nine girls’ teams. The four Region champions and three more region runners-up get to host games this Friday (girls) and Saturday (boys).

Towers (17-9) plays the first game of the state tournament on Thursday at 6:00 pm as host Bremen requested the move due to a winter break for the school this weekend. The Titans defeated Redan 72-47 for the No. 3 boys’ seed from Region 5-3A after losing a tough semifinal game in the final two seconds 54-52 to defending state champion Pace Academy.

All nine girls’ teams hit the court on Friday (Feb. 16) with three hosting first round contests.

Southwest DeKalb (16-12) hosts Region No. 4 seed Riverwood (10-17) at 6:00 pm on Friday after knocking off No. 3 ranked Arabia Mountain (20-2) 54-51 in overtime in the girls’ Region 5-5A championship game on Saturday at Southwest DeKalb. The Lady Rams host Decatur (18-8) at 5:30 pm on Saturday.

Miller Grove (15-11), the Region 5-5A girls’ No. 3 seed after defeating Chamblee (14-12) 51-44 on Saturday, travels to Jackson-Atlanta (17-6) on Friday at 6:00 pm as part of City of Atlanta/DeKalb County doubleheader. The Region 5-5A No. 4 boys’ seed Columbia Eagles (19-9) follow the girls’ game as they take on Region 6-5A seed Jackson (24-2) in boys’ Class 5A play at 7:30 pm.

Region 5-5A girls’ No. 4 seed Chamblee travels to Lithia Springs (17-9), the Region 6-5A No. 1, for a 6:00 pm game on Friday.

Region 4-6A runner-up Tucker (19-9) faces Region 3-6A No. 3 seed Grovetown (15-12) at Tucker. The Martin Luther King Jr. Lady Lions go on the road as the No. 3 seed from Region 4-6A to face Region 3-6A No. 2 Greenbrier (18-9) at 6:00 pm on Friday. The Lions upset No. 4 ranked Forest Park and perennial DeKalb County playoff contender Stephenson to reach the state playoffs for the first time since 2010.

No. 4 seed Stephenson (17-11) goes out I-20 to play Heritage of Conyers (20-5), the Region 3-6A No. 1 seed at 6:00 pm on Saturday.

Wrapping up girl’s play on Friday are two road games as Region 5-3A No. 3 seed Cedar Grove and No. 4 seed Stone Mountain travel to play their first round games.

Cedar Grove (12-6) heads to Region 6-3A No. 2 seed Sonoraville (18-8) for a 6:00 pm tipoff and Stone Mountain (10-13) travels to face 6-3A No. 1 seed Haralson County (25-2) at 6:00 pm.

Southwest DeKalb (17-11), the No. 2 seed from 5-5A, opens boys’ action on Saturday with a 3:00 pm game against Region 6-5A No. 3 seed North Springs (13-14).

In other 5-5A boys’ play on Saturday, Region 5-5A champ Lithonia (21-6) plays host to Region 6-5A No. 4 seed Banneker (14-9) at 5:00 pm and No. 3 seed Miller Grove (19-7) goes on the road to face Riverwood (1-8) at 4:00 pm.

In Class 3A boys’ action, Region 5-3A champ Cedar Grove (21-6) entertains Region 6-3A No. 4 seed Ringgold (19-7) at 6:00 pm on Saturday. Cedar Grove pulled out a 45-44 victory with a free throw by Devon Barnes to knock off defending state champ Pace Academy in the Region 5-3A finals. The No. 4 seeded Redan Raiders (13-13) go on the road to No. 1 seeded Calhoun (13-13) for another 6:00 pm contest in their first playoff appearance since 2010.

The two-time Region 4-6A champion Stephenson Jaguars (21-5) host Region 3-6A No. 4 seed Lakeside-Evans (13-12) at 7:00 pm on Saturday. The Jaguars knocked off Jonesboro in the Region 4-6A finals 54-51 to take the No. 1 seed from the Cardinals for the second consecutive season.

Tucker (17-11) is the No. 3 seed out of Region 4-6A after defeating Drew 64-31. The Tigers head to Grovetown (12-12) for a 7:00 pm game against the Region 3-6A No. 2 seed.

The Druid Hills Red Devils (12-14) reached the state playoffs as the No. 4 seed out of Region 4-4A and travel to Baldwin (21-6) to take on the Region 3-4A champion at 6:30 pm.

DCSD STATE TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Thursday, Feb. 15
Class 3A Boys
Towers (17-9) at Bremen (12-16), 6:00 pm

Friday, Feb. 16
Class 3A Girls
Cedar Grove (12-6) at Sonoraville (18-8), 6:00 pm
Stone Mountain (10-13) at Haralson Co. (25-2), 6:00 pm

Class 5A Girls
Decatur (18-8) at Arabia Mountain (20-2), 5:30 pm
Riverwood (10-17) at SW DeKalb (16-12), 6:00 pm
Miller Grove (15-11) at Jackson-Atl (17-6), 6:00 pm
Chamblee (14-12) at Lithia Springs (17-9), 6:00 pm

Class 5A Boys
Columbia (19-9) at Jackson-Atl (24-2), 7:30 pm

Class 6A Girls
Grovetown (15-12) at Tucker (19-9), 6:00 pm
Stephenson (17-11) at Heritage-Conyers (20-5), 6:00 pm
M.L. King Jr. (8-20) at Greenbrier (18-9), 6:00 pm

Saturday, Feb. 17
Class 3A Boys
Ringgold (19-7) at Cedar Grove (21-6), 6:00 pm
Redan (13-13) at Calhoun (13-13), 6:00 pm

Class 4A Boys
Druid Hills (12-14) at Baldwin (21-6) 6:30 pm

Class 5A Boys
North Springs (13-14) at SW DeKalb (17-11), 3:00 pm
Banneker (14-9) at Lithonia (21-6), 5:00 pm
Miller Grove (19-7) at Riverwood (19-8), 4:00 pm

Class 6A Boys
Tucker (17-11) at Grovetown (12-12), 7:00 pm
Lakeside-Evans (13-12) at Stephenson (21-5), 7:00 pm