Five DeKalb Teams Move into State Playoffs Sweet 16

Southwest DeKalb’s boys’ and girls’ high school basketball teams rolled to first round Class 5A State Playoff wins at home on Friday night.

The Panthers (22-6) had nine different players score in their 65-30 rout of Clarke Central (14-13) to complete the doubleheader win at Southwest DeKalb.

An 11-2 run in the final 2:42 of the first quarter enabled the Panthers to take a 25-12 lead into the second quarter. Five different Panthers scored in the run following Clarke Central’s three-pointer by Maricus Estrich to cut the lead to 4 (14-10) with 3:10 to play.

James Glisson got a short jumper on an assist from Dajon Dancil to start the run. Wytavis Searcy had a three-point play to make it 21-10 before Estrich hit Clarke Central’s final basket of the quarter.

KD Johnson had a steal and a layup and then fed Michael Wright for a layup with 10 seconds left for the 25-12 lead going into the second quarter.

Back-to-back three-pointers by Jarrett Walton and Ken Draper to open the second quarter kept the Panthers rolling. Southwest would outscore Clarke Central 17-3 in the second quarter.

Draper had another three and a layup on an assist from Walton and Johnson nailed a three to make it 40-13. Free throws by Glisson and Draper made it a 42-15 advantage.

Clarke Central would only put six points on the board in the third quarter and Glisson would score six points, including the final basket of the quarter for a 54-21 lead.

Johnson scored five points in the fourth quarter including NBA Dunk Contest worthy slam with a toss he caught in the air and rammed home with both hands to make it 58-23 with 4:51 to play.

KD Johnson finished with 17 points to lead the Panthers and James Glisson added 11. Maricus Estrich finished with 11 to lead Clarke Central.

Southwest DeKalb will host the Carrollton/Banneker winner next week in the Sweet 16 round.

In other Class 5A boys’ action, the Miller Grove Wolverines (10-19) lost a tough 64-48 game at No. 1 ranked Buford (25-2).

(G) Southwest DeKalb 56, Cedar Shoals 31
A 9-0 run to finish the third quarter all but put the game away for the Southwest DeKalb Lady Panthers on their way to a 56-31 win over Cedar Shoals in a girls’ first round game in the Class 5A state playoffs in the opener at Southwest DeKalb.

Southwest DeKalb (22-6) held just a 23-16 lead at the half as a tough shooting first half along with four early turnovers in the second quarter helped Cedar Shoals (11-18) keep it close.

Jada David and Skylar Lattimore hit back-to-back baskets to cut the lead to 30-22 with 2:57 left in the third quarter when Southwest DeKalb’s Lanee Edwards who had hit three of four free throws earlier in the quarter began to heat up from the floor.

Edwards hit a three at the 2:46 mark and followed it up with back-to-back layups off Cedar Shoals turnovers as Southwest went into the fourth quarter up 39-22.

The senior guard opened the fourth quarter with and basket on an assist from Raven Thurman before Cedar Shoals’ Jeanetta Elder hit a basket to break the 11-0 run.

Taylor Christmas started a 10-0 run for the Lady Panthers with a layup followed by an Edwards steal and layup. Thurman would add a three-pointer and a 1-for-2 trip to the free throw line before Jayla Kimbough’s basket made it 51-24 with under three minutes to play.

Edwards finished the night with 17 points to lead Southwest with Raven Thurman contributing 15 points, 12 rebounds, 5 steals and 4 assists to go along with Jayla Kimbrough’s 11 points and 8 rebounds.

Elder had 8 points and 8 rebounds to lead Cedar Shoals.

In other Class 5A girls’ action, the No. 2 seeded Columbia Lady Eagles (21-7) won at home 53-38 over Loganville (15-14) and Chamblee (8-19) fell 76-26 to No. 1 ranked Buford (25-2). Columbia gets to host in the Sweet 16 as No. 4 seed Cass (22-7) defeated No. 1 seed Riverwood 63-57.

Class 6A Girls
The fifth ranked Stephenson Lady Jaguars (18-11) had to go on the road to Northside of Warner Robins (16-10) on Friday night and brought home a 48-37 victory to advance to the Sweet 16 in Class 6A play. Stephenson will go on the road next week to take on No. 1 seed Glynn Academy (25-4) which defeated Evans 61-22.

Valdosta (24-3) ended the Martin Luther King Jr. Lady Lions’ (14-15) season with a 64-42 win at Valdosta on Friday night.

Class 3A
The Cedar Grove Saints (19-7) moved into the Class 3A boys’ Sweet 16 with a 67-56 home win over Monroe Area (9-19) on Friday night.

Chris Carter led the way with 17 points while Devon Barnes and Jeffery Daniels chipped in 13 points apiece in the win. Cedar Grove will face the winner of Saturday’s East Hall/Calhoun clash in the Sweet 16.

The Redan Lady Raiders (6-15) had their season come to an end at Hart County (22-6) with a 75-32 defeat.

Class 4A
In Class 4A action for DeKalb both Druid Hills teams dropped games against ranked Carver of Columbus in Columbus on Friday night.

The Lady Devils dropped a 76-35 decision to the No. 1 ranked and undefeated Carver (28-0) squad in the opening game. The Devils (18-10) fell to No. 5 Carver (21-5) by a 79-64 score.

2019 DCSD STATE PLAYOFFS RESULTS
Friday, Feb. 15
BOYS
Class 5A
SW DeKalb (22-6) 65, Clarke Central (14-13) 31
Buford (25-2) 64, Miller Grove (10-19) 48

Class 4A
Carver-Columbus (22-5) 79, Druid Hills (18-10) 64

Class 3A
Cedar Grove (19-7) 67, Monroe Area (9-19) 56

GIRLS
Class 6A
Stephenson (18-11) 48, Northside-WR (16-10) 37
Valdosta (24-3) 64, M.L. King (14-15) 42

Class 5A
SW DeKalb (22-6) 56, Cedar Shoals (11-18) 31
Columbia (21-7) 53, Loganville (15-14) 38
Buford (25-2) 72, Chamblee (8-19) 26

Class 4A
Carver-Columbus (28-0) 76, Druid Hills (12-15) 35

Class 3A
Hart County (22-6) 75, Redan (6-15) 32

Saturday, Feb. 16
GIRLS
Class 3A
Cedar Grove (13-10) at Jefferson (23-3), 6:00 pm

Class 5A
Arabia Mountain (19-5) at Clarke Central (12-11), 2:00 pm

BOYS
Class 3A
Redan (14-14) at Morgan Co. (24-2), 6:00 pm

Class 5A
Columbia (15-10) at Cedar Shoals (14-13), 6:00 pm
Loganville (15-12) at Lithonia (18-9), 5:30 pm

Class 6A
Valdosta (12-14) at Tucker (24-4), 4:00 pm