Southwest DeKalb’s Taylor Christmas (45) goes strong to the basket in second half action against Rome. She had 10 second half points as the Southwest fourth quarter rallly came up just short in the 59-56 loss. (Photo by Mark Brock)
Two DeKalb basketball teams advanced to the Sweet 16 on Friday night joining the Cedar Grove Lady Saints who won on Thursday night.
The Arabia Mountain Lady Rams (23-5) moved into the second round by evening up their playoff record against Villa Rica (22-7) at 2-2 with a convincing 65-51 victory at home. Arabia Mountain had won the first meeting in 2017, but Villa Rica held the upper hand the past two years winning at home.
Arabia Mountain led just 37-36 at the end of the third quarter, but opened the final period of play on a 16-3 run to extend their advantage to 12 up 52-40 midway through the fourth quarter. They kept their distance the rest of the way to final of 65-51.
Arabia Mountain moves into the second with a trip to No. 8 Starr’s Mill, a 63-47 winner over Warner Robins, next Wednesday.
The rest of DeKalb’s Region 5-5A teams fell on Friday night including No. 4 Southwest DeKalb which dropped a tough 59-56 decision at home to Rome.
Rome had built a 13-point lead (53-40) on a layup by Amberly Brown with 4:23 to play, but the Lady Panthers (21-7) would not go easily. Jayla Kimbrough’s drive and pull up started an 8-0 run by Southwest DeKalb fueled by back-to-back threes by Aniya Lee to cut the lead to 53-48 with 2:52 to play.
A basket by Rome’s Carol Saunders was followed by back-to-back layups from Southwest’s Nya Bostic and Kimbrough to cut the lead to 55-52 with 1:45 to play.
Nation and Brown combined to go 4-4 from the free-throw line to extend the lead to 59-52 with 42.6 seconds remaining. Bostic launched a hurried three-pointer that hit the bottom of the net and was fouled with 33.6 seconds to play. She hit the free throw to make it a one possession game.
A Rome turnover gave the ball back to the Lady Panthers who threw the ball in with 8.1 seconds. A three-point attempt by Lauryn Bell glanced off the rim into the hands of Pryia Thompson who could not get off a shot as time as running out.
Lee finished with 11 points along with 10 each from Kimbrough and Christmas (all in the second half).
No. 2 Kell ended Lithonia’s first playoff trip in 18 years with a 58-26 win and Columbia (15-10) fell 40-22 to No. 3 Carrollton.
In other girls’ games No. 4 North Forsyth eliminated Lakeside (11-13) 68-46 in Class 7A, Brunswick defeated Stephenson 53-46 in Class 6A and No. 3 Spalding held on against Druid Hills (14-15) 60-53.
Boys Tournament
Two DeKalb boys’ teams went on the road on Friday with the Stephenson Jaguars (18-10) winning 55-41 at Glynn Academy in Class 6A play to advance against tomorrow’s Lanier/Sprayberry winner.
The Miller Grove Wolverines lost a 92-91 heartbreak to No. 5 Kell after leading 40-27 at the half. Miller Grove fell behind late, but sent the game into overtime after trailing 85-82 late in the fourth quarter. Kell led 92-91 with 24 seconds to play with the ball in the hands of the Wolverines, but Miller Grove (19-11) failed to get a score.
Six DeKalb boys’ teams are in action on Saturday with three playing at home. Tucker (5:00 pm), Columbia (5:00 pm) and Southwest DeKalb (5:00 pm) all play at home. Lithonia goes on the road to Hiram at 4:00 pm along with Druid Hills at Upson Lee (7:00 pm) and Cedar Grove at Dawson County (7:00 pm).
DCSD STATE BASKETBALL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
Girls
Thursday, Feb. 13
Class 3A
Cedar Grove (19-5) 45, Dawson Co. (14-12) 39
Friday, Feb. 14
Class 7A
No. 4 North Forsyth (26-2) 68, Lakeside (11-13) 46
Class 6A
Brunswick (18-9) 53, Stephenson (19-10) 46
Class 5A
Rome (20-9) 59, No. 4 SW DeKalb (21-7) 56
Arabia Mountain (23-5) 64, Villa Rica (22-7) 51
No. 3 Carrollton (19-10) 40, Columbia (15-10) 22
No. 2 Kell (29-0) 58, Lithonia (9-17) 26
Class 4A
No. 3 Spalding (22-4) 60, Druid Hills (14-15) 53
Class 3A
No. 4 Greater Atlanta Christian (16-12) 76, Stone Mountain (10-16) 31
BOYS
Class 6A
Stephenson (18-10) 55, Glynn Academy (9-20) 41
Class 5A
No. 5 Kell (24-5) 92, Miller Grove (19-11) 91 (OT)
BOYS
Saturday, Feb. 15
Class 6A
Effingham Co. (17-9) at No. 1 Tucker (24-3), 5:00 pm
Class 5A
Paulding Co. (16-12) at SW DeKalb (16-12), 5:00 pm
Cass (16-12) at Columbia (16-11), 5.00 pm
No. 3 Lithonia (24-3) at No. 4 Hiram (22-6), 4:00 pm
Class 4A
Druid Hills (13-15) at Upson-Lee (19-7), 7:00 pm
Class 3A
Cedar Grove (6-18) at No. 2 Dawson Co. (25-2), 7:00 pm