Arabia Mountain’s Lauryn Lynn (21) goes in for a layup in front of Heritage’s Lauren Mock (20) during Arabia’s 71-36 Class 4A first round girls’ state playoff win. (Photo by Mark Brock)
DeKalb picked up two convincing first round girls’ state playoff victories by home teams Arabia Mountain and Southwest DeKalb on Tuesday night.
The No. 7 ranked Arabia Mountain Rams (15-2) shook off the long layoff rust quickly in streaking past the Heritage-Catoosa Lady Generals (17-9) 71-36 in Class 4A girls’ state tournament action at Arabia Mountain.
Arabia Mountain used a 12-2 run in the final 4:05 of the first quarter to take control of the game by forcing eight turnovers in the period.
Sydney Bunkley took a pass from Myori Pruitt to drain a three-pointer to kick start the run. A free-throw by Pruitt, two by Lauryn Lynn and a drive by Bunkley extended the lead to 14-4 with 1:32 remaining.
Dayonna Perryman put in the only basket for Heritage with 1:08 to play. Lynn added another free throw on a 1-2 trip to the line and Sierra Burns finished off the quarter with a three-point play to make it 18-6.
Four points each by Burns and Bunkley in the second quarter along with a Malaya Jones three-pointer sent the Rams into the half up 33-17.
A three by Jones and an offensive put back by Mikayla Jamison made it a 21-point margin for Arabia just 17 seconds into the second half. Jones scored five points (layup and three pointer) in a 9-0 run to push the Rams out in front by 27 (51-24). They took a 56-29 lead into the fourth quarter.
Arabia opened the final period with an 11-0 run to cruise on to the 71-36 win.
Sydney Bunkley hit for 18 points and grabbed 7 rebounds to lead Arabia Mountain followed by Sierra Burns with 14 points and 6 rebounds and 13 points by Malaya Jones.
Gracie Murray led Heritage with nine points.
Arabia Mountain travels to No. 3 ranked Jefferson in the second round of the state playoffs. A day and time have yet to be set.
The other two DeKalb entries in the Class 4A girls’ state playoffs fell on Tuesday as both Druid Hills and Stephenson lost road contests in the opening round.
Stephenson (5-14) dropped a three-point heartbreaker 62-49 to Pickens (21-4) while Druid Hills (11-15) had trouble scoring in a 41-22 loss at Northwest Whitfield (14-10).
Class 5A
(G) SW DeKalb 77, Walnut Grove 3
Southwest DeKalb held Walnut Grove to just 1 for 28 from the field and forced numerous turnovers on the way to the 77-3 victory at Southwest DeKalb.
The No. 4 ranked Lady Panthers (19-6) led 25-3 as Walnut Grove (14-13) hit its only shot of the game, a three-pointer, in the first quarter. Southwest was up 51-3 at the half.
Southwest DeKalb plays host to No. 6 ranked Cass (25-1), an 83-57 winner over Grady, at 6:00 pm on Friday in a battle of Top 10 ranked teams.
In other Class 5A girls’ action the Martin Luther King Jr. Lady Lions (16-6) were outgunned in a 81-41 loss to Greenbrier (22-3). Greenbrier got 45 points from the three-point line hitting 15 on the night.
Class 3A
(G) Stephens Co. 67, Redan 49
The Redan Lady Raiders (10-9) had their season come to an end at No. 9 ranked Stephens County (18-6) on Tuesday night.
Kawasiki Ricks (11), shown here vs. Washington, hit 8-8 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter to help the No. 4 Columbia Eagles to a 74-67 Class 2A boys’ state playoff road win over No. 10 Chattooga on Tuesday (Feb. 23). (Photo by Mark Brock)
Class 2A
(B) Columbia 74, Chattooga 67
Kawasiki Ricks hit 8 of 8 from the free-throw line in the final minutes to seal the 74-67 win by the Columbia Eagles on the road against the Chattooga Indians.
The No. 4 ranked Eagles (18-6) led by as much as 15 points in the game and was up 38-28 at the half. The No. 10 ranked Indians (17-5) scored 26 points in the third quarter to take a brief 54-51 lead.
Julius Coleman drained a three-pointer for the Eagles to send the two Top 10 ranked teams into the fourth quarter knotted at 54-54.
Freshman Jaden Baugh scored to start the fourth quarter to give the Eagles a 56-54 lead and Chattooga answered right back on a basket by Lamar Riley to square up the game at 56-56.
Mason Lockhart got inside for a layup to make it 58-56 and the Eagles never trailed again. Ricks was fouled on the next trip up the floor and hit all both free free throws to make it 60-56 and Baugh scored again to make it 62-56
Riley cut the score to 62-59, but a free throw by Baugh and three by Coleman after being fouled on a three-point attempt made it 66-59.
After a made three-pointer by the Indians Ricks converted four consecutive free throws to make it a 70-62 advantage for the Eagles.
Ricks hit four more in the final minute to close out the 74-67 win.
Columbia moves into the second round and faces the winner of Callaway and Union County this weekend.
DCSD BASKETBALL STATE PLAYOFF RESULTS
Tuesday, Feb. 23
Class 2A Boys
Columbia (18-6) 74, Chattooga (17-4) 67
Class 3A Girls
Stephens Co. (18-6) 67, Redan (10-9) 49
Class 4A Girls
Arabia Mountain (15-2) 71, Heritage-Catoosa (17-9) 36
Northwest Whitfield (14-10) 41, Druid Hills (11-15) 22
Pickens (21-4) 62, Stephenson (5-14) 59
Class 5A Girls
Southwest DeKalb (19-6) 77, Walnut Grove (14-13) 3
Greenbrier (22-3) 81, M.L. King Jr. (16-6) 41
DCSD BASKETBALL STATE PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
Wednesday, Feb. 24
Class 2A Girls
Gordon Central (8-12) at Columbia (15-7), 6:00 pm
Class 6A Girls
Lakeside (10-9) at Lee Co. (10-10), 6:00 pm
Class 4A Boys
Central-Carrollton (18-10) at Miller Grove (14-4), 6:00 pm
Pickens (14-12) at Stephenson (10-5), 6:00 pm
Class 5A Boys
Greenbrier (16-10) at Lithonia (16-3), 6:00 pm
M.L. King Jr. (11-9) at Clarke Central (18-6)
Class 6A Boys
Tucker (14-6) at Valdosta (19-5), 7:30 pm
DCSD STATE PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
SWEET 16 ROUND
Friday, Feb. 26
Class 5A Girls
Cass (25-1) at SW DeKalb (19-6), 6:00 pm
Class 4A Girls
Arabia Mountain (15-2) at Jefferson (22-4), 6:00 pm