The final night of Region Tournament Week finished up at Decatur in Region 5-5A on Saturday to set up the final seeding for the GHSA High School Basketball State Tournament that begins on Tuesday with 14 DeKalb County teams clinching berths.

The Southwest DeKalb Lady Panthers joined Druid Hills (6-4A Boys), Columbia (6-2A girls) and Tucker (4-6A boys) as 2022 region champs with a come-back 39-35 come-back win over the hosts Decatur Lady Bulldogs in 5-5A girls’ final on Saturday.

Southwest (19-9) trailed Decatur 29-15 at the half before rallying with tough defense holding the Lady Bulldogs (14-9) scoreless in the third quarter to know the game at 29-29 heading into the fourth quarter.

The swarming defense by the Lady Panthers made a difference in the final three minutes to give them the lead in going for the win. Southwest inbounded the ball with 33 seconds and the game tied at 35. Freshman Camille Files found fellow freshman Aalon Turner open on the block for the easy pass and basket for the lead with 24 seconds to play.

Decatur inbounded the ball quickly only to have Southwest freshman Janiya McCoy steal the ball and drive for a layup to make the final score of 39-35.

Southwest DeKalb came away with the No. 1 seed to host Region 7 No. 4 seed Blessed Trinity Lady Titans (13-14) at 6:30 pm on Tuesday in the opening round of the Class 5A state playoffs.

In the boys’ final, the Lithonia Bulldogs (20-8) came up short of the region title in a 62-46 loss to St. Pius X (25-3). Caleb Taylor scored 20 points in the loss to complete an excellent Region 5-5A performance for the Bulldog. Lithonia still earned a home date on Wednesday in the opening round of the Class 5A state playoffs and host the No. 3 seed Cartersville Hurricanes (12-12) at 6:30 pm.

The consolation games did not go well for the Southwest DeKalb Panthers (20-8), a 56-40 loss to Decatur, in the boys’ game and a 66-40 loss by the Stone Mountain Lady Pirates (13-13) to St. Pius. The pair will play a playoff double header on the road at Hiram on Wednesday. Stone Mountain and 5-5A Player of the Year Tamia Boone open with a 6:00 pm start with Southwest DeKalb following at 7:30 pm.

CLASS 2A
The Columbia Eagles and Lady Eagles have scheduled a Class 2A doubleheader for Tuesday as they open their quests in the state playoffs. The Lady Eagles (21-6) entertain Union County (12-13), the Region 8 No. 4 seed in the 6:00 pm opener. The Eagles (24-4) and 6-2A Co-Player of the Year Mason Lockhart follow as Banks County (8-19), the Region 8 No. 3 seed, invades Columbia for the boys’ game.

CLASS 3A
Three DeKalb teams all go on the road to open the Class 3A against teams from Region 7. Both the Redan Raiders (12-12) and Cedar Grove Lady Saints (13-9) go on the road on Tuesday for their opening round games. Redan travels to No. 1 seed North Hall (23-4) for a 7:00 pm game and the Lady Saints, the No. 3 seed, takes on No. 2 seed East Forsyth (19-8) at 6:30 pm.

The Redan Lady Raiders (17-10), the Region 5-3A No. 4 seed, goes to Dahlonega to take on Region 7 No. 1 seed Lumpkin County (25-1) at 7:00 pm.

CLASS 4A
Three DeKalb teams enter the Class 4A state playoffs against Region 8 foes as both girls’ teams go into action on Tuesday.

The No. 3 seed Arabia Mountain Lady Rams (19-6) and 6-4A Player of the Year Malaya Jones, travels to No. 2 seed Chestatee (20-8) on Tuesday for a 6:00 pm tipoff.

Stephenson (14-10) under the direction of 500-game winner Dennis Watkins is the No. 2 seed out of Region 6-4A. The Jaguars play host to Cedar Shoals (16-9), the Region 8-4A No. 3 seed, at 6:00 pm.

On the boys’ side the Druid Hills Red Devils (23-4) knocked off Marist for the region title to earn the No. 1 seed and host No. 3 seeded Chestatee (10-17) at 7:00 pm on Wednesday. The Red Devils are led by Region 6-4A Coach of the Year Antoine Stroud and Player of the Year Keshawn Evans.

CLASS 6A
The Tucker Tigers and Lakeside Lady Vikings are playing in the first round of the Class 6A state playoffs this week.

Lakeside (11-12) goes on the road on Tuesday as the No. 4 seed out of Region 4. The Vikings travel to Brunswick to take on the 25-1 Pirates at 6:00 pm.

Tucker (21-4) won the Region 4-6A title by defeating No. 2 ranked Westlake on Friday night to get the No. 1 seed. The Tigers host Bradwell Institute (15-12), the Region 2 No. 4 seed, on Wednesday at 6:00 pm.

DCSD BASKETBALL STATE PLAYOFFS RESULTS
TUESDAY, FEB. 22
CLASS 5-5A
BOYS CONSOLATION
Decatur (14-9) 56, SW DeKalb (20-8) 40
BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP
St. Pius (25-3) 62, Lithonia (20-8) 46
GIRLS CONSOLATION
St. Pius (18-10) 66, Stone Mountain (13-13) 40
GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP
SW DeKalb (19-9) 39, Decatur (14-9) 35

DCSD BASKETBALL FIRST ROUND PLAYOFFS
TUESDAY, FEB. 22
CLASS 2A
GIRLS
Union County (12-13) at Columbia (21-6), 6:00 pm
BOYS
Banks County (8-19) at Columbia (24-4), 7:30 pm

CLASS 3A
GIRLS
Cedar Grove (13-9) at East Forsyth (19-8), 6:30 pm
BOYS
Redan (12-12) at North Hall (23-4), 7:00 pm

CLASS 4A
GIRLS
Arabia Mountain (19-6) at Chestatee (20-8), 6:00 pm
Cedar Shoals (16-9) at Stephenson (14-10), 6:00 pm

CLASS 5A
GIRLS
Blessed Trinity (13-14) at SW DeKalb (19-9), 6:30 pm

CLASS 6A
GIRLS
Lakeside (11-12) at Brunswick (25-1), 6:00 pm

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 23
CLASS 3A
GIRLS
Redan (17-10) at Lumpkin County (25-1), 7:00 pm

CLASS 4A
BOYS
Chestatee (10-17) vs. Druid Hills (23-4), 7:00 pm

CLASS 5A
BOYS
SW DeKalb (20-8) at Hiram (16-9), 7:30 pm
Cartersville (12-12) at Lithonia (20-8), 6:30 pm
GIRLS
Stone Mountain (13-13) at Hiram (16-9), 6:00 pm

CLASS 6A
BOYS
Bradwell Institute (15-12) at Tucker (21-4), 6:00 pm