Trailing 39-37 with 1:27 to play in the third quarter, the No. 2 ranked Columbia Eagles turned up the defense to go on a 13-0 run on the way to a 63-50 Class 2A first round boys’ state playoff game against the No. 10 ranked Drew Charter Eagles at Columbia on Wednesday night.

Columbia (28-1) forced 10 turnovers (13 overall in the second half) in the final 9:27 of the game after Jaiden Haynes hit a three-pointer to put Drew (20-8) up 39-37.

The first turnover turned into free throws for Jamarcus Hatcher and then with 5 seconds left in the third quarter another turnover was made into a slam dunk by Terrell Wright on an assist from Trevian Callaway that brought the crowd into the game heading into the fourth quarter.

Columbia completely took control of the game opening the fourth quarter on a three-point play by Hatcher that started a 9-0 run to open the final period.

A Drew turnover on a shot clock violation turned into a layup by Callaway assisted by Kevin Bruce. Bruce then drove the lane for a basket on the next possession and Rashad Headges got a stick back underneath to make it 50-39 with 5:45 to play. The run forced a Drew timeout, but the momentum was all on Columbia’s side with the crowd into the game.

Haynes finally broke an almost four minute drought to make it 50-41. A couple of trips up and down the floor produced nothing until Headges got the ball inside to Wright for another rim rattling dunk. The crowd had Drew rattled and they turned the ball over as Callaway made a steal and took it the length of the floor for a layup to make it 54-41 with 3:43 remaining.

Another three by Haynes made it a 10 points game only to have Columbia answer with a Hatcher layup and some string music from three-point land by Bruce to push the lead back out to 59-44 with 2:12 to play.

Haynes and Kenneth Scott hit three-pointers for the final scoring for Drew. Wright finished out the game with a layup on an assist from Callaway and then ended the game with his third dunk in an eight minute span for the final of 63-50.

Wright finished the night with 18 points, 8 rebounds and 6 blocks to lead the Eagles. Headges added 11 points and6 rebounds and Jadan Baugh contributed 10 points and four rebounds.

Drew was led by Jaiden Haynes with 16 points and Cedric Taylor with 13 points and 11 rebounds.

Columbia plays Union County, a winner over Murray County, on Friday at 7:00 pm if approved.

Class 2A Girls
North Cobb Christian 48, Columbia 39
A poor night shooting the basketball came back to haunt the Columbia Lady Eagles as they dropped a 48-39 decision to North Cobb Christian in a Class 2A girls’ first round state playoff game to open the night at Columbia

North Cobb (16-11) took an 18-16 lead into the half and would never trail in the final two quarters as Columbia (20-8) would go 7 for 23 from the field in the second half while North Cobb went 9 for 20, including four three-pointers.

Gaby LoPresti would hit three of them, two in the third quarter, including one with 17 seconds left in the period to give North Cobb a boost as Columbia was trying to get back into the game.

Columbia had gotten a three and a layup on a drive from Takirah Jones to trim the lead to 31-28 with 40 seconds left in the third quarter before LoPresti hit her trey.

LoPresti scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter for North Cobb, including her third three of the half, as her squad continued to keep the home team at bay.

She would hit a layup and Brooke Moore added two free throws as the lead ballooned to 43-33 while Columbia was going 0-10 from the field until Jakiah Slaughter hit a basket with 1:48 to play.

North Cobb went 5 of 9 from the free-throw line in the final 50 seconds to seal the win.

Nia Anderson finished with 11 points to lead Columbia while Tekirah Jones added 9 points and Keamaura Robinson chipped in 5 points and 11 rebounds.

LoPresti finished with 16 points to lead North Cobb followed by Brook Moore with 14 points and 12 rebounds and Selena Wilson with 13 points.

Class 3A Boys
Cedar Grove 73, Lafayette 53
Four Cedar Grove players hit double figures on the way to a 73-53 first round win in the Class 3A boys’ state playoffs over Lafayette at Cedar Grove on Wednesday.

The No. 7 ranked Saints (17-9) came alive in the third quarter to pull away from Lafayette (16-9) behind the play of Jaylen Aside, Jeremiah Hardaway, Darius Reynolds and freshman Manny Green.

Aside led the way with 21 points and 6 assists while Hardaway knocked 17 points and grabbed 6 rebounds. Reynolds came up one blocked short of a triple double with 14 points, 13 rebounds and 9 blocks and Manny Green added 12 points and 7 rebounds.

Cedar Grove moves on to face a road test at No. 4 ranked Monroe Area (24-4) on either Friday or Saturday.

Class 5A Boys
Tucker 65, Northgate 45
The No. 9 ranked Tucker Tigers jumped out to a 39-22 lead at the half on the way to their 65-45 win over Northgate in Class 5A boys’ first round playoff action at Tucker on Wednesday.

Josiah Lawson led the way for Tucker with 22 points on the night. Christopher Whitmore added 15 points and Kharyi Dunn chipped in eight points.

Tucker gets to host the second round against Jones County, a winner over Bradwell, on Saturday at 4:00 pm.

Wednesday, 2/22
GIRLS HOME GAMES
Class 2A
North Cobb Christian (16-11) 48, Columbia (20-8) 39

Wednesday, 2/22
BOYS HOME GAMES
Class 2A
Columbia (28-1) 63, Drew (20-8) 50
North Cobb Christian (21-6) 59, Redan (15-9) 56
Class 3A
Cedar Grove (17-9) 73, Lafayette (16-9) 53
Class 4A
Woodland-Stockbridge (15-14) 55, SW DeKalb (24-3) 45
Class 5A
Tucker (20-6) 65, Northgate (9-18) 45

Wednesday, 2/22
BOYS AWAY GAMES
Class 5A
McIntosh (21-7) 53, Chamblee (8-17) 48
Class 4A
Lovett (20-9) 55, Druid Hills (16-11) 46

Friday, 2/24
Class 5A Girls
Jones Co. (20-8) at Arabia Mountain (25-2), 6:00 pm

Class 5A Boys
Lithonia (18-9) at Eagle’s Landing (26-1), 7:30 pm

Class 3A Boys
Union Co. (19-9) at Columbia (28-1), 7:00 pm

Class 2A Boys
Cedar Grove (17-9) at Monroe Area (24-4), TBA

Saturday, 2/25
Class 5A Boys
Jones Co. (17-12) at Tucker (20-6), 4:00 pm