Cedar Grove’s Emanuel Green (1) shown against Sandy Creek had a 17-point, 12-rebound double-double in the Saints 62-55 win over No. 4 ranked Monroe Area. The Saints host Long Co. in the Elite 8 on Wednesday (March 1) at 6:00 pm. (Photo by Mark Brock)
A big fourth quarter helped the No. 7 ranked Cedar Grove Saints pull away from No. 4 Monroe Area for a 62-55 Class 3A boys’ Sweet 16 victory at Monroe on Saturday.
The two Top 10 ranked teams battled to a 45-45 tie after three quarters of play when the Saints (18-9) took control to outscore the Purple Hurricanes (24-5) 17-10 to advance to the Elite 8.
Cedar Grove went on a 9-2 run to open the fourth quarter to go up 54-47 behind the play of Eric Colson (two fourth-quarter three-pointers) and Manny Green (6 fourth quarter points).
The Saints kept control over the final three minutes to keep Monroe at bay.
Jayden Adside led the Saints with 21 points and 4 assists while Colson contributed 20 points and 5 rebounds. Manny Green put together a double-double of 17 points and 12 rebounds with 2 blocks.
Cedar Grove advances to host Long County (20-11), as the Blue Tide went on the road to defeat Upson-Lee 71-68 to advance. The game is scheduled for Wednesday with the tip-off time set for 6:00 pm.
It is the Saints 12th time to win its first two state playoffs games as they try to reach the semifinals for the first time since the 2016 season.
Class 5A Boys
Jones Co. 64, Tucker 50
The Jones County Greyhounds shot 55 percent from the floor (62 percent in the first half) and outrebounded the Tucker Tigers 32-19 on the way to a 64-50 win in the Class 5A Sweet 16 game at Tucker on Saturday afternoon.
Tucker’s Christopher Whitmore (with ball) races up the court against Jones County. The Tigers lost 64-50 in the Class 5A Sweet 16 state playoff game. (Photo by Mark Brock)
The Greyhounds hit 13-21 from the field in the first half to pull away from a 6-6 tie with 4:55 left in the first quarter. Tucker was down as much as 10 in the second quarter and cut it to six twice on three-pointers by Christopher Whitmore.
Jones opened up a 33-20 lead at the half as Daethan Harris and Kaden Douglas both hit a three-pointer in the final 41 seconds of the half.
Jalen Sanford opened the second half with a three for Jones County (18-12) and the Grey Hounds first five shots made in an 8-14 shooting performance in the period were three-pointers, two by Douglas, as they stretched the lead to 54-34 after three quarters of play.
Tucker scored the last eight points of the game to close the final gap to 14 and trailed by 22 with 2:20 to play.
Josiah Lawson finished with 15 points and Whitmore finished with 12. Jaylen Sanford had a game-high 18 points to go with 8 rebounds to lead Jones County. Kaden Douglas finished with 17 points, including five three-pointers, and Harris added 14 points.
OTHER THIRD ROUND GAMES SET
The Arabia Mountain Lady Rams (26-2), one of two unranked teams in the Elite 8, go on the road to take on No 8 ranked Calhoun (24-4) in the Class 5A girls’ third round state playoff on Tuesday at 6:00 pm.
Arabia Mountain defeated Jones County 52-36 to move into the Elite 8 while Calhoun won 68-62 over Cambridge to move into the quarterfinals. It is Arabia Mountain’s third appearance in the Elite 8 in school history, the last coming in 2020.
In Class 2A boys’ play, the No. 2 ranked Columbia Eagles (29-1) go on the road to take on the No. 6 ranked Windsor Forest Knights (23-6) on Wednesday at 6:00 pm.
The Eagles advanced to the quarterfinals via an 83-49 win over Union County while Windsor Forest knocked off Central Macon 72-50 to advance. Columbia has reached the semifinals 11 of the last 15 seasons.
DCSD BASKETBALL STATE PLAYOFFS RESULTS
SECOND ROUND
Friday, 2/24
Class 5A Girls
Arabia Mountain (26-2) 52, Jones Co. (20-9) 36
Class 5A Boys
Eagle’s Landing (27-1) 64, Lithonia (18-10) 36
Class 2A Boys
Columbia (29-1) 83, Union Co. (19-10) 49
Saturday, 2/25
Class 5A Boys
Jones Co. (18-12) 64, Tucker (20-7) 50
Class 3A Boys
Cedar Grove (18-9) 62, Monroe Area (24-5) 55
DCSD BASKETBALL STATE PLAYOFFS SCHEDULE
THIRD ROUND
Tuesday, 2/28
Class 5A Girls
Arabia Mountain (26-2) at Calhoun (24-4), 6:00 pm
Wednesday, 3/1
Class 2A Boys
Columbia (29-1) vs. Windsor-Forest (23-6), 6:00 pm
Class 3A Boys
Long Co. (20-11) at Cedar Grove (18-9), 6:00 pm