The Stephenson Lady Jaguars and Southwest DeKalb Panthers knocked off higher seeds in the Region 6-4A consolation games to head into the Class 4A high school state basketball playoffs as No. 3 seeds next week.

Stephenson (15-11) opened the night at Holy Innocent’s by limiting the No. 3 seeded Westminster Wildcats (18-8) to just four points in the fourth quarter on the way to a 58-48 victory.

The final 2:33 of the third quarter featured four lead changes and two ties with Stephenson’s Raven Robertson driving to the basket with 10 seconds left to knot the game at 44-44 going into the fourth quarter.

Stephenson opened the final quarter of play with a 9-0 run fueled by Kiera Brooks and a swarming defense that would cause six turnovers in the quarter. Following an offensive put-back by Sarah Okorowanta to give Stephenson the lead for good, Brooks would score the next six points as the lead ballooned to 53-44 with 4:35 to play.

Westminster managed two free throws and one basket in the final period and Kamryn Larkin and Brooks hit two free throws each in the final 28 seconds to seal the win.

Larkin finished with 18 points and five rebounds to lead the Lady Jaguars and Brooks notched 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Okorowanta finished the game with only six points but was big on the boards with 14 rebounds. Westminster was led by Stella Chartrand with 22 points and nine rebounds.

(B) SW DeKalb 73, Hapeville Charter 47
The Southwest DeKalb Panthers limited the Hapeville Charter Hornets to just 13 total baskets over four quarters on the way to a 73-47 win on the way to securing the No. 3 seed in the boys’ consolation game at Holy Innocent’s.

Hapeville hit eight of their 13 baskets in the first quarter including a three-pointer by Jonathan Goldson to pull them within 22-18 at the buzzer.

Southwest DeKalb’s defense tightened up in the second quarter limiting the Hornets (14-14) to just three points (one basket, one free throw) and extending the lead to 33-21 at the half. The 11-3 advantage was punctuated by a steal and dunk by Aaron Burks with 21 seconds left in the half.

A 22-point third quarter by the Panthers (12-15) all but ended the game as Jackson Ushery hit four three-pointers and was four of five from the free-throw line for 16 points in the quarter as the lead was doubled to 22 at 55-33 heading into the final quarter of play.

Hapeville was 12 for 29 at the free-throw line in the second half to go with only four baskets. The Hornets had won both regular season games by a total of 12 points but struggled mightily against an inspired Panther’s defense.

Ushery finished with a game-high 23 points to lead the Panthers with Messiah Mergan adding nine points and six rebounds and Azeez Bello with eight points and seven rebounds. Goldson had 17 points to lead Hapeville and was joined in double figures by Thad Buttune with 15 points.

GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP
Holy Innocent’s locked up the Region 6-4A No. 1 seed with a 73-44 win over the Southwest DeKalb Lady Panthers on Saturday afternoon.

The Lady Bears’ duo of Zaynah Preston (12 points) and Hailey Swain (10 points) gave Holy Innocent’s (22-6) the momentum after two Jah’Naesia Spiers baskets had given Southwest DeKalb an early 4-2 lead. The pair would push the Bears out to a 25-12 lead by the end of the quarter.

The Lady Panthers pulled within 10 (29-19) with 2:34 remaining but would get no closer as Preston would score seven points to go with a basket by Elana McMasters to close out a 9-2 run to end the half up 39-21.

Preston finished the night with 28 points and eight rebounds and Swain added 25 points and seven rebounds. Spiers led Southwest DeKalb (21-7) with 18 points and seven rebounds.

REGION 6-4A at Holy Innocents
CONSOLATION
(G) Stephenson (15-11) 58, Westminster (18-8) 48
(B) SW DeKalb (12-15) 73, Hapeville (14-14) 47
FINALS
(G) Holy Innocent’s (22-6) 73, SW DeKalb (21-7) 44