Southwest DeKalb junior guard Janiya McCoy came off the bench in the fourth quarter to spark the Lady Panthers in a 71-68 come-from-behind Class 5A girls’ first round state playoff game at home on Tuesday night. (Photo by Mark Brock)
Janiya McCoy came off the bench in the fourth quarter to spark the Southwest DeKalb Lady Panthers to a come-from-behind 71-68 Class 4A girls’ state playoff win over the Northwest Whitfield Bruins at Southwest DeKalb on Tuesday night.
The No. 7 ranked Panthers trailed by as much as 12 points (50-38) in the third quarter but went on an 8-2 run in the final 1:08 of the period sparked by a Saniya Rice three-pointer to get things going. Ryan Chaney got a layup with four seconds left in the quarter on a nice assist from Camille Files to close the gap to 52-46 with a quarter to play.
McCoy then came off the bench to start the fourth quarter and quickly turned things in favor of the Panthers with a quick drive to the basket and then two free throws following a drive and foul to close the margin to 52-50 with 7:27 to play.
Files tied the game with 6:33 to play as McCoy made a steal and passed ahead to Jah’Naesia Spiers who completed the play with the assist to Files for the layup.
Kennedy Baker drove in to put the Bruins (16-12) back ahead briefly before McCoy hit a floater to tie the game again at 54-54 with 5:30 to play.
Southwest took the lead at the 5:15 mark as McCoy passed to files for a jumper on the left wing that hit the bottom of the net to make it 56-54
Baker, who had 14 points in the fourth quarter, tied the game again on another drive down the court for a layup with 4:47 remaining in the game. McCoy answered with a three from the left corner to put the Panthers back up 59-56 at the 4:25 mark.
Northwest tied the game once again as Baker hit one of two free throws, missing the second, only to have Northwest’s Miah Triana come up the rebound and pass back to Baker for the tying basket.
Files put the Panthers back ahead on a layup and Mariya Shields got a put back on a miss to make it 63-59 with 3:10 to play.
Baker hit three of four free throws and another basket to put the Bruins back ahead 64-63 with 2:21 to play. McCoy fouled out on the last foul against Baker finished the quarter with nine points, two assists and two steals. The lead changed twice over the next 44 seconds on two free throws by Files and then another basket by Baker to make it 66-65.
Southwest DeKalb forward Ryan Chaney (with ball) looks to pass the Lady Panthers break the press during their second half rally in the 71-68 playoff win. (Photo by Mark Brock)
Spiers sank a three from the left wing to retake the lead at 68-66 only to have Lindsey Harris tie the game at 68 on a layup with 1:02 to play.
Files put the Panthers up 69-68 with 54.9 seconds left and then following a turnover by Northwest, Canty hit one-of-two from the line to make it 70-68 with 13.9 seconds to play.
Northwest, which hit nine three-pointers in the first three quarters of the game, got a three-point attempt but a long arm in the shooter’s face by Shields forced a long shot and Spires rebounded.
The teams traded turnovers and Files was fouled with 0.7 seconds to play and again hit one-of two from the line to make it 71-68. Northwest threw a long pass out of bounds and the Panthers held on for the win.
Camille Files finished the night with 16 points to lead the Panthers followed by Jah’Naesia Spiers with 13 points and eight rebounds and McCoy with 11 points and four rebounds. Kennedy Baker finished with a game-high 31 points and Sloan Pender added 11 points for the Bruins.
The win gives the Panthers a 4-0 record against Northwest Whitfield, including a win in the 2010 Class 4A state championship.
Southwest DeKalb must go on the road to No. 1 seed Stockbridge (22-6) who defeated Cherokee Bluff 73-49 on Tuesday. The two teams met in the regular season with Stockbridge pulling out a 60-57 win back on December 30.
In other Class 4A girls’ play, the Stephenson Lady Jaguar (15-11) had their season ended in a 61-40 road loss to Heritage-Catoosa.
Arabia Mountain freshman guard Shanya Heath (5) makes a play against Tucker earlier this season. She came up big with 22 points in the Rams 62-42 home playoff win over Jenkins. (Photo by Mark Brock)
CLASS 5A GIRLS
The Arabia Mountain Lady Rams cruised to a 62-42 home win over Jenkins (9-17) behind superb play from the freshman duo of Shanya Heath and Charaine Owns.
Heath, who scored 21 points in the first half of the Rams 6-4A championship win over Decatur, finished the night against Jenkins with 22 points (4 three-pointers), eight rebounds and five assists. Owens was just behind with 19 points (4 three-pointers), five rebounds and five assists.
The Rams (25-2) will host Eagle’s Landing (16-14), 76-66 road winner over Northside-Columbus on Tuesday night.
In other Class 5A girls’ action, the Lithonia Lady Bulldogs (6-20) dropped a first round road game 54-19 to Ware County (21-6) to wrap up their season.
CLASS 2A GIRLS
The McNair Lady Mustangs first playoff appearance in 24 years was unfortunately short-lived as they fell 73-17 on the road at Banks County (24-4). McNair finished the season 14-150.
WEDNESDAY TOURNAMENT GAMES
DeKalb has 10 teams in action on Wednesday with three teams hosting games and seven going on the road to try to advance to the Sweet 16.
The Tucker Tigers (21-5) play host to the Ware County Gators (16-10) at 6:00 pm while Lithonia (9-16) and Martin Luther King Jr. (18-10) face road games at Bradwell Institute (21-6) at 5:30 pm and Statesboro (20-4) at 7:00 pm, respectively, in Class 5A boys’ state tournament action.
In Class 5A girls’ play, the Chamblee Lady Bulldogs (16-6) head to Statesboro (21-4) for a 5:30 pm game.
The Southwest DeKalb Panthers (11-15) trek to Central-Carrollton (23-5) in their Class 4A boys’ opener coming off a big win over Hapeville to garner the No. 3 seed out of Region 6-4A.
The Cedar Grove Saints (16-8) and Lady Saints (6-14) get on the bus to face the Hebron Christian Lions (25-2) and Lady Lions (23-3). The girls’ open at 5:30 pm with the guys’ following at 7:00 pm.
Three games are on tap in Class 2A for DeKalb teams as Columbia tops the night with a doubleheader against Providence Christian. The Lady Eagles (22-5) host Providence Christian (17-9) at 6:00 pm in the girls’ game and the Eagles (23-3) host Providence Christin (17-10) in the boys’ contest at 7:30 pm.
The Towers Titans (15-11) travel to face Athens Academy (21-5) at 6:30 pm in a Class 2A boys’ tilt.
DCSD STATE BASKETBALL PLAYOFF RESULTS
FIRST ROUND
Tuesday, 2/20/24
6A Girls
Veterans (22-6) 63, Lakeside (18-8) 41
5A Girls
Arabia Mountain (25-2) 62, Jenkins (9-17) 42
Ware Co. (21-6) 54, Lithonia (6-20) 19
4A Girls
SW DeKalb (22-7) 71, NW Whitfield (16-12) 68
Heritage Catoosa (21-7) 61, Stephenson (15-11) 41
2A Girls
Banks Co. (24-4) 73, McNair (14-15) 17
DCSD STATE BASKETBALL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
FIRST ROUND
Wednesday, 2/21/24
5A Girls
Chamblee (16-6) at Statesboro (21-4), 5:30 PM
5A Boys
Ware Co. (16-10) at Tucker (21-5), 6:00 pm
Lithonia (9-16) at Bradwell Institute (21-6), 5:30 pm
M.L. King (18-10) at Statesboro (20-4), 7:00 pm
4A Boys
SW DeKalb (11-15) at Central – Carroll (23-5), 7:00 pm,
3A Girls
Cedar Grove (6-14) at Hebron Christian (25-2), 5:30 pm
3A Boys
Cedar Grove (16-8) at Hebron Christian (23-3), 7:00 pm
2A Girls
Providence Christian (17-9) at Columbia (22-5), 6:00 pm
2A Boys
Providence Christian (17-10) at Columbia (23-3), 7:30 pm
Towers (15-11) at Athens Academy (21-5), 6:30 pm
SECOND ROUND
Friday, Feb. 23
Class 5A Girls
Eagle’s Landing (16-14) at Arabia Mountain (25-2), 6:00 pm
Class 5A Girls
SW DeKalb (22-7) at Stockbridge (22-6), TBA