Columbia’s Kendall Campbell (10) leads a fastbreak following her steal against Providence Christian. Columbia advanced to the Class 2A Sweet 16 with a 62-35 win over the Storm. (Photo by Mark Brock)
The Columbia Lady Eagles and Eagles rolled to a pair of wins to knock the Providence Christian Storm teams out of the Class 2A high school basketball state playoffs at Columbia on Wednesday night.
Keamaura Robinson and her Lady Eagle teammates used a big 14-0 run in the final 3:15 of the first quarter to take control of the game and never looked back. Robinson had nine points in the first four minutes of the opening period.
Providence (17-10) got a three-pointer from Sazy Cantrell at the 3:45 mark to pull the Storm within 11-6 but Columbia (23-5) answered with a three of their own by Nia Anderson to jumpstart the 14-0 run.
Kendall Campbell picked up three points on a layup and a free throw to follow Anderson followed a by a layup by Aalon Turner on an assist from Jakiah Slaughter following steal by Kerselin Anderson to make it 19-6 with 1:19 remaining in the quarter.
Kerselin Anderson, who had two steals and three assists in the run then scored off one of her steals and another layup as the lead ballooned to 23-6. Nia Anderson finished off the quarter with a layup on an assist from Kerselin following a Slaughter steal to send the Lady Eagles into the second quarter u 25-6.
Columbia stretched the run to 20-0 with six quick points to open the second quarter. Nia Anderson scored on a nice outlet from Robinson following a rebound to start the period. Turner and Kerselin Anderson followed with back-to-back steals for layups to make it 31-6 with 6:34 still left in the half.
A Robinson three-pointer, her first of two on the night, and a short jumper by Nia Anderson made it 38-14 at the half as the Lady Eagles continued to pull away. Columbia would lead 51-27 after three quarters.
Columbia’s press contributed a big part of the offense as they forced 34 turnovers in the game.
Four Lady Eagles reached double figures in the game including Robinson with 17 points and 10 rebounds, Nia Anderson with 13-point Kendall Campbell with 11 points and eight rebounds and Kerselin Anderson with 10 points and seven assists.
Providence got a team high of 10 points from Sazy Cantrell.
Columbia moves on to the Sweet 16 to host Fannin County (19-9) which defeated North Cobb Christian 65-37 on Tuesday night to advance.
Columbia’s Quay Wallace (10) pulls up for a jumper as part of his 19 points during the Eagles’ 77-48 Class 2A state playoffs first-round victory. (Photo by Mark Brock)
(B) Columbia 77, Providence 48
Three consecutive three-pointers in the first two minutes of the second quarter helped the Columbia Eagles to blow open the game on the way to the 77-48 first round Class 2A boys’ state playoff win in the nightcap at Columbia.
Matthew Miller hit a three-pointer to open the second quarter to pull Providence (17-11) to within 18-12 only to have the Eagles respond with three consecutive threes of their own. Trevian Callaway sandwiched a Tahmar Mann three with two of his own to push the advantage out to 27-12 with 6:08 left in the half.
Quay Wallce’s put with 40 seconds left in the half sent Columbia into the break with a comfortable 41-23 lead.
The Eagle quartet of Wallace (7 points), Jamarcus Hatcher (6 points), Mann (6 points) and Deonte Hill (7 points) put together a 30-point third quarter for Columbia to salt away the game at 71-37 heading into the fourth quarter.
Five Eagles hit double figures in the game led by Quay Wallace with 19 points and seven rebounds who was joined by Tahmar Mann with 15 points and nine rebounds Jamarcus Hatcher with 14 points and six rebounds, Trevian Callaway with 14 points and Deonte Hill with 13 points. Columbia outrebounded Providence 28-15 in the game.
Jaylon Seymour led the Storm with 13 points and Samuel Thacker added 12.
Columbia (25-3) moves into the Sweet 16 with a road trip to North Cobb Christian (20-6), a 77-56 winner over North Murray in the opening round. The game is scheduled for Saturday at 3:00 pm at North Cobb Christian.
In other Class 2A boys’ playoff action on Wednesday, the Towers Titans (15-11) put up a big fight before falling 67-60 on the road at Athens Academy (21-5) to end the season.
CLASS 5A BOYS
The Tucker Tigers rebounded from a tough loss to Decatur in the finals of the Region 4-5A tournament to defeat the Ware County Gators 63-48 at Tucker on Wednesday night.
Josiah Lawson led four players in double figures for the Tigers (22-5) with 27 points on the night. Joining Lawson in double figures were Khyari Dunn with19 points, Corde Neyland with 17 points and 10 rebounds and Jamar Graham with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Tucker plays host to the Jones County Greyhounds (19-9) on Saturday at 5:00 pm. The Greyhounds come to Tucker in the Sweet 16 round for the second consecutive season following their 57-49 win over McIntosh. Jones County upended Tucker 64-50 a year and advanced to the Class 5A state playoffs semifinals.
In other Class 5A boys’ play on Wednesday, Lithonia (10-17) dropped a 42-41 road game to Statesboro and Martin Luther King Jr. (18-11) fell 56-37 at Statesboro. The Chamblee Lady Bulldogs (16-7) fell 70-24 on the road at Statesboro in the girls’ Class 5A state playoffs.
Southwest DeKalb’s season came to an end in the first round of the Class 4A boys’ state playoffs with a tough 55-45 loss to Central of Carroll after leading at halftime. The Panthers finish 11-16 on the year.
DCSD STATE BASKETBALL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
FIRST ROUND
Wednesday, 2/21/24
5A Girls
Statesboro (22-4) 70, Chamblee (16-7) 24
5A Boys
Tucker (22-5) 63, Ware Co. (16-11) 48
Bradwell Institute (22-6) 42, Lithonia (10-17) 41
Statesboro (21-4) 56, M.L. King (18-11) 37
4A Boys
Central – Carroll (24-5) 55, SW DeKalb (11-16) 45
3A Girls
Hebron Christian (26-2) 89, Cedar Grove (6-15) 12
3A Boys
Hebron Christian (24-3) 55, Cedar Grove (16-9) 45
2A Girls
Columbia (23-5) 62, Providence Christian (17-10) 35
2A Boys
Columbia (24-3) 77, Providence Christian (17-11) 48
Athens Academy (21-5) 67, Towers (15-12) 60
SECOND ROUND
Friday, Feb. 23
Class 5A Girls
Eagle’s Landing (16-14) at Arabia Mountain (25-2), 6:00 pm
Class 4A Girls
SW DeKalb (22-7) at Stockbridge (22-6), 7:00 pm
Class 2A Girls
Fannin Co. (19-9) at Columbia (23-5), 6:00 pm
Saturday, Feb. 24
Class 5A Boys
Jones Co. (19-9) at Tucker (22-5), 5:00 pm
Class 2A Boys
Columbia (24-3) at North Cobb Christian (20-6), 3:00 pm