Arabia Mountain’s Sha’nya Heath (5) drives past Eagle’s Landing’s Mahogany Brown (2) with the help of a pick by teammate Angelina Billingsley (21). Heath hit for 33 points in the game to lead the Rams to a 58-46 win. (Photo by Mark Brock)
Freshman guard Sha’nya Heath torched the Eagle’s Landing defense for 33 points to lead the Arabia Mountain Lady Rams to a 58-46 Class 5A girls’ high school basketball state playoff victory at Arabia Mountain on Friday night.
Heath hit a three-pointer with 4:11 left in the first quarter to give Arabia Mountain (26-2) the lead for good at 7-4 and followed with a three at the buzzer to make it 14-10 at the end of the period.
The Lady Rams led by as much as nine late in the first half, but Eagle’s Landing’s Indigo Brown drove to the basket late to trim the lead to seven (26-19) at the half.
Eagle’s Landing came out in a box-and-one defense on Heath in the second half and Jordan Green cut the lead to five (26-21) to open the second half.
Lauren Chavis answered the call with Heath being hounded all over the court with a short jumper and an old fashioned three-point play around a fall away jumper by Jhia Primrose to build the lead to 12 (33-21) with 3:25 remaining in the quarter.
Arabia Mountain took a 42-25 lead into the fourth quarter by scoring five points in the final 24 seconds of the period on three-pointer by Heath and a steal and layup by Charmaine Owen.
Heath opened the fourth quarter with two quick baskets. The first came off a rebound and drive followed by another drive into the lane to make it 46-25.
Arabia Mountain’s Taleah Thomas (10) pulls down a rebound in first half action of the Rams’ 58-46 playoff win. (Photo by Mark Brock)
Eagle’s Landing (16-15) got some key rebounds and a couple of turnovers as the Eagles tried to make it a game. Heath answered twice with three-pointers and the Rams were up 52-34 with 2:37 to play.
The Eagles went on an 8-0 run to close within 52-42 only to have the Rams quickly answer with an Owen floater on the baseline sandwiched by Heath going to the line and hitting two free throws twice.
Nineteen (14 in the fourth quarter) of Heath’s 33 points came in the second half despite Eagle’s Landing trying to deny her the ball. She finished with the game-high 33. Lauren Chavis hit for nine points, Owens had seven points and six rebounds and Jhia Primrose finished with six points to go with 10 rebounds.
Arabia Mountain is set to host the Dalton Lady Catamounts (20-9), a 70-60 winner over Creekside on Friday, on Tuesday. It is the second time in four seasons for Coach Jerry Jackson’s Lady Rams to reach the Elite Eight of the state playoffs.
Class 2A Girls
The Columbia Lady Eagles jumped out to a 35-11 lead at the half on the way to 69-35 Class 2A girls’ Sweet 16 state playoff victory over the Fannin County Lady Rebels (19-10) at Columbia on Tuesday night.
Columbia led 50-29 at the end of third period on the way to Coach Eric Bell’s 162nd win (162-111). Bell, in his eighth season eclipsed the 150 milestone in a win over Redan on January 13.
The Lady Eagles moved into the Elite Eight for the third time under Bell and for the first time since reaching the third round of the playoffs in 2021.
Columbia is set to host Central Macon (25-4), a 51-24 winner over Sumter County on Friday, next Tuesday.
Class 5A Girls
The Southwest DeKalb Lady Panthers had their season come to an end in a heartbreaking 63-61 road loss to the Stockbridge Lady Tigers in the second round of the Class 5A girls’ state playoffs on Friday.
Southwest DeKalb (22-8) led for most of the first and took a 38-35 lead into the half. Stockbridge (23-6) grabbed a 50-49 edge heading into the fourth quarter and was able to pull out the two-point victory.
Boys’ State Playoffs
Two DeKalb boys’ basketball teams hit the hardcourts tomorrow (Saturday) with eyes on moving into the Elite Eight.
Columbia (26-3) goes on the road to North Cobb Christian (20-6) for a 3:00 pm tipoff in Kennesaw.
The Tucker Tigers (22-5) plays host to Jones County (19-9) in the second round of the Class 5A boys’ state playoffs at 5:00 pm. Jones County knocked the Tigers out of the 2023 state playoffs a year ago.
DCSD BASKETBALL STATE PLAYOFFS RESULTS
SECOND ROUND
Friday, Feb. 23
Class 5A Girls
Arabia Mountain (27-2) 58, Eagle’s Landing (16-15) 46
Class 4A Girls
Stockbridge (23-6) 63, SW DeKalb (22-8) 61
Class 2A Girls
Columbia (24-5) 69, Fannin Co. (19-10) 35
Saturday, Feb. 24
Class 5A Boys
Jones Co. (19-9) at Tucker (22-5), 5:00 pm
Class 2A Boys
Columbia (26-3) at North Cobb Christian (20-6), 3:00 pm
DCSD BASKETBALL STATE PLAYOFFS SCHEDULE
THIRD ROUND
Tuesday, Feb. 27
Class 5A Girls
Dalton (20-9) at Arabia Mountain (27-2), TBA
Class 2A Girls
Central Macon (25-4) at Columbia (24-5), TBA