The Stephenson Lady Jaguars dropped a first-round Class 3A girls’ high school basketball playoff decision 45-36 to Gilmer on Tuesday night at Stephenson.

Stephenson joined four other DeKalb girls’ squads to fall in first round state playoff action.

Stephenson jumped out to a 9-2 lead in the first four minutes of the game behind the play of Kamryn Larkin. Larkin had a steal on the press and fed Sarah Okorawanta for the layup to open the scoring. She followed with a pass to Avontey Gilreath to make it 4-0 at the 6:56 mark.

Larkin had a steal and length of the court drive for a basket and then passed to Sencere Sims-Turner for an open three-pointer to make it 9-2 with 4:11 to play in the first quarter.

Following a timeout, Gilmer grabbed a 10-9 lead as Jace Sanderson hit a pair of three-pointers to sandwich a basket by Aliza Chastain as the first quarter clock ticked down to 2:57.

Stephenson answered with a three by Wadole Mila to regain the lead at 12-10 only to have the Bobcats (16-11) real off seven unanswered points with Chastain adding a three and a layup in the final 1:35 of the quarter.

Gilmer took the 17-12 lead into the second quarter and stretched the lead to 10 (26-16) at the half as Chastain hit another three-pointer and Chelsey Griggs got one of her four offensive rebounds in the first half for a 26-14 advantage with 4:10 left in the first half.

Stepheson got a basket by Mila late in the quarter as both teams went almost four minutes without a point. Gilmer would never trail again as they went to the half with the 26-16 lead.

The Jaguars (17-12) finished the half hitting just two of eight shots in the second quarter and committed five turnovers. Gilmer’s second chance points coming off eight offensive rebounds proved to be the difference.

Stephenson opened the second half with four quick points on a steal by Sims-Turner and a pass to Okorawanta followed by a rebound and length of the floor drive by Larkin to cut the lead to 26-20 with 4:24 to play in the quarter.

Chastain hit a three-pointer and Sanderson made a short jumper as Gilmer answered to push the lead back over 10 at 31-20. A late turnover by Stephenson set up a three-pointer by Madison Bradshaw with seven seconds left in the third to keep the lead at 11 (36-35) going into the final quarter.

Stephenson cut the lead to 36-30 on a three-pointer and steal for another basket by Larkin. Gilmer answered with a basket by Bradshaw and Okorawanta came right back with an offensive put back for Stephenson to stay within striking distance at 38-32.

Another three by Chastain and a shot clock beater by Bradshaw along with two free throws pushed the lead back up to 45-33 with 1:55 to play.

Mila hit a three-pointer at the end of the game for the final of 45-36.

Kamryn Larkin finished the game with nine points and five assists to lead the Jaguars. Sarah Okorawanta had six points and eight rebounds.

Chastain finished with a game-high 16 points for Gilmer while teammate Bradshaw joined her in double figures with 15. Sanderson added eight points and eight rebounds and Griggs pulled down 12 rebounds.

DeKalb’s other Class 3A entry fell on the road as Heritage-Catoosa (23-6) knocked off the Cedar Grove Saints (11-16) 94-27 in Ringgold.

In other first round playoff action, Southwest DeKalb (19-9) had a 28-22 halftime lead before dropping a hard fought 58-51 road decision to Warner Robins.

Arabia Mountain (18-9) fell 63-44 at Morrow (23-6) in Class 5A girls’ first round play and Miller Grove (13-10) took a 59-41 home loss to Franklin County (16-12) in Class 2A action.

Eight DeKalb teams (6 boys, 2 girls) play on Wednesday as they try to move into the Sweet 16.

DCSD STATE BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS RESULTS
Tuesday, Feb. 18
CLASS 5A
GIRLS FIRST ROUND
Morrow (23-6) 63, Arabia Mountain (18-10) 43

CLASS 4A
Warner Robins (25-1) 58, SW DeKalb (19-10) 51

CLASS 3A
Gilmer (16-11) 45, Stephenson (17-12) 36
Heritage-Catoosa (23-6) 94, Cedar Grove (11-16) 37

CLASS 2A
Franklin Co. (16-12) 59, Miller Grove (13-10) 41

DCSD STATE BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS SCHEDULE
Wednesday, Feb. 19
CLASS 5A
GIRLS FIRST ROUND
Lakeside (14-11) at Langston Hughes (25-2), 6:00 pm

CLASS 2A
Burke Co. (7-13) at Columbia (21-5), 6:00 pm

BOYS FIRST ROUND
CLASS 4A
New Hampstead (13-15) at Tucker (22-6), 5:00 pm
Ware County (19-7) at SW DeKalb (25-3), 6:00 pm

CLASS 3A
Harlem (13-14) at Cedar Grove (24-3), 6:00 pm

CLASS 2A
Miller Grove (8-18) at Butler (16-8), 6:00 pm
Thomson (12-11) at Columbia (22-4), 7:30 pm

CLASS 1A
Towers (16-9) at Vidalia (20-6), 6:00 pm