Lacrosse is growing in DeKalb County and history is being made as the Dunwoody Wildcats, Druid Hills Red Devils and Southwest DeKalb Lady Panthers head into the playoffs this week.

The Lady Panthers made history as the first all-African American girls’ team to reach the state playoffs with a thrilling 8-7 overtime victory over the Chamblee Lady Bulldogs last week to earn the fourth seed out of Area 1 in the Class 5A-1A state playoffs. Senior Jayla Middlebrooks, a Gardner-Webb lacrosse commit, scored the winning goal that made history once again in DeKalb County.

Southwest DeKalb opens its playoff trek traveling to Wesleyan (13-4) in the opening round of the state playoffs. Middlebrooks leads the team with 51 goals while adding 38 ground balls and is 59 out of 110 in face-offs on the season. Junior Sydney Brown has contributed 34 goals and 36 ground balls.

Another history making team is the Druid Hills Red Devils who has reached the state playoffs for the first time in program history as the No. 4 seed out of Area 1. A 16-8 victory over Southwest DeKalb last week propelled the Red Devils into the state playoffs.

Druid Hills (11-4) travels to Buford (14-4) on Thursday at 7:30 pm for their inaugural state tournament match. Juniors Brett Erickson and Case Santa-Maria are tied for the team lead in goals with 39 and junior Ethan Hunt has 27 goals and 80 ground balls through 13 games. Fellow junior Tyson Myree has 19 goals and is 130 out of 230 on face-offs this season.

The Dunwoody Wildcats (12-4) also made history becoming the first DeKalb lacrosse team to make back-to-back state playoff appearances coming out of Area 2 (Class 6A-7A).

A trip to Harrison (8-9) comes on Thursday at 8:00 pm as the Wildcats try to pick up a first-ever playoff victory. Junior Connor Brogdon leads the way for Dunwoody with 43 goals followed closely by Zach Rosing with 41. Senior Sean Fox leads the team with 24 assists and freshman Anderson Nail is 190 out of 290 on face-offs along with 80 ground balls. Senior Sam Mahle leads the team in ground balls with 88 on the season.

DCSD LACROSSE PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
Wednesday, May 1
Class 1A-5A Girls
SW DeKalb (7-5) at Wesleyan (13-4), 5:00 pm

Thursday, May 2
Class 6A-7A Boys
Dunwoody (12-4) at Harrison (8-9), 8:00 pm

Class 1A-5A Boys
Druid Hills (11-4) at Buford (14-4), 7:30 pm