Four No. 1 seeds were eliminated in the first round of the Class AAAAA playoffs.
The Lithonia and Bainbridge boys and Rome and Jones County girls – who each entered the state playoffs as their No. 4 seeds from their respective regions – rose up to go on the road and defeat the higher-seeded teams and advance to the second round.
The Lithonia effort wasn’t unexpected. The Bulldogs had been the state’s No. 1 team most of the year before losing twice in the uber-competitive Region 5 tournament. Lithonia broke open a close game with a 13-2 run in the second quarter.
No. 6-ranked Lithonia (25-3) got 19 points and 14 rebounds from Franklin Champion and 18 points and seven rebounds from Eric Gaines. No. 9-ranked Hiram (22-7) was led by Jayven Brown with 16 and Jackson Price with 13 points.
The Bainbridge boys (16-13) defeated Riverdale 36-33 in its opener. Riverdale had been the surprise of the playoffs, entering the Region 6 playoffs as the No. 6 seed and going on to win the tournament.
In the girls bracket, No. 4 Southwest DeKalb (21-7) was shocked by Rome, the No. 4 seed from Region 7. Rome (20-9) came away with a 59-56 win over the Panthers, who had won 10 straight games. Rome had a 13-point lead with 4:23 left, but SWD went on an 8-0 run, including a pair of 3-pointers from Aniya Lee, to change the momentum. Southwest had a chance at the tying 3-point, which bounced off the rim, but could not get off another shot at the buzzer.
The other upset wasn’t as seismic. No. 3 Statesboro (22-6) was eliminated 37-34 by Jones County, the No. 4 seed from Region 4. But Jones County (23-5) had been ranked fifth in the state before losing twice in the region tournament.
Jones County caused three turnovers – Statesboro had 22 for the game -- and did not allow Statesboro to score a point over the final 2:42 of the game. The game was the final in the career of Statesboro senior Lacy Robins, who scored 10 points and finished her career with more than 2,000, according to the Statesboro Herald.
Boys
Henderson's 49 helps Kell survive: No. 8 Kell needed every one of Scoota Henderson's 49 points to beat Miller Grove 92-91. Miller Grove sent the game into overtime with a big fourth quarter and had the ball with 24 seconds left, but could not get a score. Henderson, the Region 7 Player of the Year, was 14-for-23 from the floor and was 6-for-11 on 3s, along with five assists. His quest to reach 50 was thwarted when he fouled out late in the game. Parish Johnson Jr. added 12 for the Longhorns.
Defending champion Buford prevails: The Wolves (23-6) began defense of their title by beating Decatur 75-47. Buford was led by Caleb Blanchard (16 points), James Munlyn (16 points, 15 rebonds) and Caleb Williams (14 points, 10 rebounds). Decatur got 20 points from Rod Lucas and 19 and Kenric Lanier.
Statesboro back on track: The Blue Devils (21-6) used a 21-0 run and coasted to a 77-49 win over Woodland Stockbridge. Zarion Griffin scored 27 to lead Statesboro. Kobe Altman scored 17, including a streak of 11 straight during the run.
Veterans ends Fayette County hopes: The No. 7 Warhawks eliminated Fayette County, last year's state runner-up, 81-52. Veterans (25-3) got 17 points from Jalyn Williams, 16 from DeAngelo Hines and 11 from T.J. Grant. It was the 20th straight season Fayette County has made the state playoffs.
No. 3 Cedar Shoals coasts past Carver: Tyler Johnson had 25 points and 11 rebounds and Quincy Canty had 16 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Jaguars to a 72-47 win over Carver. Cedar Shoals improved to 26-3.
Warner Robins win in new gym: The No. 5 Demons (22-4) opened their new "Demons Den" gymnasium with a 67-61 win over Jonesboro.
Girls
Buford rolls past Grady: The three-time defending state champion Wolves (27-1) overcame a second-quarter stagger and eliminated Grady 76-44. Buford's Blair Wallis knocked down five 3-pointers and scored 23, with Tatum Ozment adding 14 and Tate Walters netting 13. Grady's Trinity Lewis scored 18.
No. 10 Arabia Mountain eliminates Villa Rica: The Rams (23-5) finished the third quarter with a 9-0 run to take control of the game and beat Villa Rica 65-51. Arabia Mountain was led in scoring by Jordan Ward with 16 points, including four 3-pointers, Keyonna Giles with 13 and Sydney Bunkley with 12. Villa Rica, last year's state runner-up, was led by Kyndal Coleman with 17 and Dekiya Cofield and Aliyah Hindsman with 11 each. Hindsman, an all-region player, scored seven in the first quarter before getting in foul trouble. It was the fourth straight year the teams have met in the playoffs and Arabia's win evens the series.
Carter's 36 points paces Harris: Harris County got 36 points, 23 rebounds and six blocks from Zikeyah Carter and rolled to a 61-46 win over Fayette County. The 6-foot-5 senior, a North Carolina A&T signee, averages 15 points and eight rebounds for the Tigers (17-10). Harris County also got 17 points and four assists from Jherni Carter.
Veterans knocks off Griffin: Tamia Luckey and Stacie Jones helped the No. 7 Warhawks (25-3) rally in the fourth quarter on the road to beat Griffin 47-44.
Baker's free throw lifts Lithia: Anayah Baker made the go-ahead free throw with 10 seconds left and Lithia Springs held on to beat Loganville 43-42. Lithia Springs (19-10) got 15 points from Cam Morris and 14 from Demeara Hinds.
Second round pairings:
Girls: Riverwood at Eagle's Landing, Rome at Veterans, Jones County at Lithia Springs, Bainbridge at Kell, Wayne County at Buford, Carrollton at Harris County, Woodland at Maynard Jackson, Arabia Mountain at Starr's Mill.
Boys: Clarke Central at Eagle's Landing, Griffin at Southwest DeKalb, Cedar Shoals at Wayne County, Lithonia at Veterans, Statesboro at Buford, Kell at Warner Robins, Dutchtown at Riverwood, Bainbridge at Columbia.
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