The state basketball playoffs tipped off Tuesday night around the state and we managed to gather information from dozens of games. Read through our roundup and get caught up on how the first round played out.
Class AAAAAA
Cherokee 58, Brookwood 41: After a tight first quarter, host Cherokee stretched a 16-13 lead into a 30-19 advantage at intermission en route to an easy victory. Coach Matt Cates received 18 points from Nesha Williams and 13 from Morgan Darby. Sara Byers also reached double figures with 10 points for Cherokee. “We settled in during the second quarter and let the game come to us,” said Cates.
Colquitt County 53, McEachern 49: The host McEachern Indians couldn’t hold off Colquitt County as the defending Class AAAAA champions fell in the first round. Sophomore Te’a Cooper tried her best to keep the Indians alive, scoring 25 points, dishing out five assists, swiping four steals, grabbing seven rebounds and blocking one shot. Freshman guard Jada Lewis missed the game after spraining her ankle in Friday’s region tournament game. “We just lost focus and let it get away from us,” McEachern coach Phyllis Arthur said.
Newton 53, Westlake 51: Newton trailed at home 24-16 at halftime but rallied from 10 down in the fourth to slip by Westlake 53-51. Precious Price had 15 points while Sonia Forney scored 11 points and grabbed nine rebounds to help the Rams pick up the win. Coach Tiffani Johnson switched up the defense in the second half, going with the full court press and Newton made four free throws down the stretch after the game was tied 49-49 with two minutes to play.
North Forsyth 78, Mountain View 60: North Forsyth scored 31 points in the fourth quarter to pull away from Mountain View at home 78-60. North Forsyth trailed by as many as 13 in the first half before ripping off a 13-0 run to open up the fourth quarter to seize the lead. Sophomore Caroline Bowns led the team with 28 points while Lochlain Corliss scored all 18 of her points in the second half. North Forsyth drilled 32-of-38 from the free throw line.
Parkview 73, Wheeler 48: The host Parkview Panthers held off Wheeler early and pulled away late, using a 25-10 run late in the third to stretch a 10-point lead into a 25-point advantage entering the fourth. Junior Genesis Perrymond scored 23 points while fellow junior Makenna Pouengue had 13 points. Senior Marissa Mandeldove had 15 as Parkview remains undefeated on the season after a 73-48 win.
Rockdale County 77, Douglas County 69: Visiting Rockdale County closed out the first half with seven points off three turnovers that gave the Bulldogs the lead heading into the half. The momentum continued and a 32-point scoring outburst from Breanna Richardson was enough to lock the upset. Douglas County’s Santasia Faust had a team-high 22 points that came from aggressive drives and foul shots. Amadi Brooks chipped in 14 points for the Tigers.
Valdosta 59, Hillgrove 51: The host Valdosta Wildcats nearly saw an 18-point second half lead slip away as the visiting Lady Hawks rallied to within two before Valdosta regained control to win by eight. Junior Mackenzie Engram scored 24 points to pace Hillgrove, while sophomore Tene Thompson scored 12 points to help Hillgrove nearly pull off the comeback.
Central Gwinnett 64, Woodstock 49: Visiting Central Gwinnett trailed 26-22 at the half before exploding in the second half. Alexandra Frazier scored a game-high 27 points and was the hot hand for the Black Knights along with Brianna McGee, who finished with 11 points. Woodstock was led by Makensie Block and Clara Young, who each had 14 points. Central Gwinnett outscored Woodstock in the second half by a 42-23 margin.
Class AAAAA
Lithia Springs 53, Clarke Central 45 (OT): Clarke Central held a 4-point lead going into the fourth quarter but struggled to defend the outside shots from visiting Lithia Springs. Lithia Springs guard Tashara Jones led all scorers with 18 points while teammate Tobreshia Horn added 13 points. Lithia Springs converted eight 3-pointers. Guard Ebony Fleming led Clarke Central with 15 points.
McIntosh 76, Lee County 41: Host McIntosh took control of the game early and pulled away with a 31–point fourth quarter. Three players did most of the damage for McInstosh, led by 24 points from Gabby Seller. Cassidy Williams and Amanda Lindsey added 20 and 16 points, respectively. McIntosh led by 13 points at the intermission.
Southwest DeKalb 59, Sprayberry 56: A trap defense by host Southwest DeKalb ruined a big scoring night for Sprayberry’s Neena Carter. Carter led all scorers with 28 points. Point guard Davion Wingate’s lay-up off a steal with three minutes left put Southwest DeKalb up for good. Miaya Carter paced Southwest DeKalb scorers with 18 points. Sprayberry led by one point at halftime.
Thomas County Central 36, Starr’s Mill 33: Host Thomas County Central capitalized on clutch free throw shooting and the rebounding efforts of post players Tytianna Herring and Chelsea McIntyre. Herring led all players with 27 rebounds and McIntyre collected 18 rebounds. Point guard Erica Harvey led all Thomas County Central scorers with 10 points. Danielle Garcia led Starr’s Mill with 13 points.
Tucker 48, Osborne 45: Visiting Tucker stretched a 2-point halftime lead to 11 points midway through the second half, but had to hold off a late Osborne come back. Post player Erykah Davenport recorded a double-double for Tucker with 13 points and 10 rebounds and grabbed five steals. Guard Tori Robinson also scored 13 for Tucker. Zuntorya Cook poured in 19 points for Osborne.
Class AAAA
River Ridge 48, Grady 43: River Ridge held on after leading 29-28 at the half and 38-34 after three quarters. Junior guard Vanderia Shackleford led Grady with 22 points. Host River Ridge received 20 points from senior guard Jordan Livesay and 10 from senior forward Parker Nayman.
Class AAA
Beach 62, Central-Carroll 34: Host Beach established control early in this matchup and entered the half up 32-17. Beach junior Jada Young filled the stat sheet with 16 points, seven rebounds and five steals. Teammates and sisters Irie Spann and Ilyn Spann led Beach, as Ilyn, a sophomore, had 12 points and five assists, and older sister Irie had 12 points, eight steals and five assists.
Dawson County 68, Blessed Trinity 54: Host Dawson County led Blessed Trinity 28-14 at halftime and held on for the victory. Dawson County was led offensively by Sheyenne Seabolt’s 18 points. Carly Gilreath had 17, Kacie Bearden had eight points and Ashley Parker and Kenna Seitz each had seven points. Seitz added seven rebounds.
Decatur 54, Fannin County 30: Host Decatur went into the half up 25-19 and was able to outscore Fannin County 29-11 in the second half. Senior Jordan Dillard led all scorers with 23 points, and freshmen teammates Jayla Morrow had 14 and Kayla Thomas reached double figures with 11 points.
Monroe 80, Riverdale 61: Monroe jumped out to a 26-12 lead after the first quarter and extended it to 48-28 by halftime. Visiting Riverdale was led by senior power forward Deanna Turner, who had 24 points, while freshman point guard Angel Cooper had 19. Keshundra Price led Monroe with 22 points while Jomekia Morine scored 17.
St. Pius 55, White County 30: Host St. Pius outscored the Warriors 18-8 in the second quarter to take a 31-16 halftime advantage. Leading the Golden Lions was sophomore Asia Durr, who scored a game-high 26 points. Teammate Jasmine Carter scored 14 and two dominating halves of defense allowed top seed St. Pius to cruise into the second round.
Class AA
Buford 56, Woodward Academy 38: Host Buford entered intermission with a 12-point advantage behind senior post Kristina Nelson, who dominated the paint with her game-high 27 points. Senior Mackenzie Darrah added 12 points. Alexandria Williams led Woodward Academy with nine points.
Calhoun 65, Westminster 31: The host Yellow Jackets opened up the game with a dominant 14-3 second quarter that gave them a commanding 30-15 halftime edge. Sisters Taylor and Molly Palmer led Calhoun in scoring and rebounding, as Taylor, a senior center, scored 18 and had 15 rebounds, while Molly, a junior post, had 16 points, 12 rebounds and nine blocks. Calhoun’s suffocating man-to-man defense allowed Westminster just 10 points total in the second and third quarters.
Greater Atlanta Christian 68, Dade County 30: Greater Atlanta Christian outscored their guests 20-5 in the second quarter and enjoyed a 39-20 halftime edge. The Spartans forced 22 Dade County turnovers and led 57-27 after three. CiiCii Buford and Brianna Cummings led GAC with 16 points each. Cosette Mahre added 11 points and Sydni Means had 13 with a team-high four assists.
Lovett 47, Model 37: Senior guard Taylor Brown, a Princeton commitment, led the visiting Lions with 19 points, and sophomore guard Te’erica Eason had 11. Senior center Sydney Umeri, a Virginia commitment, led both teams with 10 rebounds. Lovett led 24-22 at the half, but rode hot 3-point shooting in the second half to pull away.
Stephen Black, Sean Conway, Fletcher Proctor and Craig Sager, II contributed to this report.
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