DeKalb Schools Basketball: Nine State Berths Waiting For DeKalb Teams

Twelve DeKalb basketball teams enter tonight’s schedule one win away from a state tournament berth as action in Region 6-AAAA girls’ action and Region 5-AAA boys’ and girls’ play.

The Region 6-AAAA girls’ quarterfinals at Miller Grove has five DeKalb teams vying for state tournament berths including a pair facing off against each other in Redan (18-7) and Tucker (20-6) at 5:30 p.m. Redan has a streak of 12 consecutive playoff tournament appearances on the line against the Lady Tigers who defeated the Lady Raiders 51-38 in their only meeting this season.

Tucker’s 20 win season is the first since going 20-9 in 2006 and broke a string of four losing seasons, including 10-16 last season. Tucker is looking for its first state tournament berth since 2009.

The No. 3 ranked Chamblee Lady Bulldogs (24-1) take on Mays (12-11) at 4 p.m. and want to avoid a quarterfinal upset like happened a year ago and ended what was an undefeated regular season.

Southwest DeKalb (15-10) will be looking to avenge a 48-45 regular season loss to Marist (16-7) in an effort to return to the state playoffs since their three consecutive state championships from 2008-10.

The No. 7 ranked Miller Grove Lady Wolverines (17-4) are looking to make another run in the state tournament like their 2011 quarterfinal appearance, but will need to defeat Douglass (7-11) for the third time this season for the playoff berth.

Seven DeKalb teams take the court in Region 5-AAA play looking for a victory and state tournament berth in action at St. Pius X and Columbia tonight.

Stone Mountain (3-16) is coming off an upset of Druid Hills on Monday night and faces Towers (17-7) in the 5:30 p.m. boys’ game at St. Pius. Towers had not made the state tournament since the 2003 season while Stone Mountain’s last appearance was in 2009.

Columbia is also hosting quarterfinal games tonight involving five DeKalb teams with the Stone Mountain Lady Pirates (11-15) opening the day’s action at 4 p.m. with the opportunity to return to the state tournament for the second consecutive season as they face Riverwood (18-8).

Arabia Mountain (11-11) defeated Riverwood in the opening round on Monday to get to .500 for the first time at this point in the season in just its third year of existence. The Rams take on Washington (16-8) with an opportunity to pick up their first state basketball tournament berth in the school’s history.

The No. 3 ranked Columbia Lady Eagles (16-5) take on Grady (14-11) in the 7 p.m. contest looking for their fourth consecutive state tournament berth. Columbia has reached the Class AAA Final Four the past two seasons including the 2010 state title.

The final game of the night features the No. 1 ranked and two-time defending Class AAA state champion Columbia (23-1) facing fellow DeKalb foe Cedar Grove (6-15). Columbia is going for its ninth consecutive state tournament appearance in a run that includes four state titles in the past six seasons (2006, 2008, 2010, and 2011).

REGION TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Thursday, Feb. 16
Region 6-AAAA Girls at Miller Grove
Chamblee (24-1) vs. Mays (12-11), 4:00 p.m.
Tucker (20-6) vs. Redan (18-7), 5:30 p.m.
SW DeKalb (15-10) vs. Marist (16-7), 7:00 p.m.
Miller Grove (17-4) vs. Douglass (7-11)

Region 5-AAA at Columbia
(G) Stone Mountain (11-15) vs. Riverwood (18-8), 4:00 p.m.
(B) Arabia Mountain (11-11) vs. Washington (16-8), 5:30 p.m.
(G) Columbia (16-5) vs. Grady (14-11), 7:00 p.m.
(B) Columbia (23-1) vs. Cedar Grove (6-15), 8:30 p.m.

Region 5-AAA at St. Pius X
(B) Stone Mountain (3-16) vs. Towers (17-7), 5:30 p.m.

Mark Brock is the Statistician/Information Officer/Web Manager for DeKalb County Schools Athletics