High School Basketball: Stephenson, M.L. King Secure AAAAA State Playoff Berths

The Lady Jaguars extended their state playoff streak to 12 consecutive appearances with a 65-35 victory over Newnan in the opening round of the Region 2-AAAAA girls' basketball tournament on Tuesday at Westlake.

The No. 5 ranked Lady Jaguars improved to 22-4 on the season to extend their playoff appearance streak dating back to 2001. Stephenson advances to face Luella on Friday at 7 p.m. at Westlake for the opportunity to advance to the Region 2-AAAAA finals.

The Martin Luther King Jr. Lions improved to 17-9 on the season with a 60-52 victory over Luella on Tuesday at Westlake to secure a state tournament berth. The Lions will return to the state playoffs for the first time since 2010 and face Westlake at 8:30 p.m. on Friday in the Region 2-AAAAA semifinals in an effort to secure a home game in the first round.

The Lady Lions fell 42-37 to Luella as their season came to an end on Tuesday. Redan (18-7) defeated Dunwoody 75-15 in Region 6-AAAA first round girls' action at Miller Grove to move into the quarterfinals to face Tucker (20-6) at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday with a state tournament berth on the line.

has a 12-year run of state tournament berths on the line against a Tucker team which has silently turned around a 10-16 season a year ago into a 20-win season in 2012.

Lithonia and Lakeside saw their seasons come to an end with losses to Marist (51-31) and Douglass (60-52), respectively, in 6-AAAA girls' play at Miller Grove. Stone Mountain was the only DeKalb team to win in Region 5-AAA girls' play on Tuesday as they defeated fellow DeKalb foe Druid Hills 70-29 at Columbia.

Arabia Mountain, Cedar Grove, Towers and McNair all fell in season ending losses. Clarkston's boys' and girls' teams fell in Region 6-AA play on Tuesday to end their seasons. Therrell defeated the Lady Angoras 59-25 while the Angoras fell 45-27 to Westminster.

REGION ACTION TONIGHT

Region tournament action has a short slate for tonight (Wednesday) with just four games involving DeKalb teams, but each with state tournament berths on the line.

The Stephenson Jaguars take on No. 2 seeded Newton in Region 2-AAAAA boys' action tonight at Westlake with the winner earning a berth in the semifinals and a spot in the Class AAAAA state tournament.

The other region tournament with games tonight is the Region 6-AAAA at Miller Grove with four boys' games on tap with state playoff berths on the line. Lithonia takes on Region 6A No. 1 seed Chamblee to open the night at 4 p.m. followed by Carver and Marist.

Redan, a 44-42 upset winner over Tucker in the first round, takes on No. 3 ranked Southwest DeKalb at 7 p.m. and Dunwoody, which rallied from a 14-point, fourth-quarter deficit to Mays in the first round, takes on No. 2 ranked and three-time defending state champion Miller Grove at 8:30 p.m.

REGION TOURNAMENT RESULTS, Tuesday, Feb. 14:

Region 6-AAAA Girls at Miller Grove

Mays 66, Carver 48

Marist 51, Lithonia 31 (season over)

Douglass 60, Lakeside 52 (season over)

Redan 75, Dunwoody 15 (season over)

Region 5-AAA Girls at St. Pius

North Springs 47, Arabia Mountain 40 (season over)

North Atlanta 48, Cedar Grove 16 (season over)

Region 5-AAA Girls at Columbia

Grady 47, Towers 21 (season over)

Riverwood 63, McNair 14 (season over)

Stone Mountain 70, Druid Hills 29 (season over)

Region 2-AAAA at Westlake

(G) Luella 42, M.L. King Jr. 37 (season over)

(B) M.L. King Jr. 60, Luella 52

(G) Stephenson 65, Newnan 35

Region 6-AA at Decatur

(G) Therrell 59, Clarkston 25 (season over)

(B) Westminster 45, Clarkston 27 (season over)

REGION TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE, Wednesday, Feb. 15

Region 2-AAAA at Westlake

(B) Stephenson vs. Newton, 8:30 p.m.

Region 6-AAAA Boys at Miller Grove

Lithonia vs. Chamblee, 4 p.m.

Carver vs. Marist, 5:30 p.m.

Redan vs. SW DeKalb, 7 p.m.

Dunwoody vs. Miller Grove, 8:30 p.m.