DECATUR — Region 1 third-seed Ware County was included in the script of matchups with Region 5 in the first round of the Class 4A state tournament.
The Gators (19-8) lost for the third time in their final five games falling 60-53 here at Region 5 runner- up Southwest DeKalb (26-3), winners in nine of its last 10 games, ranked fourth in the final regular season Top 10 poll. The Panthers were upset by Tucker in the region finals.
In other matchups, fourth-seed St. Pius X (20-9) gave the region four 20-plus win teams advancing. The Lions beat region champion Warner Robins (188) 73-66. Third-seed Marist (21-8) posted a 68-59 road win in Savannah against second-seed Benedictine (20-6). Sixth-ranked region champ Tucker (236) knocked off visiting fourth-seed New Hampstead (13-16) 72-56.
No. 4 SW DeKalb .....................................60 Gators ......................................................53
The Panthers built a 10-point advantage in the first half and held Ware County at bay over the final 16 minutes to advance.
SW DeKalb drilled six of its nine threes in the opening eight minutes in grabbing a 20-16 lead. The Panthers outscored Ware County 14-8 in the second stanza to take a 34-24 halftime lead.
The Gators whittled three points off the deficit during the third quarter outscoring Southwest DeKalb 16-13 to get to within 47-40. Each team scored 13 points in the final period.
Darius Ward led a trio of Ware County players in double figures finishing with 14 points. Jarvis Wright (two treys) and Shaun McClam (two treys) netted 11 points and 10 points respectively.
Sibari Williams and Dedric Jackson added eight points each. Tezhan Bolds chipped in two points.
The Panthers also had a trio of players reach double figures led by the 18 points of Nazir Mergan (three treys). Jackson Ushery (four treys) followed with 16 points with Kelvin Peek bagging 10 points.
