The Bradwell Institute Tigers will host Lithonia in the first round of the boys Class AAAAA state tournament, after the Tigers fell at the buzzer 39-38 to Statesboro in the Region 1-AAAAA championship game Friday night at Lee Hill Arena.

The Tigers are the lone local team to have a home game in the state playoffs’ first round. The Lady Tigers, having suffered two more injuries during the week, bounced back to thrash Jenkins 44-29 in the consolation game Friday, giving them the region’s No. 3 seed. They will face Decatur on the road in the first round.

The Long County Blue Tide boys rallied from a double-digit second-half deficit to knock off Calvary Day 59-57 Saturday at Johnson High School’s Myers Gymnasium to secure Region 3-AAA’s No. 3 seed. The Tide will visit Upson-Lee in the first round.

The Liberty County Lady Panthers couldn’t overcome Beach and fell 31-23. The Lady Panthers will face Mary Persons in the first round.

The Bradwell boys trailed 39-35 with 9.8 seconds left when Statesboro missed two free throws. Tahshaun Frasier raced upcourt and fired a 3-pointer with less than 3 seconds left.

The Devils attempted a lengthy pass on the ensuing inbounds play, but Zay Thomas picked it off near midcourt and attempted a half-court heave of his own. His shot was blocked and Thomas was sent sprawling to the floor as the buzzer sounded. Thomas pleaded for a foul but was not awarded one and moments later, a scuffle ignited that drew fans onto the floor.

Statesboro police officers handcuffed one adult male and led him away and Statesboro High School officials cleared the gym before presenting the region championship trophy to Statesboro.

Liberty County’s boys lost 41-39 to Calvary in the first round, knocking them out of contention for the state playoffs, and the Liberty girls downed the Long County girls 37-30 in the first round of the region tournament, ending their season.

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