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.
