East Laurens boys fall to Southwest in second round

Defending state runners-up advance to quarterfinals with 70-58 victory

Mar. 2, 2026 at 11:47pm

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The Southwest Patriots, led by strong performances from Chase Dupree and C.J. Howard, held off a challenge from the East Laurens Falcons to win 70-58 in the second round of the GHSA state basketball tournament. The Patriots, the defending state runners-up, will host Model in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.

Why it matters

This game highlighted the continued success of the Southwest Patriots, who are looking to make a return trip to the state finals after falling short last season. The Falcons put up a valiant effort, but ultimately came up short against the more experienced and talented Patriots squad.

The details

Southwest was led by 28 points from Chase Dupree and 27 points from C.J. Howard, accounting for 79% of the team's scoring. The Patriots built a double-digit lead in the first half, but the Falcons fought back to make it a single-digit game in the fourth quarter before Southwest pulled away at the free-throw line. East Laurens was paced by 15 points from Zion Dixon, with Jeremiah Rozier and Major Floyd also contributing.

  • The game was played on Saturday, March 1, 2026.

The players

Chase Dupree

A key player for the Southwest Patriots, scoring 28 points to lead his team to victory.

C.J. Howard

The other half of Southwest's dynamic scoring duo, contributing 27 points in the win.

Zion Dixon

The leading scorer for the East Laurens Falcons, with 15 points in the losing effort.

Monquencio Hardnett

The head coach of the Southwest Patriots, who was pleased with his team's improved focus and performance compared to their previous playoff game.

Dwayne Lowther

The head coach of the East Laurens Falcons, who was proud of his team's effort despite the loss, seeing it as a step towards where they want to be.

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What they’re saying

“Much happier. As far as sharing the ball and playing as a unit, very satisfied. Probably the best we played all year, as a complete team.”

— Monquencio Hardnett, Head Coach, Southwest Patriots

“We see where we need to be, to get where we want to be.”

— Dwayne Lowther, Head Coach, East Laurens Falcons

What’s next

The Southwest Patriots will host the fifth-seeded Model team in the quarterfinals on Wednesday, March 5, 2026.

The takeaway

This game showcased the continued dominance of the Southwest Patriots, who are poised to make another deep playoff run after falling just short of a state championship last season. The East Laurens Falcons, though ultimately defeated, demonstrated their potential and gave the Patriots a tough challenge, suggesting they are on the right track to becoming a force in the state tournament.