The Salem girls' basketball team came up just short of a perfect capper on a redemptive season Friday night.

Salem, which won just one Region 8-AAAA game a season ago, fell 50-36 to Habersham Central for the region title.

Even though it suffered the loss, Salem (19-8, 6-2) still has a chance for a championship season, entering the Class AAAA playoffs as the No. 2 seed. The Salem Seminoles will host Forsyth Central on Friday night.

Also at the region tournament in Loganville this weekend was a Rockdale inter-county matchup. Rockdale and Salem met for third place, and for a lead in the three-game season series.

The Bulldogs came out on top in the rubber match, 73-61.

C.J. Wilson led the way with 19 points, eight rebounds, five assists and four steals. Following the tournament, the junior was named Region 8-AAAA Player of the Year. David Jelks added 12 points and 12 rebounds, Shaquille Fisher had 12 points and LaRonta Parks chipped in 11 in the win over Salem.

Rockdale, which fell to Salem 75-60 on Feb. 7, defeated its cross-town rivals 72-68 on Jan. 20.

The victory gave Rockdale the third seed in the state playoffs, where it will travel to Woodland, Bartow on Saturday. Salem will play at No. 1 seed Chattahoochee on Saturday.