Friday HS hoops: Canes regain region lead; Lady Eagles win on the road; Adairsville sweeps LFO

CARTERSVILLE BOYS 74, HERITAGE-CATOOSA 61

With their victory Friday night over Heritage, the Canes continue to cling to a half-game lead in the Region 7AAAA standings over Heritage and Northwest Whitfield. Cartersville grabbed a 15-12 first quarter lead and stretched their advantage to 33-23 at the break Friday night, then shot well in the second half to hold off the Generals 74-61.

Jaylon Pugh finished with 24 points to lead the Hurricanes. Cade Archer and T.J. Horton added 10 each. The Canes improved to 15-6 overall and 11-2 in Region 7AAAA. Heritage fell to 16-6 overall and 10-2 in the region. Northwest Whitfield is also 10-2 in region games.

Cartersville plays at home Saturday against Ridgeland.

HERITAGE-CATOOSA GIRLS 58, CARTERSVILLE 51

The Lady Canes rallied after trailing by as many as 19 points and narrowed the deficit to only six points late in the game, but the top team in the region held off Cartersville 58-51. Madison McKinney scored 25 points for the Lady Canes. Heritage improved to 17-4 on the season and 10-2 in 7AAAA. The Lady Canes are now 4-17 overall and 2-10 in region play.

Cartersville hosts Ridgeland Saturday afternoon at 1pm.

DALTON GIRLS 54, CASS 49

by Yash Bhika, Cass HS student correspondent

Senior night for the Lady Colonels was a close affair in what turned out to be a pair of equally matched teams. Dalton led 14-11 after one quarter, but Cass battled back to knot the score at 26-all at the intermission and the teams remained even after three quarters, 34-34. The visiting Lady Catamounts made the plays in the final period to escape with a five point region win. Esmeralda Thomas led Cass with 16 points, followed by Jana Morning with 10. Peyton Stoddard and Lexie Wallraven both finished with nine points each. Callie Smith had a game-high 18 points to lead Dalton, followed by Gabby Wright with 15 points and Bowen Land with nine.

Dalton improved to 7-14 overall and 2-8 in Region 7AAAAA with the victory. The Lady Colonels fell to 11-12 overall and 3-9 in region games.

The Lady Colonels honored seniors Hayley Gildersleeve, Breanna Hutchins, Lexie Wallraven and Kayla Matchen during the evening.

Cass travels to Cartersville on Monday.

DALTON BOYS 78, CASS 71

by Yash Bhika, Cass HS student correspondent

The visiting Catamounts spoiled Senior Night for the Colonels by jumping out to a huge 35-6 lead after just one quarter. Cass rallied, but could not overcome the deficit in a seven-point home loss. Dalton led 44-20 at halftime and 56-37 after three quarters, before the Colonels exploded for 34 points of their own in the fourth quarter. The leading scorer for the Colonels was C.J. Bennett with 24 points, followed by Mike Sims with 21 points. Jake Collum scored 10 points, and Ian Whittington finished with eight points. The leading scorer for the Catamounts was Nick Hurt with 27 points, followed by Drake McCowan 19 points, and Wyatt Erwin finished with 13 points.

Cass seniors Noah James, Matt Mundy, Mike Sims, Matt Ginn, and Ed Curtis were honored in ceremonies Friday night.

Dalton improved to 17-5 overall and 8-2 in Region 7-AAAAA. The Colonels are now 9-13 overall and 3-9 in region games. Cass travels to Cartersville on Monday.

EXCEL CHRISTIAN GIRLS 53, MOUNT ZION 38

The Lady Eagles won at Mount Zion Friday night behind a trio of double figure scoring performances.

Rylie Boston had a game-high 16 points for Excel, followed by Whitney Harris with 14 and Xena Enos with 11 points. Anna Lane Hattaway tossed in seven points, while Brighton McCollum added four and Kalli Beth Scheff scored one.

ECA hosts Mount Paran Saturday at 2:30pm

MOUNT ZION BOYS 66, EXCEL CHRISTIAN 63 (Overtime)

Caleb West and Darius Thrower led Excel with 16 and 13 points, respectively, but Mount Zion pulled out the overtime victory.

Excel held leads of 11-8, 24-16, and 41-33 through the first three quarters, but Mount Zion outscored ECA 21-13 in the final period to send the game to overtime.

Excel slipped to 11-10 overall and 5-2 in Region 6A. Mount Zion’s win brings their season mark to 11-10 overall and 5-4 in region games.

ECA hosts Mount Paran Saturday at 4pm.

CREEKVIEW BOYS 62, WOODLAND 59

The visiting Grizzlies claimed a three-point region win at Woodland Friday night to improve to 7-3 in 7AAAAA and 15-8 overall.

The loss drops Woodland to 3-17 on the year and 0-11 in Region 7AAAAA. The Wildcats host Adairsville Saturday at 6pm.

CREEKVIEW GIRLS 53, WOODLAND 29

The Lady Grizzlies won at Woodland Friday night 53-29 to improve to 9-1 in Region 7AAAAA and 18-4 overall.

The Lady Wildcats fell to 5-17 overall and 0-11 in region play.

Woodland will host Adairsville Saturday at 4:30pm.

ADAIRSVILLE GIRLS 61, LAKEVIEW-FT. OGLETHORPE 59

LF0 — 12-18-17-12—— 59 AHS — 16-6-23-16—— 61

Adairsville: 9-13 overall / 6-8 Region 6AAA

LFO: 8-14 overall / 6-7 Region 6AAA

The Lady Tigers play at Woodland Saturday at 4:30pm.

ADAIRSVILLE BOYS 69, LAKEVIEW-FT. OGLETHORPE 49

Adairsville: 7-15 overall / 3-11 Region 6AAA

LFO: 6-16 overall / 4-9 Region 6AAA

The Tigers return to the hardwood at 6pm Saturday at Woodland.