Boys HS roundup | Hurricanes edged in tourney finals; Adairsville, Cass garner one-sided wins
It was a back-and-forth battle to the wire, but the host Chattooga Indians edged Cartersville 60-57 to win the 2016 Chattooga Christmas Classic Friday night in Summerville.
Cartersville led 16-11 after one period, but trailed at halftime 30-28.
The Indians and Canes both posted 20 points in the third quarter giving Chattooga a 50-48 advantage going to the final eight minutes.
Cartersville cut the Indians’ advantage to one point in the final 90 seconds, but failed to convert. The Indians then made free throws in the waning seconds to hold off Cartersville for a three-point victory and the tournament title. The loss snapped a five-game winning streak for the Hurricanes who defeated Cass and Coosa to reach the finals.
Jaylon Pugh led Cartersville in the scoring column with 20 points. Isaac Gridley followed with 11 points and Avery Showell added eight. Gridley and Showell collected nine rebounds each. Showell was named to the all-tournament team.
Chattooga, the 10th-ranked team in Class AA, improved to 11-1 with the tournament win. The Indians had wins over Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe and Sonoraville in the first two rounds.
Cartersville (8-2) will open Region 5AAAA play Tuesday at Cedartown and will host region opponents Central-Carrollton and LaGrange at the Storm Center Friday night and Saturday afternoon.
CASS BOYS 56, LAKEVIEW-FT. OGLETHORPE 23
The Cass boys held Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe to only six points in the first half and a mere 12 through three quarters on their way to a 56-23 win Friday night in a consolation game of the Chattooga Christmas Classic in Summerville.
Cass won their final two games of the tournament after an opening round loss to Cartersville.
Cass led 7-3 after one quarter and 24-6 at halftime on their way to a 43-12 advantage after three periods.
C.J. Bennett was the only Colonel in double figures with 10, but ten players made their way into the scoring column.
Mark Chester scored nine for Cass followed by Jake Collum with eight; Markeldrick Powell and Steven Spell with six; Carter Hedden with five; Ashton Burley and Ian Whittington with four; plus Austin Mays and Jacquez Milles with two each.
Ian Whittington was named to the all-tournament team.
The Colonels (9-4, 4-1 Region 7AAAAA) return to region play Tuesday at Woodland and will host Carrollton next Friday.
ADAIRSVILLE BOYS 68, FANNIN COUNTY 44
The Adairsville Tigers bounced back from an opening round loss at the Fannin County Mountain Top Tournament with back-to-back wins including Friday’s 68-44 win over the host Rebels.
Hunter Hice and Cole Hewatt were named to the all-tournament team for the Tigers who defeated Pickens Thursday after the Wednesday loss to Fellowship Christian Academy.
In Friday’s victory, Hice led four Tigers in double figures with 21 points. Ethan Belcher scored 12, Hewatt 11, and Ronald Hardin 10 points. James Sims added seven points for Adairsville followed by Cody Henderson with three. Savaun Henderson and Trevis Williams contributed two points each.
Logan Hult led Fannin County with 15 points as the Rebels slipped to 6-8 on the year.
Adairsville (9-5, 3-2 Region 6AAA) returns to region play Friday, January 6 at home against Calhoun and will travel to Pickens on Saturday, January 7.
