Cartersville sweeps Sandy Creek; Cass takes pair from Woodland; Excel, Adairsville teams fall
The Cartersville boys and girls basketball teams pulled off upset wins at home Friday night over visiting region rival Sandy Creek, while the Cass girls and boys defeated cross-county rival Woodland in region matchups. Excel Christian lost a pair to visiting Gordon Lee and the Adairsville girls fell to highly ranked Haralson County.
No. 8 CARTERSVILLE BOYS 94, No. 4 SANDY CREEK 88 - Overtime
The Purple Hurricanes and visiting Patriots were tied 80-all after 32 minutes of regulation, but Cartersville won the extra period 14-8 to defeat Sandy Creek Friday night 94-88 at the Storm Center.
Cartersville led for most of the evening. The Canes took a 40-33 advantage to halftime and held a 62-52 after three quarters, but the Patriots rallied in the fourth quarter -- outscoring Cartersville 28-18 -- to send the game to overtime.
The 8th-ranked Canes were led by Jaylon Pugh who had 28 points and nine rebounds added a steal and a blocked shot. Pugh scored six of his points in the overtime period. T.J. Horton scored 20 points for Cartersville with four boards, three assists and three steals. Isaac Gridley added 15 points, five rebounds, and a blocked shot. Trase Fezzia totaled 13 points (five in OT), four rebounds, six assists, and two steals. JKobe Orr and Perignon Dyer chipped in with nine points each. Orr had six rebounds, an assist and a pair of steals. Dyer contributed two assists, a steal, and a blocked shot.
KJ Wilkins scored 24 points and Evan Jester 22 for the Patriots. Jester also collected eight rebounds. Eric Williams posted 11 points and a dozen rebounds. TJ Bickerstaff scored 10 points, followed by Chris Porter with eight, Jarred Godfrey seven, and Kameron Miller scored four points with six assists.
Sandy Creek slipped to 14-6 overall and 6-2 in 5AAAA.
Cartersville (15-4, 6-2) moved into a tie for second place in the region with Friday night’s win and will host Chapel Hill Saturday in another league game. They face 3rd-ranked LaGrange, the region leader, on Thursday.
CARTERSVILLE GIRLS 34, No. 9 SANDY CREEK 32
The Lady Canes knocked off 9th-ranked Sandy Creek Friday night at the Storm Center, 34-32.
Cartersville led 8-1 after one quarter, but trailed at halftime 16-14. After an even third period, the Lady Canes found themselves trailing late in the final period before Caroline Bagwell connected on a three-pointer to tie and A’mya Davis made free throws to lift Cartersville to an upset win.
Cartersville outscored the Lady Patriots in the decisive period, 11-7.
Madison McKinney scored 11 points and Monica Motuba nine to lead the Lady Canes’ scoring efforts.
Sandy Creek, the second place team in Region 5AAAA fell to 14-6 overall and 6-2 in league play with the loss.
Cartersville (8-12, 2-6) hosts Chapel Hill Saturday at 6pm and LaGrange on Thursday at 4pm.
CASS GIRLS 45, WOODLAND 29
The Lady Colonels trailed visiting Woodland Friday night after one quarter, but outscored the Lady Cats 18-6 in the second period to take a 25-14 lead at the intermission.
After Woodland again cut the lead inside double digits at the end of third period at 29-20, Cass outscored the Lady Cats 16-9 in the final quarter for a 16-point Region 7AAAAA win.
Lexie Robinson led Woodland with 11 points. Madgie Robinson scored nine and Carli Clymer seven.
Kyla Michienzi scored 11 points for the Lady Colonels. Esmeralda Thomas added 10. Payton Stoddard scored eight points.
Woodland (1-18, 1-12) plays at Rockmart Saturday, will host Kell Monday and East Paulding Tuesday. Saturday’s game is a 2pm start. Monday and Tuesday will tip at 6pm.
Cass (18-4, 11-3) plays at 6th-ranked Carrollton Tuesday and will host the Lady Trojans next Thursday.
CASS BOYS 41, WOODLAND 35
Cass led a close game at each of the quarter stops: 8-7, 20-18, and 30-26 on their way to a hard-fought six point victory.
Ashton Burley led Cass with 13 points. C.J. Bennett scored 10 and Mark Chester eight as the Colonels held off county rival Woodland for a Region 7AAAAA win.
Justice Carter led the Wildcats with 11 points. Justice Hayes scored eight and Jaylen Ballard seven for Woodland.
Woodland (1-18, 0-13) plays at Rockmart Saturday and will host Kell on Monday and East Paulding on Tuesday.
Cass (17-6, 11-3) has now won 10 of the last 12 and has a home-and-home series remaining with Region 7AAAAA leader Carrollton to close out the regular season. The Colonels play at Carrollton Tuesday and will host the Trojans on Thursday.
GORDON LEE BOYS 61, EXCEL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 26
Visiting Gordon Lee held a 38-12 lead by halftime and cruised to a 61-26 win at Excel Friday night in a Region 6A matchup.
Gordon Lee (7-15, 3-8) was led by Jack Solomon and Hayden Murphy with nine points each.
Dylan Drew scored nine for the Eagles.
Excel (0-15, 0-10) hosts Darlington Tuesday.
GORDON LEE GIRLS 45, EXCEL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 29
Gordon Lee improved to 12-10 overall and 7-4 in Region 6A with a win Friday night at Excel Christian Academy.
The visiting Lady Trojans led 11-6 after one period and 25-11 at halftime on their way to securing a 16-point win.
Brighton McCollum scored nine points for Excel. Kalli Beth Scheff finished with five.
Excel (10-7, 6-5) hosts Darlington, the 9th-ranked team in the most recent GHSA Class A Private power rankings, Tuesday at 6pm.
No. 4 HARALSON COUNTY GIRLS 81, ADAIRSVILLE 36
The Lady Tigers found themselves down 37-19 after only one quarter Friday night at Haralson County in an eventual one-sided loss. Haralson led 55-26 at halftime and pushed their advantage to 79-34 after three quarters.
Tori Causey led four Haralson County players in double figures with 29 points. Claire Robinson scored 14 points for the Lady Rebels. Alexis Boykin and Dea Harbison added 11 points each.
Josie Summerville was the top scorer for Adairsville with 15 points. Emily Collum totaled six points. Havyn Isaac and Nakiyah Washington scored five points each for the Lady Tigers. Zay Harris contributed three points and Chloe Powell two.
The 4th-ranked Lady Rebels improved to 20-3 on the season and 9-2 in Region 6AAA
Adairsville (7-15, 2-9) plays at Christian Heritage Saturday.
