Lady Colonels finish region runner-up; Canes, Tigers fall in region semifinals
The Cass girls lost to 4th-ranked Carrollton in the Region 7-AAAAA championship game Friday night, while the Adairsville boys and Cartersville boys both lost their respective region semifinal games.
The Cass girls will host a state tournament first round game next Friday.
The Tigers and Canes will play Saturday for their state playoff seeding. Both will play road games to open the state playoffs next week, but could earn 3-seed status with a consolation win Saturday.
No. 9 CALHOUN BOYS 48, ADAIRSVILLE 42
The Adairsville boys basketball team gave 9th-ranked Calhoun a tussle Friday evening in the Region 6AAA semifinals, but the Yellow Jackets held off the Tigers in the end, 48-42.
Calhoun raced out to a 21-9 lead after one quarter but the game was tied at halftime 28-28. Adairsville managed a 37-36 lead after three quarters, but Calhoun won the all-important final period and advanced to the region championship game with a six-point victory.
Malik Lawrence and Rhett Abernathy both scored 15 points to lead Calhoun. Chapin Rierson added 11points and grabbed 13 rebounds.
Hunter HIce led Adairsville with 14 points. Ronald Hardin and Mason Boswell scored 12 each. James Sims and Denzel Pitt both added two points.
The Tigers (16-12) will play either Coahulla Creek for third place Saturday at 4:30pm at Calhoun. The Colts lost to Sonoraville Friday in the other semifinal. The Phoenix will face Calhoun in the championship game at 7:30pm.
No. 3 SANDY CREEK BOYS 60, No. 9 CARTERSVILLE 53
3rd-ranked Sandy Creek held off 9th-ranked Cartersville in a Region 5AAAA semifinal game Friday night at LaGrange for a 60-53 decision that puts the Patriots in Saturday’s region championship game.
Cartersville (19-6) will play for Troup for third place Saturday at 4:30pm at LaGrange. Troup lost to LaGrange 56-46 in the other Region 5AAAA semifinal Friday night.
Cartersville and Sandy Creek were tied at 18 after one period and the Patriots held a slim 26-25 advantage at halftime. Sandy Creek then outscored the Canes 19-10 in the third quarter to build a 10-point lead and held on in the fourth quarter.
Eric Williams led Sandy Creek with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Jarred Godfrey scored 12 points for the Patriots. Evan Jester added 11 points and six rebounds. K.J. Wilkins finished with 10 points.
Trase Fezzia led Cartersville with 17 points. T.J. Horton added 14 points and Jaylon Pugh scored 13.
Sandy Creek (20-6) will play 4th-ranked LaGrange Saturday at 7:30pm for the region title.
No. 4 CARROLLTON GIRLS 60, CASS 36
4th-ranked Carrollton took control in the first half and did not let up on their way to a 60-36 win over the Cass Lady Colonels in the Region 7AAAAA championship game Friday night.
The Lady Trojans (27-1) led 34-16 at halftime and 47-25 after three quarters. Carrollton did not lose to a region opponent the entire regular season and post season.
Jana Morning scored 17 points to lead Cass. Kyla Michienzi scored seven, Chanel Clemmons five, Damia Simpson three, and Sharia Wade two points.
Cass (20-7) is region runner-up and a 2-seed heading into the Class AAAAA State Tournament. The Lady Colonels will host a first round game Friday February 17.
