Colonels secure state tourney berth, Tigers move one step closer
Cass senior Mark Chester converted a pair of free throws with 1.1 seconds remaining Tuesday night at Villa Rica as the Cass boys punched their ticket to the Class AAAAA state tournament with a 46-45 Region 7-AAAAA Tournament quarterfinal win over Carrollton.
Chester — who finished with 16 points — was fouled going to the basket off a pass from Ashton Burley and knocked down the two free throws to edge the Trojans.
Carrollton led most of the night, including 16-11 after one quarter and 25-19 at halftime. The Colonels, however, outscored the Trojans 27-20 in the second half to pull out the one-point win. Carrollton held a 38-36 lead after three quarters, but Cass won the all-important final eight minutes 10-7.
Burley added 12 points for the Colonels, followed by Markeldrick Powell with seven, Carter Hedden six, Jordan Ford three, and Ethan Carter two points.
Carrollton (15-11) was led by Marcellious Lockett with 18 points.
Cass (17-9) advances to face the top-seeded Villa Rica Wildcats Thursday at Paulding County High School in the region semifinals.
The region championship and third place games will also be at Paulding County on Friday.
ADAIRSVILLE BOYS 53, MURRAY COUNTY 44
The Tigers moved one step closer to securing a state tournament berth Tuesday night with a 53-44 win over Murray County in the first round of the Region 6-AAA Tournament at Sonoraville High School.
Adairsville will play Bremen Wednesday night at 8:30 p.m. back at Sonoraville with the winner securing a state playoff position and a spot in the Region 6-AAA semifinals. Bremen edged Lakeview-Ft. Oglethorpe Tuesday night 56-55 to advance.
Tuesday, the Tigers trailed 17-10 after one quarter, but carried a 26-25 lead to the intermission. Adairsville led 32-30 after three quarters and eased away late for a nine-point tournament win.
Murray County (5-20) was led by Lincoln Puryear with 17 points. Haden Newport added 11 and Evan Varnell seven for the Indians.
Hunter Hice and Cody Henderson led Adairsville with 18 and 15 points, respectively. Savaun Henderson scored seven. Mason Boswell finished with six points, Gaven Crunkelton five, and Grayson Dailey two points.
KELL GIRLS 42, CASS 36
Ashley Sparrow scored a game-high 21 points for Kell as the Longhorns eliminated the Lady Colonels Tuesday night at Villa Rica in the quarterfinals of the Region 7-AAAAA Tournament, 42-36.
It is the third time Kell has defeated Cass this season.
It was a close game throughout, but Kell led at each quarter stop. Cass trailed 13-8 after one quarter, 25-16 at halftime, and 33-26 heading into the fourth quarter.
Chanel Clemmons led Cass with 11 points in the loss. Lyric Curtis and Aaliyah Curtis followed with six points. Payton Stoddard scored five, Kyler Trouten three, Amber Brittian and Sharia Wade two, and Kyla Michienzi added one point.
Kell (12-14) advances to play top-seeded Villa Rica Thursday in the semifinals at Paulding County High School and secures a berth in the state tournament.
Cass finished the year 16-11.
CARROLLTON GIRLS 59, WOODLAND 18
De’Mauri Flourney and Ansley Barge led the Lady Trojans with 13 and 12 points, respectively, as Carrollton eliminated visiting Woodland Tuesday night in the Region 7-AAAAA quarterfinals 59-18.
7th-ranked Carrollton (21-5) took control early, leading 19-0 after one quarter and 29-7 at halftime.
Whitney Harris led the Lady Cats with 11 points. Madgie Robinson followed with three. Carli Clymer and Ansley Evans added two points apiece.
The Region 7-AAAAA Tournament moves to Paulding County High School for the semifinals Thursday where Carrollton will play Rome.
The region finals and third place games will also be at Paulding County on Friday.
Woodland’s season ends with a 7-17 mark.
