Canes to face Sandy Creek for region title

T.J. Horton scored 33 points and Jaylon Pugh had 16 as the Cartersville boys advanced to the Region 5-AAAA Tournament finals with a 69-55 win Friday night over LaGrange.

Isaac Gridley scored six; Luke Schiltz, Perignon Dyer, and JKobe Orr contributed four each; and Marko Dudley had two points for the Hurricanes.

Bo Russell led the Grangers (18-10) with 21 points. Daz Williams had 16.

Cartersville trailed 12-10 after one quarter, but took a 30-21 lead at halftime and a 42-31 advantage to the fourth quarter.

Cartersville (19-5) plays Sandy Creek (22-5) for the region title Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Sandy Creek High School. The Patriots defeated Troup County Friday 76-47 in the other region semifinal game.

Both Cartersville and Sandy Creek will host Class AAAA first round games next week in the state playoffs. Following Saturday’s region title game, the Canes will host either Ridgeland or Heritage-Catoosa in the opening round of the Class AAAA state playoffs.

PAULDING COUNTY BOYS 65, CASS 53

The Cass boys lost the third place game at the Region 7-AAAAA Tournament Friday afternoon at Paulding County High School.

The Colonels fell to the host Patriots, 65-53.

Both teams will start the state playoffs next weekend on the road. Paulding County will be the 3-seed. Cass will be the 4-seed.

Hiram upset Villa Rica 48-43 Friday night in the Region 7-AAAAA championship game to take the 1-seed. Villa Rica will be the 2-seed in the state playoffs.

Cass (17-11) will travel to the Region 8-AAAAA champions for their opening game in the state tournament. No. 1-ranked Buford (21-4) and No. 9 Clarke Central (20-5) play Saturday for that region title.