Hoops roundup: Woodland boys, Cartersville girls, and Adairsville girls collect Saturday wins
The Woodland boys held off Cartersville by two points Saturday in a non-region matchup at Woodland, while the Cartersville girls defeated the Lady Cats by twelve. At Adairsville, the Lady Tigers utilized a strong second half defensive effort to rally past Southeast Whitfield, but the Tigers came up short to the visiting Raiders.
Meanwhile in Savannah, the Excel Christian Academy boys dropped their first decision of the year.
ADAIRSVILLE GIRLS 61, SOUTHEAST WHITFIELD 55
The Lady Tigers, keyed by a strong second half defensive effort, rallied Saturday afternoon to beat visiting Southeast Whitfield 61-55 in a non-region tilt.
Southeast led 14-8 after one quarter and was ahead 32-18 at halftime before Adairsville turned up the defensive pressure and got back in the game.
The Lady Tigers narrowed the margin to 42-41 after three quarters and completed the come-from-behind win by outscoring Southeast Whitfield 43-23 in the second half.
McKenna Lentych led Southeast (0-4) and all scorers in the contest with 29 points. Lisette Gomez added nine for the Lady Raiders.
Nakiyah Washington led Adairsville with 20 points. Alexa Varner had 10. Coriana McDanield scored eight. Aaliyah Applin and Havyn Isaac tossed in six apiece. Breeana Wilson and Ji’Leyah Mitchell contributed four points each. Lori Cimino added three.
The win snapped a three-game skid for Adairsville.
The Lady Tigers (2-3, 0-2 in 6-AAA) resume region action Tuesday at Sonoraville, Friday at Coahulla Creek, and will host Calhoun Saturday.
CARTERSVILLE GIRLS 48, WOODLAND 36
The Cartersville girls built an 18 point lead through three quarters Saturday afternoon at Woodland, but a late charge by the Lady Cats was held off by the Lady Canes, 48-36.
Cartersville led 9-8 after one quarter, 26-17 at the intermission, and 40-22 after three quarters.
A’mya Davis led Cartersville with 12 points. She was followed by Naijah Evans with seven.
Jordan Thompson led Woodland with 13 points. She was followed by Kierra Milline and Madgie Robinson with nine and eight points, respectively, for the Wildcats.
Woodland (0-5, 0-1) returns to Region 7-AAAAA play Tuesday at home against East Paulding at 6 p.m. before traveling to Rome on Friday night.
Cartersville (3-0) plays at North Paulding Friday at 6 p.m.
WOODLAND BOYS 57, CARTERSVILLE 55
Woodland’s D.J. Robinson made two free throws with 4.4 seconds remaining Saturday as the Wildcats edged visiting Cartersville, 57-55.
Woodland led 17-12 after one quarter and held a 36-28 lead at halftime before holding off the Canes for the non-region win. Cartersville narrowed the margin to 45-42 heading into the final quarter.
Perignon Dyer led Cartersville with 20 points. Isaac Gridley added 15 for the Hurricanes.
Hunter Johnson led Woodland and all scorers in the game with 22 points. Austin Kauffman had 10 for the Wildcats.
Cartersville (1-2) plays at North Paulding next Friday. Woodland (3-3, 0-1) returns to Region 7-AAAAA play Tuesday at home against East Paulding before traveling to Rome on Friday.
SOUTHEAST WHITFIELD 48, ADAIRSVILLE BOYS 38
The visiting Raiders raced to a 31-9 lead in the first half Saturday afternoon on their way to a ten point win at Adairsville.
Southeast led 15-8 after one quarter and limited Adairsville to only one second quarter point.
The Tigers outscored Southeast 17-8 in the third quarter to cut the lead to 13 points, but the Raiders held on for a 48-38 non-region victory.
Zac Cole led all scorers in the game with 24 points for Southeast Whitfield (4-2).
Savaun Henderson led the Tigers with 12 points. He was followed by Gaven Crunkelton and Derrick Simmons with seven each. Mason Boswell scored five points. Connor Crunkelton added four points and Danarous Johnson finished with two.
Adairsville (1-2, 1-1) returns to Region 6-AAA play Tuesday at Sonoraville at 7:30 p.m., plays at Coahulla Creek Friday, and hosts Calhoun Saturday.
BETHESDA ACADEMY 65, EXCEL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY BOYS 38
Excel Christian Academy lost for the first time this season on the road at Bethesda Academy (1-0) in Savannah. ECA (2-1) begins play in Region 6-A Tuesday at Trion and will host North Cobb Christian (Friday) and Darlington (Saturday) on the weekend.
