Saturday's boys hoops roundup: Canes, Colonels collect region wins
All five local high school boys basketball teams were in action Saturday with Cartersville and Cass coming away with important region victories. The Canes avenged an earlier loss at Cedartown with a 61-47 home win over the Bulldogs while Cass secured an eight-point region road win at Villa Rica.
CARTERSVILLE BOYS 61, CEDARTOWN 47
The Hurricanes moved above the .500 mark Saturday night and into a tie for second place in Region 5-AAAA with a 61-47 home win over Cedartown. The Cartersville win also evened the season series with the Bulldogs who beat Cartersville 62-54 back on January 4. Saturday, Cedartown led 10-7 after one quarter and 22-20 at halftime before the Canes used an 18-10 advantage in the third quarter to take a lead they would not relinquish. Perignon Dyer and Isaac Gridley led the Hurricanes with 24 and 14 points, respectively. Kolbe Benham scored nine points. Amarai Orr (photo) contributed six. Marquail Coaxum had five points and Robert Novak added one. Gridley pulled down 11 rebounds. Orr grabbed 10 boards. Jayden Johnson led the Bulldogs (8-12, 2-6) in scoring with 14 points. Jeremiah Johnson knocked down 13.
Cartersville (11-10, 5-3) pulled even with Troup County in the region standings with their win. They trail region-leader Sandy Creek (6-0) in Region 5-AAAA. The Canes have three region games next week. They play at Central-Carroll Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m., at LaGrange Friday at 7:30 p.m., and will host Sandy Creek Saturday at 4:30 p.m.
CASS BOYS 58, VILLA RICA 50
After dropping a tough decision to visiting Carrollton Friday night at home, the Colonels went on the road Saturday and picked up a crucial Region 7-AAAAA win by holding off Villa Rica, 58-50. “That was a big region win,” said Cass head coach Sean Glaze. “It was a terrific bounce back for us following that Carrollton game.” The Colonels trailed early with Villa Rica taking a 13-10 lead after one quarter. Cass then outscored the Wildcats 12-6 in the second quarter to take a 22-19 halftime lead. The Colonels led 36-29 after three quarters and held on for an eight-point win. Jacquez Fountain (file photo from earlier in the season) led Cass with 25 points. Andrew Glaze followed with 14. Jordan Ford had six points. Justice Hayes contributed five. Ethan Carter tossed in four points. Zaylan Chaney scored three and Jaylon Johnson added one point for the Colonels.
Jeffrey Dudley led Villa Rica with 19 points and Demarcus Blount scored seven for the Wildcats (9-10, 4-7). Cass (11-11, 6-7) hosts county-rival Woodland Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. and will face Villa Rica at home Friday night at 7:30 p.m.
DARLINGTON 51, EXCEL CHRISTIAN BOYS 43
The Excel boys stayed within striking range throughout, but dropped a 51-43 Region 6-A decision at Darlington Saturday. Tate Ratledge and Patrick Shelley led the host Tigers with 14 and 12 points, respectively. Darlington led 12-7 after one period, led 26-20 at the intermission, and held a 34-28 lead after three quarters. Rayshawn Womack led the Eagles with 14 points. Josiah Mosley followed with 10. Evan Lee had eight points. Kalil Holley contributed five and Robby Poston added three points. Darlington improved to 12-8 overall and 8-3 in region games. Excel (4-16, 1-9) hosts Gordon Lee Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at travels to Mt. Zion-Carroll Friday night.
PAULDING COUNTY 64, WOODLAND BOYS 60
The Woodland boys went into the fourth quarter tied with visiting Paulding County Saturday night, but finished just short in a 64-60 Region 7-AAAAA loss. Paulding led 12-8 after one quarter and held a 37-26 lead at halftime before the Wildcats caught them at 46-all after three periods. Kevin Brown and Jervon Morris led Paulding County with 18 and 14 points, respectively. Hunter Johnson paced Woodland with a game-high 22 points and Dawson Wilkins followed with 17. Jaylen Ballard scored seven. D.J. Robinson and Justice Carter tossed in six points each while DiAnthony Heathcock added two.
The Patriots improved to 18-3 overall and 9-3 in region play. Paulding maintains third place in league play. Woodland (4-16, 1-11) plays at Cass Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and entertains Hiram Friday night.
SOUTHEAST WHITFIELD 61, ADAIRSVILLE BOYS 54
The host Raiders took a 15-9 lead after one quarter and led 35-18 at halftime on their way to a 61-54 non-region win over Adairsville Saturday in Dalton. Southeast Whitfield improved their season record to 10-11 with the win.
Adairsville (7-14, 5-7 Region 6-AAA) returns to region action Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. at Calhoun. The Tigers are scheduled to host Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe Friday night at 7 p.m.
