Harpring, Marist ends Lady Canes' state playoff run
February 25, 2025
The Cartersville Lady Canes had their state playoff run come to a close Tuesday night in the Class AAAA quarterfinals with a 51-34 loss at Marist in Atlanta.
Marist’s Kate Harpring, the No. 1 rated player by 247Sports in the Class of 2026, scored 40 points to lead the War Eagles to their 21st straight win since a loss at Cherokee on December 17. She is the daughter of former Georgia Tech star and 1998-99 NBA All-Rookie team member Matt Harpring.
Cartersville trailed 9-4 in the opening minutes but rallied late in the opening period to knot the score at 11 after eight minutes.
Behind Harpring’s 11 points in the quarter, Marist outscored the Lady Canes 15-6 in the second period to grab a 26-17 advantage at the intermission.
Cartersville narrowed the deficit to five points three times in the third quarter, but Harpring scored six of her 12 third-quarter points in a one-minute span to build an 11-point War Eagles lead with 1:24 left in the third period. KK Arnold’s free throws cut that lead to nine points at the end of the quarter — 39-30.
Marist outscored Cartersville 12-4 in the fourth quarter to put the game away. Harpring scored eight of the War Eagles’ points in the period.
Overall, Harpring concluded with 12 field goals, two three-pointers, and made 10 out of 11 free throws in a remarkable display. Katie Elder, Eloise Smith, and Emily Morrison each contributed four points for the War Eagles.
Arnold led Cartersville with 13 points. She added two steals and one rebound. Senai Camper and Blakely Morris finished with nine points. Morris added eight rebounds and two steals. Camper contributed four assists and two boards. Zoe McCurry finished with three points.
Marist (29-2) advanced to the Final Four to face Creekside (30-0) on Saturday at Fort Valley State. The other semifinal will be Jackson (19-7) against North Oconee (29-1).
Jackson defeated Northview 45-39, and North Oconee beat Dalton 62-57 in quarterfinal games on Tuesday. Creekside topped Ware County 63-46.
The Lady Canes had their season end with a 19-10 record.
