February 5, 2024 DJ Paradis With a squad heavy on youth, Cartersville withstood an early onslaught from a senior-laden Cherokee team to surprise the Warriors 1-0 in the season opener in Canton on Friday, Feb. 2 The Canes aren’t without upperclassmen of their own. Senior Yosvanni Pineda’s penalty kick from 30 yards out in the fourth minute of the second half just cleared the goalie, giving the Canes a 1-0 lead while fellow senior goalie Avery Sexton kept shots out of the net in the first half. Cherokee placed a potential game-tying goal in the 23rd minute of the second half that was disallowed due to offsides. Goalkeeping proved key to the Canes’ victory, with freshman Cash Priest turning away several close shots in the second half. That included a point-blank blast midway through the second half turned away by a diving Priest and a low burner through the defense with eight minutes to play. Sophomore striker Colby Craig almost gave the Canes some insurance late in the game, but his volley off another Pineda penalty kick went just left of the goal. Canes coach DJ Paradis said the game revealed a lot about his team. “Coming in, I wasn’t sure what to expect because we’re so inexperienced,” he said. “We survived the first half and then made a tactical change at halftime to go with five backs, three in center and two at the wings. We kept the three center mids and put one more forward up top. That put more pressure on their back line because we were playing long out of the back. “We were able to cut their passes off when they were trying to move it around the back. It stymied their attack enough that we could get into a position to take the ball off their foot and push the attack.” His young goalie’s second-half play to preserve the win was crucial. “That’s a team with nine starting seniors over there,” said Paradis of Cherokee. “Cash had a great first night and balled out. I don’t know what else you can say.” The Canes play their home opener on Tuesday, Feb. 6 in Weinman Stadium against Cedartown. Kickoff is set for 7:30.

February 4, 2024 Georgia Highlands baseball completed a four-game series sweep of Central Alabama CC on Saturday with a pair of wins over the Trojans, 4-3 and 7-3. Trailing 3-1, the Chargers rallied for three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning of Game 1 on four singles and a walk. Grayson Godbee had the game-winning, two-RBI, two-out single to put GHC ahead. Brodie Chestnut (2 IP, 0R, 1H, 1BB, 1K) was credited with the pitching win in the opener in relief of starter Michael Sharman (4 IP, 3ER, 7H, 3BB, 2K). Hunter Ward worked the final hitless and scoreless frame with one strikeout to collect his first save. In Game 2, GHC grabbed an early 4-0 lead and pitchers Trip Dovale (6 IP, 3R, 1ER, 4H, 8K) and Logan Spivey (1 IP, 0R, 1H, 2K) made it stand up. Dovale earned the win and Spivey picked up a save. Clay Wiesen, who had four hits on the day, had three hits in Game 2 with three RBIs. Ali Banks finished the day with three hits including a double and two RBIs. Ryan Wideman also had a three-hit day with one RBI. Godbee (two RBIs) and Barrett Eldridge (solo HR) finished with two hits. Luke Orfi, Davis Newman, Gray Wilson, and Will Cawthon (RBI) added one hit on the day. The Chargers (6-0) will play a pair of doubleheaders this Friday and Saturday at home against Lincoln Trail College (Illinois). The Statesmen are 1-2 following this past weekend’s series at Northwest-Shoals CC. Both doubleheaders are 1 p.m. starts.

February 4, 2024 Georgia Highlands softball lost both games of a home doubleheader Saturday to Florence-Darlington Tech, falling 5-4 in the first game and 10-2 in Game 2. The visiting Stingers scored the go-ahead run of Game 1 in the sixth inning on a pair of singles with a stolen base in between. Chargers’ pitcher Hayden Joyner suffered the hard-luck loss in the circle but tossed a complete seven innings. She yielded five earned runs on 11 hits and three walks. Joyner fanned three. GHC held a 3-2 lead through the first three innings and knotted the score at 4-all in the bottom of the fifth inning. Cass product Haylee Dishmon had three hits and two RBIs for the Chargers. She also stole a base. Ally Graden had a pair of doubles with one RBI. Aliza Martinez (RBI), Cayden Warren, and Joyner added one hit. In Game 2, Florence-Darlington Tech took an early 4-0 lead and added on late for a 10-2 victory. Graden’s two-run double in the third inning produced the only two Lady Chargers’ runs. Dishmon, Hannah Mounce, Aliza Martinez, and Grace Kendrick added one hit each. Jaycie Hand (5 IP, 10R, 9ER, 12H, 2BB, 2K) took the pitching loss in Game 2. The wins by the Stingers completed a three-game series sweep as FDT started the season 3-0. Georgia Highlands (2-3) hosts Snead State CC on Wednesday for a doubleheader and will entertain Walters State CC for two games on Friday. Both doubleheaders are 2 p.m. starts.

Adairsville wrestling dominated the upper weight classes Saturday at the Area 5-AAA Traditional Championship but Bremen controlled the lower weight classes to edge the Tigers for the team title, 223-180. The top two teams had individuals to win 13 of the 14 weight classes. Bremen wrestlers won seven titles. Adairsville wrestlers won six. In addition to the Tigers’ six individual Area champions, Adairsville took second place in four weight classes and third in two more to advance 12 individuals to the GHSA State Sectionals next weekend at Coahulla Creek High School in Dalton. Advancing for Adairsville: 106:  Sam Bailey, 3rd 113:  Madden Boyce, 2nd 120:  Braxton Elrod, 2nd 126:  Riley Pope, 3rd 138:  Victor Singer, 2nd 144:  Jay Chancey, 2nd 157: Howard Bailey, 1st 165: Jacob Pasley, 1st 175: David Coon, 1st 190: Jaimen Long, 1st 215:  Seth Sellers, 1st 285:  Jett Johnson, 1st

February 3, 2024 Woodland wrestling finished second, Cass was third, and Cartersville placed fifth Saturday at the Region 7-5A Traditional Championship hosted by Cartersville High School. Dalton won the team title with 243 points. Woodland (231.5), Cass (186), Calhoun (158.5), Cartersville (156), and Hiram (86) rounded out the team scoring. The top four individuals in each weight class from the Region tournament have now advanced to the GHSA Sectional Tournament next weekend at Harris County High School. Woodland and Cass both advanced eleven wrestlers. Cartersville will have seven individuals at the state sectional. The top six in each weight class at the state sectional will advance to the GHSA State Championships in Macon on February 15-17. Results from the Region 7-5A tournament: 106 1st Place - Amari Kinnamore of Woodland, Cartersville 2nd Place - Nathen Ridley of Dalton 3rd Place - Jair Flores of Cartersville 4th Place - Couper Tate of Calhoun 1st Place Match Amari Kinnamore (Woodland, Cartersville) 13-4, So. over Nathen Ridley (Dalton) 31-11, So. (Fall 1:40) 3rd Place Match Jair Flores (Cartersville) 13-12, Fr. over Couper Tate (Calhoun) 14-17, Fr. (Inj. 0:00) 5th Place Match () , . over () , . (Bye) 113 1st Place - Hunter Barrett of Cass 2nd Place - Noah Cates of Woodland, Cartersville 3rd Place - Dominick Parks of Dalton 4th Place - Zaatren Bennett of Calhoun 5th Place - Jacob Ramirez of Hiram 6th Place - Will Benson of Cartersville 1st Place Match Hunter Barrett (Cass) 25-4, Jr. over Noah Cates (Woodland, Cartersville) 11-10, So. (TF-1.5 4:45 (20-4)) 3rd Place Match Dominick Parks (Dalton) 25-8, So. over Zaatren Bennett (Calhoun) 19-24, Fr. (Dec 9-2) 5th Place Match Jacob Ramirez (Hiram) 8-18, So. over Will Benson (Cartersville) 19-8, Jr. (For.) 120 1st Place - Lee Camp of Cass 2nd Place - Grant Adams of Cartersville 3rd Place - Dylan Couey of Woodland, Cartersville 4th Place - Jr. Deharo of Dalton 5th Place - Landon Bounds of Calhoun 1st Place Match Lee Camp (Cass) 32-3, Sr. over Grant Adams (Cartersville) 10-2, Jr. (Fall 3:08) 3rd Place Match Dylan Couey (Woodland, Cartersville) 23-13, Fr. over Jr. Deharo (Dalton) 14-9, Jr. (Fall 2:27) 5th Place Match Landon Bounds (Calhoun) 6-19, Fr. over () , . (Bye) 126 1st Place - Eaiden Neal of Cartersville 2nd Place - Luka Jensen of Cass 3rd Place - Nathen Hernandez of Dalton 4th Place - Adrian Zapata of Woodland, Cartersville 5th Place - Cole Irons of Hiram 6th Place - Kaden Banks of Calhoun 1st Place Match Eaiden Neal (Cartersville) 33-4, Sr. over Luka Jensen (Cass) 27-14, Fr. (TF-1.5 3:44 (19-2)) 3rd Place Match Nathen Hernandez (Dalton) 18-15, So. over Adrian Zapata (Woodland, Cartersville) 11-7, Fr. (Dec 14-12) 5th Place Match Cole Irons (Hiram) 20-22, So. over Kaden Banks (Calhoun) 18-22, Jr. (For.) 132 1st Place - Zaedin Ausmus of Dalton 2nd Place - Rowdy Duck of Cass 3rd Place - Nathan Cates of Woodland, Cartersville 4th Place - Wyatt Earwood of Cartersville 5th Place - Jory Wardlaw of Hiram 1st Place Match Zaedin Ausmus (Dalton) 37-5, Sr. over Rowdy Duck (Cass) 22-4, So. (Inj. 0:00) 3rd Place Match Nathan Cates (Woodland, Cartersville) 24-8, So. over Wyatt Earwood (Cartersville) 16-14, Fr. (Fall 2:04) 5th Place Match Jory Wardlaw (Hiram) 6-23, Fr. over () , . (Bye) 138 1st Place - Zachary Wallace of Woodland, Cartersville 2nd Place - Talan Nix of Cartersville 3rd Place - Ethan Harrington of Cass 4th Place - Christain DeDios of Dalton 5th Place - Zander Bone of Hiram 6th Place - Thaxton Hancock of Calhoun 1st Place Match Zachary Wallace (Woodland, Cartersville) 26-5, Jr. over Talan Nix (Cartersville) 23-2, Jr. (Dec 5-3) 3rd Place Match Ethan Harrington (Cass) 23-17, So. over Christain DeDios (Dalton) 26-12, Sr. (Dec 3-1) 5th Place Match Zander Bone (Hiram) 18-23, Jr. over Thaxton Hancock (Calhoun) 28-19, Jr. (Fall 1:19) 144 1st Place - Hayden Santora of Woodland, Cartersville 2nd Place - Alex Overby of Dalton 3rd Place - Jack Theus of Calhoun 4th Place - AJ Piatt of Cass 5th Place - John Hullander of Cartersville 6th Place - Anakin Munger of Hiram 1st Place Match Hayden Santora (Woodland, Cartersville) 10-2, Sr. over Alex Overby (Dalton) 37-8, Sr. (Dec 3-0) 3rd Place Match Jack Theus (Calhoun) 24-19, Fr. over AJ Piatt (Cass) 32-6, Jr. (Inj. 0:00) 5th Place Match John Hullander (Cartersville) 1-2, Jr. over Anakin Munger (Hiram) 6-18, So. (MD 15-2) 150 1st Place - Marty Gonzalez of Calhoun 2nd Place - Ezra Wingfield of Dalton 3rd Place - Grey Williams of Cartersville 4th Place - Richard Martin of Cass 5th Place - Me`Keil Wells of Hiram 6th Place - Elijah Mullinax of Woodland, Cartersville 1st Place Match Marty Gonzalez (Calhoun) 41-13, Sr. over Ezra Wingfield (Dalton) 24-10, Fr. (Fall 5:07) 3rd Place Match Grey Williams (Cartersville) 26-12, Jr. over Richard Martin (Cass) 10-21, Sr. (Inj. 0:00) 5th Place Match Me`Keil Wells (Hiram) 15-23, So. over Elijah Mullinax (Woodland, Cartersville) 1-3, Fr. (SV-1 7-5) 157 1st Place - Mason Tompkins of Cass 2nd Place - Randy Slinger of Dalton 3rd Place - Tyson Glass of Calhoun 4th Place - Marc Antoine of Hiram 5th Place - Rhet Tynes of Cartersville 6th Place - Christian Cothran of Woodland, Cartersville 1st Place Match Mason Tompkins (Cass) 27-4, So. over Randy Slinger (Dalton) 37-9, Sr. (MD 20-9) 3rd Place Match Tyson Glass (Calhoun) 35-9, Sr. over Marc Antoine (Hiram) 7-7, Jr. (Fall 4:56) 5th Place Match Rhet Tynes (Cartersville) 4-5, Fr. over Christian Cothran (Woodland, Cartersville) 28-9, Jr. (For.) 165 1st Place - Isaac Green of Calhoun 2nd Place - Heath Tatum of Woodland, Cartersville 3rd Place - Leon Roberson of Dalton 4th Place - Jake Bradford of Cass 5th Place - Peter Cepeda of Cartersville 6th Place - John Loudermilk of Hiram 1st Place Match Isaac Green (Calhoun) 53-2, Sr. over Heath Tatum (Woodland, Cartersville) 12-11, Sr. (Fall 3:05) 3rd Place Match Leon Roberson (Dalton) 19-14, Sr. over Jake Bradford (Cass) 5-10, Jr. (Fall 1:49) 5th Place Match Peter Cepeda (Cartersville) 13-20, So. over John Loudermilk (Hiram) 6-13, Fr. (Fall 0:42) 175 1st Place - Kirecg Roe of Cass 2nd Place - Rex Richardson of Calhoun 3rd Place - Bo Stout of Dalton 4th Place - Melvin Ramos of Woodland, Cartersville 5th Place - Jonathon Neal Radford of Cartersville 6th Place - Jalen Womack of Hiram 1st Place Match Kirecg Roe (Cass) 37-2, Jr. over Rex Richardson (Calhoun) 40-18, Jr. (TF-1.5 3:55 (15-0)) 3rd Place Match Bo Stout (Dalton) 21-11, Sr. over Melvin Ramos (Woodland, Cartersville) 14-16, Jr. (Fall 3:00) 5th Place Match Jonathon Neal Radford (Cartersville) 9-11, Jr. over Jalen Womack (Hiram) 12-22, Jr. (Fall 0:59) 190 1st Place - Owen Jones of Woodland, Cartersville 2nd Place - Erasmo Rabanales of Calhoun 3rd Place - Mason Steed of Dalton 4th Place - Tiger Pearson of Hiram 5th Place - Jeremiah McNally of Cartersville 1st Place Match Owen Jones (Woodland, Cartersville) 23-7, So. over Erasmo Rabanales (Calhoun) 18-15, So. (Fall 2:22) 3rd Place Match Mason Steed (Dalton) 2-1, . over Tiger Pearson (Hiram) 15-10, Sr. (Fall 3:45) 5th Place Match Jeremiah McNally (Cartersville) 0-2, Jr. over () , . (Bye) 215 1st Place - Styker Woods of Dalton 2nd Place - John Gill of Woodland, Cartersville 3rd Place - Dylan Maina of Hiram 4th Place - Chris Ellis of Calhoun 5th Place - Wyatt Harris of Cass 6th Place - Giancarlo Rivadeneyra of Cartersville 1st Place Match Styker Woods (Dalton) 43-3, Sr. over John Gill (Woodland, Cartersville) 24-6, Fr. (Fall 5:58) 3rd Place Match Dylan Maina (Hiram) 31-9, So. over Chris Ellis (Calhoun) 45-12, Sr. (Fall 1:58) 5th Place Match Wyatt Harris (Cass) 9-20, Sr. over Giancarlo Rivadeneyra (Cartersville) 11-15, So. (Dec 7-1) 285 1st Place - Kwadrus Wilson of Woodland, Cartersville 2nd Place - Riley Souther of Dalton 3rd Place - Delroy Hurst of Cartersville 4th Place - Bradley Gallup of Hiram 5th Place - John Abernathy of Cass 6th Place - Thomas Wells of Calhoun 1st Place Match Kwadrus Wilson (Woodland, Cartersville) 19-2, Sr. over Riley Souther (Dalton) 31-3, Sr. (Fall 1:55) 3rd Place Match Delroy Hurst (Cartersville) 17-9, Sr. over Bradley Gallup (Hiram) 28-12, So. (Fall 1:15) 5th Place Match John Abernathy (Cass) 4-18, So. over Thomas Wells (Calhoun) 11-9, Sr. (For.)

February 2, 2024 Bob Mackessy Cass Middle School will host the 2024 Bartow-Gordon Middle School Athletic Association basketball championship on Saturday (Feb. 3) with games beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday's schedule of championship games: (tournament seed and league record shown) 10 a.m. -- JV Girls -- (2) Rome (13-4) vs. (4) Dalton (13-5) 11:30 a.m. -- JV Boys -- (1) Cartersville (17-0) vs. (2) Rome (13-4) 1 p.m. -- Girls -- (1) Cartersville (15-0) vs. (3) Red Bud (12-4) 2:30 p.m. -- Boys -- (1) Calhoun (17-0) vs. (3) Cass (14-4) For complete season results and standings, visit the BGMSAA Winter Sports page on this site.

Georgia Highlands baseball won both games of a doubleheader Friday against visiting Central Alabama CC. The Chargers won the first game 6-5 and took the second game 11-4. Oliver Wood picked up the pitching win in Game 1 by scattering three hits in five innings of work. He allowed just one earned run and struck out two. Hunter Ward (1 IP, 0R, 0H, 2K) and Skyler Thellman (1 IP, 3ER, 3H, 2B, 1K) worked the final two frames for the Chargers. Kyle Stephenson (2.1 IP, 1ER, 2H, 2K) collected the Game 2 pitching win in relief of starter Chandler Anderson (1.2 IP, 3ER, 5H, 2K). Andrew Arnold (3 IP, 0R, 2H, 2K) earned his first save of the season with a three-inning stint. Will Cawthon had four hits in the doubleheader with three RBIs. Luke Orfi (HR, two RBIs), Grayson Godbee (double, RBI), and Barrett Eldridge (double, HR, three RBIs) each had three hits on the day. Ali Banks (RBI) and Davis Newman (2 RBIs) were next with two hits. Ryan Martin had a three-run homer. Ryan Wideman contributed an RBI double while Gray Wilson and Clay Wiesen added one hit each. The Chargers (4-0) play another doubleheader on Saturday at 2 p.m. with Central Alabama.

Georgia Highlands softball lost 9-4 Friday in the first game of their series with Florence-Darlington Tech. The visiting Stingers posted four runs in the second and fourth innings to build an 8-2 lead and outhit the Chargers nine to seven. Natalie Spiva and Larissa Siders combined for five hits and three RBIs to lead the Florence-Darlington Tech offense. Hayden Joyner had three hits including a double and two RBIs for the Lady Chargers. Haylee Dishmon, Avery Fisher (triple), Ally Graden (double), and Raegan Ford added one hit each. Grace Kendrick (7 IP, 9R, 5ER, 11H, 2BB, 3K) suffered the pitching loss. Georgia Highlands (2-1) has a doubleheader on Saturday with the Stingers.

The Woodland High School tennis teams opened their 2024 season this past Thursday and split matches with South Paulding. The Wildcats won 3-2 with Peter Heins picking up a Line 1 singles win, Domenic Ciavarro won on Line 3 singles and the Line 1 doubles pair — Jack Gore and Kaiden Holbrook — also collected a victory. The Lady Cats fell by a 4-1 decision. The Woodland win was at Line 2 singles by Kathryn Kovacic, 3-6, 7-6, 10-5. Woodland returns to action on Tuesday at Rome High School.

February 3, 2024 A pair of local girls' high school wrestlers won GHSA Area 7 championships Friday in their respective weight classes. The Area 7 tournament was held in Dahlonega. Jaylee Long of Adairsville won the 100-pound class in Area 7 while Anetra Witherspoon of Cartersville won the 190-pound division. Results for the two locals: GHSA Girls Area 7 Results for Adairsville 100 pounds Jaylee Long (10-0) placed 1st and scored 22.0 team points. Quarterfinal - Jaylee Long (Adairsville) 10-0 won by fall over Mikayla Holloway (Fannin County HS) 8-13 (Fall 0:39) Semifinal - Jaylee Long (Adairsville) 10-0 won by decision over Jacqueline Lopez (Southeast Whitfield) 14-7 (Dec 10-4) 1st Place Match - Jaylee Long (Adairsville) 10-0 won by decision over Carleigh Rau (Pickens) 16-2 (Dec 2-1) GHSA Girls Area 7 Results for Cartersville 190-pounds Anetra Witherspoon (28-2) placed 1st and scored 28.0 team points. Champ. Round 1 - Anetra Witherspoon (Cartersville) 28-2 received a bye () (Bye) Quarterfinal - Anetra Witherspoon (Cartersville) 28-2 won by fall over Shannon Todd (Dawson County) 1-2 (Fall 0:17) Semifinal - Anetra Witherspoon (Cartersville) 28-2 won by fall over Maxine Sullens (Lumpkin Co.) 19-23 (Fall 1:16) 1st Place Match - Anetra Witherspoon (Cartersville) 28-2 won by fall over Terra Burse (Southeast Whitfield) 20-1 (Fall 1:18) Long and Witherspoon have advanced to the Girls State Sectional B to be held at Harris County High School on Friday, February 9.  The top six placers in each weight class will advance to the state finals in Macon on February 15-17.

February 3, 2024 Friday night’s local high school basketball action saw the Cartersville girls and boys sweep Woodland, the Dalton girls and boys won at Cass, and Adairsville split home games with Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe. The Excel Christian Academy teams fell at Unity Christian School on Thursday night. CARTERSVILLE GIRLS 68, WOODLAND 18 The Lady Canes celebrated their 2023-24 senior players on Friday night at the Storm Center and defeated the visiting Lady Cats, 68-18. Taff Bradley finished with 15 points, four rebounds, and a pair of steals. Ansley Griffin scored 13 points and added three steals. JaBryanna Henderson contributed 10 points, two assists, and a pair of steals. KK Arnold added nine points, five assists, and two steals. Woodland (7-13, 0-8) plays at region-leading Dalton on Tuesday and hosts Cass on Friday. Cartersville (13-10, 6-2) visits Calhoun on Tuesday and Hiram on Friday to conclude the regular season. DALTON 59, CASS GIRLS 54 The Dalton girls maintained their grip on first place in Region 7-5A Friday night with a 59-54 win at Cass. The Lady Colonels and Lady Catamounts were knotted at 16 through the first eight minutes but Dalton pushed ahead 38-27 by halftime. The Cass girls battled back to within five points (44-39) by the end of the third quarter, but Dalton held on down the stretch for a five-point win. Grace Ridley led Dalton (15-8, 7-1) with 18 points. Jolie Wingfield followed with 11 and BB Bates added nine points for the Lady Catamounts. Zion Hayes led the Lady Colonels in the scoring column with 17 points. She added six rebounds. Nevaeh Woods scored 11 points. Kiana McDaniel finished with 10 points and five steals. Cass (14-9, 3-5) plays at Hiram on Tuesday and finishes the regular season at Woodland on Friday. LFO 69, ADAIRSVILLE GIRLS 60 The visiting Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe girls took over sole possession of first place in Region 6-AAA Friday night with a 69-60 win at Adairsville. The LFO win, combined with a Coahulla Creek loss to Ridgeland on Friday night gives the Lady Warriors a one-game lead in the region standings with just two games remaining in the regular season. LFO improved to 13-6 on the season and 11-1 in region play. The Adairsville girls (15-9, 9-4) are now locked into third place and will wrap up their regular season slate at Bremen on Tuesday. UNITY CHRISTIAN 59, EXCEL CHRISTIAN GIRLS 21 The Unity Christian School girls completed a 6-0 region schedule this past Thursday night with a 59-21 home win over Excel Christian. Excel (4-10, 2-5) finished third in GAPPS Region 1-IA and will play Oakwood Christian on Thursday in their opening region tournament game. Praise Academy in Powder Springs will host the tournament on Thursday and Friday. CARTERSVILLE BOYS 68, WOODLAND 52 The Purple Hurricanes took a 23-15 lead by the end of the first quarter Friday night at the Storm Center and never trailed in a 68-52 win over visiting Woodland. Cartersville led 37-26 at the intermission and extended the lead to 49-35 by the end of the third period. The Canes outscored the Wildcats 27-3 from behind the arc. Monte Tolbert made five three-pointers in the first quarter and Nas Bennett knocked down four shots from behind the arc. Bennett finished with 17 points for the Hurricanes. Tolbert followed with 16 and DJ Cain contributed 13 points for Cartersville. Three Wildcats scored in double-figures led by Zyon Heath with 18 points. Brelace Williams scored 14, and Jayden Metcalf finished with 12 for Woodland. Cartersville (10-12, 6-2) holds second place in the Region 7-5A standings with two games remaining. The Canes play at Calhoun on Tuesday and at Hiram on Friday. Woodland (7-15, 1-7) visits Dalton on Tuesday and hosts Cass on Friday. ADAIRSVILLE BOYS 65, LFO 56 The Adairsville Tigers rallied in the second half Friday night for a come-from-behind Region 6-AAA win over visiting Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe, 65-56. The Warriors led 13-10 after one quarter and 29-27 at halftime before Adairsville charged back in the second half. The Tigers outscored LFO 21-16 in the third quarter to grab a 48-45 advantage and held off the Warriors down the stretch for an eventual nine-point victory. Tayshaun Jackson poured in 28 points to pace Adairsville. Zachary Postell followed with 17 points and Xavious Nalls added seven for the Tigers. Darian Keefe scored 13 points for Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe. Champ Bowman and AJ Hendrix added 10 apiece for the Warriors (7-13, 6-6). Adairsville (15-9, 11-2) completes the regular season on Tuesday at Bremen where the Tigers will seek their tenth straight win heading into the Region 6-AAA tournament the following week. DALTON 57, CASS BOYS 36 The Dalton boys took an early lead and added on in the second half Friday night to win at Cass, 57-36. The Catamounts led at each quarter stop:  17-10 after one quarter, 33-21 at halftime, and 48-29 by the end of the third quarter. CJ Weaver led Dalton with 12 points. Eli Burt followed with 11 for the Catamounts (11-12, 5-3). Jayden Foster led Cass with eight points. Cass (6-13, 2-6) finishes the regular season on the road with games at region-leading Hiram on Tuesday and at local rival Woodland on Friday. UNITY CHRISTIAN 66, EXCEL CHRISTIAN BOYS 60 In a battle for the top seed from sub-division A of Region 1-IA on Thursday night in Rome, Unity Christian outlasted the Excel Eagles in the final period for a 66-60 win. Excel led 21-13 after one quarter but Unity battled back to knot the score at 30-all by halftime. The host Lions then grabbed a 48-47 advantage heading into the fourth quarter. Jay Davis led Unity (13-10, 6-0) with 22 points. The Eagles had three players in double-figure scoring led by Carter May’s 18. Carlos Cartagena scored 14 points and Kamarion Profit added 11 for ECA. Excel (7-17, 4-2) will open the GAPPS Region 1-IA tournament on Tuesday against either Praise Academy or Oakwood Christian.

January 31, 2024 The Georgia Highlands College softball Chargers opened their 2024 campaign on Wednesday with a pair of wins over Calhoun CC at their new athletic complex on the Cartersville campus. The Chargers won the opening game 8-0 in six innings and held on to edge the Warhawks in the second game, 11-10. Grace Kendrick picked up the pitching win in Game 1. She scattered four hits and struck out four without allowing a run. Jaycie Hand and Hayden Joyner (3Ks) worked one inning each in the circle. Hayden Joyner had two hits including a double and two RBIs. Ally Graden also had two hits. Raegan Ford (double, two RBIs), Avery Fisher (double, RBI), and Kendrick added one hit each. Haylee Dishmon and Cayden Warren contributed one RBI each. In the Game 2 victory, Kendrick (1.1 IP, 0R, 0H, 1BB, 3K) retired the final four outs to collect the pitching win. Hand (2 IP, 6ER, 7H, 1K) and Joyner (3.2 IP, 4ER, 6H, 1BB) also worked in the circle for the Chargers. Dishmon paced the GHC offense with three hits including a triple. Aliza Martinez (double, RBI) and Cailey Barnett (two RBIs) followed with two hits each. Warren (two RBIs), Fisher (double, RBI), Graden (double, three RBIs), Ford (RBI), and Joyner had one hit apiece. Hand contributed one RBI with a sac fly. GHC (2-0) will host Florence-Darlington Tech CC in a single game on Friday at 2 p.m. and a doubleheader on Saturday starting at noon.