The Excel Christian Academy boys dropped a five-point decision Thursday night at home to the visiting Johnson Ferry Academy Saints, 69-64. The two teams battled to a 34-34 tie at halftime before ECA built a 54-48 advantage heading into the fourth quarter. Johnson Ferry then outscored the Eagles 21-10 in the final period to escape with a win. Micah Strech and Jackson Walker led the Saints (5-7) with 14 and 13 points, respectively. Carter May poured in a game-high 27 points to lead Excel. King Eleazer finished with 13 points and Gavin Dyson added 10 for the Eagles. Excel (2-7) visits Trion on December 22.

The Cass Lady Colonels won their opening game of the SMI Carrollton Christmas Clash Thursday night at Temple High School defeating Mt. Zion-Carroll 76-21. Cass built a huge lead early and never trailed in their 55-point win. The Lady Colonels led 24-5 after one quarter and 46-8 at halftime. Kaitlyn Godwin and Olivia Woods led the Cass scoring attack with 14 points each. Kiana McDaniel followed with 10 points. Darianna Sosa and KK Evans chipped in six apiece. Carlissa Randall scored 11 points to lead the Eagles (0-6). Cass (5-1) advances to the semifinals on Friday at 7 p.m. to face Temple. The Lady Tigers defeated Bowdon on Thursday night in their tournament opener, 59-34.

December 12, 2023 Tuesday night’s local basketball roundup: WOODLAND GIRLS 39, SOUTHEAST WHITFIELD 31 Megan Schultz scored 23 points and Ella Shipp added 10 as the Lady Cats won at Southeast Whitfield Tuesday night. Miracle Goody led the Raiders (4-5) with 12 points. Woodland (5-3) plays Coosa on Friday afternoon to open the Rome News Tournament. CARTERSVILLE GIRLS 46, SONORAVILLE 43 The Lady Canes led 22-20 at halftime and 40-35 after three quarters before holding off Sonoraville Tuesday night for a 46-43 win. Ansley Griffin led Cartersville with 14 points and six steals. KK Arnold finished with 11 points and three steals. Nayel Camper added five points and five rebounds. Brynley Walraven led Sonoraville (0-9) with 10 points. Cartersville improved to 3-5 on the season. COAHULLA CREEK 47, ADAIRSVILLE GIRLS 45 (Overtime) The Lady Tigers came up just short Tuesday night at Coahulla Creek in overtime, 47-45. Adairsville rallied from a 10-point deficit at the end of three quarters to send the game into overtime tied at 37-all but the host Lady Colts escaped with a two-point win. Carolina Reed scored 15 points and Aubree Langley had 14 to lead Coahulla Creek (7-2, 3-1). NaXyria Roberts led Adairsville with 19 points. Alivia Joslin followed with 11 for the Tigers. Adairsville (5-4, 3-1) visits Sonoraville on Friday for a 7 p.m. tip. SONORAVILLE 69, CARTERSVILLE BOYS 50 Jordan Storey scored 22 points and Elijah Woods added 15 as visiting Sonoraville won at Cartersville Tuesday night 69-50. Kaden Baldwin led Cartersville with 11 points. Nasir Bennett followed with 10. DJ Cain added eight and Daylin Hall seven. Sonoraville improved to 6-3 on the season. Cartersville (0-5) plays at Villa Rica on Thursday night. COAHULLA CREEK 70, ADAIRSVILLE BOYS 46 The host Colts led 19-11 after one quarter and never trailed in a 70-46 win over Adairsville Tuesday night. Gage Voyles and Cullen Marti led Coahulla Creek with 15 points each. Chase Ward contributed 14 as the Colts improved to 7-2 overall and 4-0 in Region 6-AAA. Tay Jackson scored 17 for the Tigers. Ben Abernathy added 16. Adairsville (3-5, 2-2) visits Sonoraville on Friday at 7:30 p.m. Editor's note: Information for game reports provided by coaches.

The Cass boys basketball team dropped an 85-60 decision Monday night at Rome. The host Wolves led 37-21 by halftime on the way to a 25-point win. Braxton Wade led Rome (2-2) with 16 points. Jayden Foster scored 20 points for the Colonels and D.J. Sams added 10. Cass (1-5) visits Kennesaw Mountain on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

The Excel Christian Academy Eagles lost to visiting Shiloh Hills Christian Academy Monday night, 67-54. Aidan Nemat scored 18 points to lead the Challengers (10-2). Seth Bledsoe and Kayden Jeter added 14 and 13 points, respectively. Kamarion Profit paced Excel with 15 points. David Jinks contributed 12 and Carter May had 11 points for the Eagles. Excel (2-6) hosts Johnson Ferry Christian Academy on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

The Cass girls, boys, and combined swim teams finished runner-up to host Rome High School last Thursday (Dec. 7) in a six-team event. In the combined scoring and girls scoring, Model was third followed by Armuchee, Pepperell, and Coosa. In the boys’ events, Model was third followed by Armuchee and Coosa. The Cass boys 200-yard freestyle relay team, consisting of Sawyer Foy, Brandon Silva-Escuen, Gavin Srybnik, and Jordan Russell, won their event in 2:03.23. Stacia Zappoli, Monica Martinez, Carson Brannon, and Adyson Doolittle of Cass won the girls' 200-yard freestyle relay in 2:14.77. Foy was second in the boys' 50-yard freestyle; Lam Vy was second in the boys' 100-yard breaststroke; and the Cass girls' 400-yard freestyle relay team (Doolittle, Zappoli, Martinez, and Mallece Lorimer) finished second. The Colonels will take a holiday break before competing in the Bartow County Championships at Adairsville High School on Saturday, January 6.

The Woodland High and Cass High wrestling teams participated Saturday in the Al Miller Cleveland (Tenn.) Duals. Woodland went 2-1 in Pool B of the 16-team event with victories over Rossview (63-15), Gilmer (36-24), and a loss to Huntsville (43-27). The Wildcats then dropped a 51-24 decision to Blackman in the semifinals of the Silver brackets before defeating Central-Carroll 38-36 in the Silver bracket third-place match. In Pool C, Cass was 0-3 with losses to Christian Brothers (39-34), Central-Carroll (45-33), and Maryville (40-36). The Colonels then won the Copper Bracket with victories over Mountain View (55-16) and Rossview (58-23). Individual performances: Woodland: 106: Amari Kinnamore - 5-0 113: Noah Cates - 1-4 120: Dylan Couey - 1-4 126: Griffin Firth - 2-3 132: Nathan Cates - 4-1 138: Briggis Taff -  1-4 144: Zachary Wallace -  3-1 150: Keidon Linden - 0-4 157: Christian Cothran - 4-1 165: Heath Tatum - 0-4 175: Melvin Ramos - 1-4 190: Owen Jones -  5-0 215:  John Gill -  3-2 285 - Kwadrus Wilson - 3-1 Cass 106: Nathaniel Johnson - 0-2 113: Angel Castenado - 4-1 120 / 126: Hunter Barrett - 4-1 120 / 126: Lee Camp - 5-0 132: Luka Jenson - 1-4 138: Ethan Harrington - 3-2 144/ 150: A.J. Piatt - 3-1 144: Austin McArthur -  1-1 150: David Jewell - 5-0 157: Richard Martin - 1-3 165: Mason Tompkins - 5-0 175: Kirecg Roe - 5-0 190 - Tyler Rutledge - 0-4 215 - Wyatt Harris - 2-3 285 - John Abernathy - 0-5 Woodland will wrestle in the Gorilla Warfare at Berkmar High School in Lilburn this Friday and Saturday. Cass will compete at the Smokey Mountain Duals in Gatlinburg, Tennessee on the same dates.

Two local high school girls’ teams participated Saturday in the Wood Elite Showcase at Etowah High School and both came up short in their respective contests. CREEKVIEW 56, CARTERSVILLE GIRLS 49 The Lady Canes trailed 29-20 at halftime Saturday and could not recover in the second half in a 56-49 loss to the Creekview Grizzlies. KK Arnold led Cartersville with 14 points. Jayda Cothran followed with 10. Ansley Griffin scored nine points. Zoie Shiflett tossed in six and Taff Bradley added five points for the Lady Canes. Ashlynn Buciasath led Creekview (6-3) with 12 points. Kailyn Hamby and Amilya Taft added 10 points each. Cartersville (2-5) hosts Sonoraville on Tuesday at 6 p.m. HARRISON 44, ADAIRSVILLE GIRLS 32 Sloane Vick scored 18 points and Harper Smith totaled 10 as Harrison defeated Adairsville 44-32 in a game played at Etowah High School as part of the Elite Wood Showcase. NaXyria Roberts led Adairsville with 17 points. Savannah Viktora scored five and Alissa Winters added four points for the Lady Tigers. Adairsville (5-3) visits Coahulla Creek on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

Saturday, December 9 Cartersville wrestling finished twelfth and Adairsville was fourteenth this weekend (Dec. 8-9) at the 39-team McCallie Wrestling Invitational Tournament in Chattanooga. Cartersville results: 106: Jair Flores, 0-2 120: Will Benson, 0-2 126: Eaiden Neal, 5th place, 5-2 132: Wyatt Earwood, 1-2 138: Talan Nix, 5-0, Champion 144: Grey Williams, 2-2 175: Peter Cepeda, 0-2 215: GianCarlo Rivadeneyra, 2-2 285: Delroy Hurst, 3-2 Adairsville results: 113: Madden Boyce, 6th place,  5-3 138: Ethan Bruce, 0-2 150: Jay Chancey, 1-2 157: Howard Bailey, 3rd place, 6-1 165: Jacob Pasley, 4-2 190: Jaimen Long, 4th place, 5-2 Adairsville and Cartersville return to the mats December 15-16 in the Clash at Coahulla Creek.

The Adairsville High basketball teams swept Ridgeland in Region 6-AAA action Friday night while the Woodland High teams swept non-region contests with Bowdon. The Excel Christian Academy boys dropped a home matchup with Calhoun in other local action. ADAIRSVILLE GIRLS 50, RIDGELAND 39 The Lady Tigers remained unbeaten in region play with a 50-39 home win Friday night over Ridgeland. Adairsville led at each quarter stop including 13-8 after one quarter; 21-17 at halftime; and 37-25 through three quarters on the way to their 11-point win. NaXyria Roberts and Darby Adams paced the Lady Tigers in scoring with 12 and 11 points, respectively. Jamiah Lewis led the visiting Lady Panthers (2-6, 0-3) with 13 points. Adairsville (5-2, 3-0) steps out of Region 6-AAA play Saturday to host Harrison at 4:30 p.m. ADAIRSVILLE BOYS 64, RIDGELAND 53 The Tigers led 18-10 after the opening eight minutes and extended the lead to 34-17 by halftime Friday night in a home region win over Ridgeland. The Panthers narrowed the margin to eight points during the second half but Adairsville held on for a 64-53 victory. Xavious Nalls led Adairsville with 21 points. Tay Jackson and Ben Abernathy followed with 13 points apiece. Chase Hickman led Ridgeland (4-3, 1-2) with 16 points. Adairsville (3-4, 2-1) plays at Coahulla Creek on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. WOODLAND GIRLS 54, BOWDON 39 The Lady Cats had three players reach double-figure scoring Friday night in a 54-39 home victory over Bowdon. Woodland led 23-11 at the intermission on the way to a 15-point win. Gracie Shipp led with 17 points. Ella Shipp scored 14 and Megan Schultz totaled 10 points for Woodland. Reagan Weightman posted seven and Libby Morgan added six. Carlie Whitman led the Red Devils (0-3) with 12 points. The Lady Cats (4-3) visit Southeast Whitfield on Tuesday. WOODLAND BOYS 62, BOWDON 33 The Wildcats improved to 3-5 with a 62-33 home win Friday night over Bowdon (0-3). Brelace Williams scored 16 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for the Wildcats. Zyon Heath added 14 points and collected eight rebounds. Woodland travels to Southeast Whitfield on Tuesday. CALHOUN 85, EXCEL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY BOYS 62 Visiting Calhoun led 51-31 by halftime on the way to an 85-62 win at Excel Christian Academy Friday night. Bryant Arnold led Calhoun with 18 points followed by Jace Johnson with 14, Blake Hammett with 12, and Landon Chattam with 10 points. King Eleazer paced the Eagles with 23 points. Carlos Cartagena scored 16 and Carter May had 11 points for ECA. Calhoun improved to 1-2 on the season. Excel (2-5) hosts Shiloh Hills Christian on Monday at 7:30 p.m.

The Cass girls and boys teams defeated visiting Sonoraville Tuesday night while the Adairsville girls and Woodland girls also collected wins. Local high school basketball results for Tuesday, December 5 as reported to BartowSportsZone.com. Updates will be made when information is made available. ADAIRSVILLE GIRLS 52, RINGGOLD 40 The Adairsville Lady Tigers utilized a strong defensive effort and rebounded well in a 52-40 region win at Ringgold Tuesday night. “Our defense helped us tonight,” said Adairsville Melissa Winters following the game. “We had 18 steals and 26 rebounds.” Aliya McBryde led the Adairsville scoring with 15 points. NaXyria Roberts scored 14 and Alissa Winters added 10 for the green and gold Tigers. Leiah Henderson paced Ringgold (3-2, 1-1) with 12 points. The Adairsville girls (4-2, 2-0 Region 6-AAA) host Ridgeland on Friday at 7 p.m. and Harrison on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. WOODLAND GIRLS 43, UNITY CHRISTIAN 28 The Lady Cats built a 30-9 lead by halftime and beat the visiting Lady Lions of Unity Christian Tuesday night, 43-28. Megan Schultz and Gracie Shipp led the Woodland scoring attack with 16 and 9 points, respectively. Anna Grace Wells and Emily King posted six points each for Unity (0-3). Woodland (3-3) hosts Bowdon on Friday at 6 p.m. WOODLAND BOYS 73, UNITY CHRISTIAN 48 The Wildcats defeated Unity Christian School of Rome Tuesday night at home, 73-48, for their second win of the year. The loss drops Unity Christian to 0-3 on the season. Woodland (2-5) hosts Bowdon on Friday night. CASS GIRLS 49, SONORAVILLE 41 The Lady Colonels outlasted visiting Sonoraville Tuesday night, 49-41. Cass led at each quarter stop but the Lady Phoenix kept the game tight. Cass led 14-7 after one quarter; 18-16 at halftime; and 32-25 at the end of the third quarter. Olivia Woods led the Cass scoring with 13 points. Tamira Feanny and Zion Hayes controlled the boards with 15 and 10 rebounds, respectively. Hayes added nine points and Feanny scored two. Kiana McDaniel also scored nine points and finished with five steals. Darianna Sosa chipped in six points. Cadie Paez had five. Kaitlyn Godwin scored three points and KK Evans added two. Ella Kate Walraven led Sonoraville (0-6) with 16 points. Lakelin Hall followed with 11 and Malya Moore scored 10 points for the Phoenix. Cass (4-1) has a break before playing Mt. Zion-Carroll at the Carroll County Christmas Tournament on Thursday, December 14 at 4 p.m. CASS BOYS 55, SONORAVILLE The Colonels picked up their first win of the season Tuesday night at home, 55-49 over Sonoraville. Cass led the back-and-forth contest 16-11 after one quarter but trailed 23-20 at halftime and 40-28 at the end of the third quarter. The Colonels then rallied in the fourth quarter to outscore the Phoenix 27-9 to escape with a six-point win. Jayden Foster had 14 points to lead Cass. Kevin Henderson finished with nine. Jakai Baldwin and Dylan Miller contributed eight points each while Parnell Gamble added seven. “Excited to get a tough win over a good Sonoraville team,” said Cass coach Kevin Cunningham. “We had a full week of practice and it came together for us tonight. Parnell Gamble, Kevin Henderson, and Derris Reece played great off the bench and it helped us pull out a come-from-behind win. I’m proud of these guys.” Jordyn Storey scored 15 points for Sonoraville (3-3). Elijah Woods chipped in ten. Cass (1-4) plays at Rome on Monday, December 11. NORTH PAULDING 68, CARTERSVILLE GIRLS 51 KK Arnold and Ansley Griffin both scored 12 points to lead the Lady Canes but the Cartersville girls fell at North Paulding Tuesday night, 68-51. Arnold added three rebounds and three assists. Griffin had a pair of steals and two assists. Senai Camper contributed nine points, seven assists, and three rebounds. Zoie Shiflett finished with seven points and Taff Bradley six. The Lady Canes (2-4) return to action Saturday at Etowah High School where they will play Creekview at 6 p.m. in the Wood Elite Classic. GRACE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 88, EXCEL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY BOYS 34 Grace Christian (5-1) led 27-9 after one quarter Monday night and was up 51-17 at halftime en route to an 88-34 win at home over Excel. ECA (2-5) hosts Calhoun on Friday at 7:30 p.m. RINGGOLD 55, ADAIRSVILLE BOYS 47 The Adairsville boys led 28-20 at halftime but a third-quarter surge by host Ringgold led to a 55-47 Region 6-AAA victory. Ringgold (4-1, 2-0) outscored Adairsville 35-19 in the second half. Gabe Gomez and Xavious Nalls each scored 15 points for Adairsville. Adairsville (2-4, 1-1) hosts Ridgeland on Friday at 8:30 p.m. NORTH PAULDING 53, CARTERSVILLE BOYS 39 North Paulding improved to 2-4 on the season. Cartersville is now 0-3. Next for the Canes is a home game on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. against Rockmart.

The Cartersville High swim team won a quad meet Tuesday at the Adairsville High pool defeating Woodland, Northwest Whitfield, and Cass in combined team scores. Cartersville’s combined score of 250 edged out Woodland with 244. Northwest Whitfield (196) was next followed by Cass (150). The Cartersville girls scored 148 followed by Cass (92), Woodland (89), and Northwest Whitfield (77). The Woodland boys (155) finished ahead of Northwest Whitfield (119), Cartersville (109), and Cass (58). Local winners by event: Boys 200 yard medley relay — Woodland (Grayson Moore, Isaiah Muriel, Isaac Muriel, Nicholas Lumpkin) — 2:08.66 Girls 200 yard medley relay — Cartersville (Lainey Saunders, Margot Walker, Margherita Miniati, Kat Conley) — 2:17.29 Boys 200 yard freestyle — Gavin Hubbard, Woodland, 2:40.67 Boys 50 yard freestyle — Grayson Moore, Woodland, 23.05 Boys 100 yard butterfly — Isaac Muriel, Woodland, 1:20.91 Boys 100 yard freestyle — Grayson Moore, Woodland, 55.27 Girls 100 yard freestyle — Margherita Miniati, Cartersville, 69.65 Boys 200 yard freestyle relay — Woodland (Isaiah Muriel, Nicholas Lumpkin, Isaac Muriel, Grayson Moore) — 1:4397 Girls 200 yard freestyle relay — Cartersville (Kat Conley, Margot Walker, Lainey Saunders, Margherita Miniati) — 1:58.87 Girls 100 yard backstroke — Lainey Saunders, Cartersvile, 1:23.73 Boys 100 yard backstroke — Isaiah Muriel, Woodland, 1:24.78 Girls 100 yard breaststroke — Margherita Miniati, Woodland, 1:20.13 Girls 400 yard freestyle — Cass (Adyson Doolittle, Mallece Lorimer, Jimena Perez, Stadia Zappoli) — 5:18.28 Upcoming meets: Cass at Rome on December 7 Woodland at Adairsville on December 16