The Woodland girls and boys basketball teams dropped non-region games Friday night at Temple with the Lady Cats falling 53-28 while the Wildcats came up on the short end of a 53-38 final. The host Tigers led the Woodland boys 26-18 at halftime and held on in the second half for a 15-point victory. The Wildcats narrowed the margin to 34-28 by the end of the third quarter but got no closer. Aman Jackson scored 24 points to lead Temple (2-1). Zyon Heath scored 22 to pace Woodland. Brelace Williams finished with 11 points. Isaiah Livsey scored three points and David Byars added two for the Wildcats. The Temple girls' team improved to 2-1 on the season while the Lady Cats slipped to 1-5 on the year. No game report was submitted for the girls' game. The Woodland teams return to action next Friday when they host Southeast Whitfield. The girls' game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. tip.

The Adairsville Tigers made a heavy mark on the 2022 Region 6-AAA season including a region championship. As a result, region coaches rewarded the Adairsville squad with a heavy presence on the league's All-Region roster. Headlining the awards, seniors Chris Roper and Bobby Campbell were named Player of the Year and Lineman of the Year, respectively, while Tigers' head coach Jonathan Cudd was named Region Coach of the Year. Five Tigers were named to the All-Region First Team Offense and four more were named to the First Team Defense. There are ten more slots on the Second Team or Honorable Mention roster held by Adairsville players. Region 6-AAA Player of the year: RB/DB Chris Roper, Adairsville, Sr. Offensive player of the year: QB Kace Kinnamon, Coahulla Creek, Sr. Defensive player of the year: LB Trent Baldwin, Ringgold, Sr. Athlete of the year: RB/DB Nate Dunfee, Gordon Lee, Sr. Lineman of the year: OL/DT Bobby Campbell, Adairsville, Jr. Iron Man award: WR/DB Jaden Morris, LaFayette, Sr. Iron Man award: WR/DB Jonah Hatchett, Bremen, Jr. Coach of the year: Jonathan Cudd, Adairsville First-team offense QB - Jonathan Gough, Adairsville, Jr. RB - Peyton Williams, Ringgold, Sr. RB - Ethan Blome, Adairsville, Jr. WR - Trevon Gott, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe, Sr. WR - Grayson Belcher, Adairsville, Sr. WR - Ty Gilbert, Ringgold, Sr. WR - Manny Dominguez, Coahulla Creek, Sr. TE - Parker Metcalf, Ridgeland, Jr. OL - Cayden Sweatt, Bremen, Sr. OL - James Foster, Adairsville, Sr. OL - Clint Carlock, Ringgold, Sr. OL - Brodie Genter, Gordon Lee, Sr. OL - Carter Wilson, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe, Sr. OL - Mason Tordrup, Adairsville, Sr. OL - Hudson Mardis, Coahulla Creek, Sr. PK - Logan Fowler, Coahulla Creek, Sr. First-team defense DL - Robbie Wiggins, Coahulla Creek, Sr. DL - Barrett Greenhaw, Bremen, Sr. DL - Brady Gray, Ringgold, Sr. DL - Jett Johnson, Adairsville, So. DL - Cam O’Neal, Bremen, Jr. DL - Andrew Foster, Adairsville, Jr. LB - Bryce Hart, Ringgold, So. LB - AJ Sanders, Bremen, Jr. LB - Charlie Ray, Adairsville, Sr. LB - Beau Boozer, Ringgold, Sr. LB - Will Douglas, Coahulla Creek, Sr. DB - Dawson Pendergrass, LaFayette, Jr. DB - Kishaun Taylor, Ringgold, So. DB - Jamaurian Pullum, Adairsville, So. DB - Gabe Helton, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe, Sr. DB - Kade Cowan, Gordon Lee, Sr. P - Bryson Sullivan, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe, Sr. LS - Grant Landford, LaFayette, Sr. Second-team offense QB - Ross Norman, Ringgold, Sr. RB - Trent McPherson, Bremen, So. RB - Holt Roberts, Gordon Lee, Sr. WR - Brent Bowman, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe, Sr. WR - Aiden Patterson, Coahulla Creek, Sr. WR - Darrian Burks, Ridgeland, Sr. WR - Sam Hall, LaFayette, Sr. TE - Sam Sartin, Gordon Lee, So. TE/H - Doc Pearson, Bremen, Sr. OL - Cole Norred, Bremen, So. OL - Myles Hudson, Ringgold, Sr. OL - Luke Altizer, Adairsville, Jr. OL - Noah Johnson, LaFayette, Jr. OL - Evan Brown, Bremen, Jr. PK - Connor Nisewonger, Ringgold, Sr. Second-team defense DL - Riley Broome, Ringgold, Sr. DL - Conner Whitman, Gordon Lee, Sr. DL - Kymoni Pullum, Adairsville, Sr. DL - Brent Raby, Ringgold, Jr. LB - Parr Folsom, Bremen, Jr. LB - Hayden Blalock, Adairsville, Jr. LB - Kain Brown, Ridgeland, So. LB - Braylon Pritchett, Ridgeland, So. LB - Payton Simpson, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe, Jr. LB - Dalton Russell, Gordon Lee, So. DB - Tamarius Wilkey, Adairsville, So. DB - Jakobe Turner, Ridgeland, Sr. DB - Jared Mitchell, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe, Fr. DB - Brody Barrow, Bremen, Jr. DB - Logan Roberts, Ringgold, So. P - Wyatt Mathis-Kline, Bremen, Jr. LS - Chase Ward, Coahulla Creek, Jr. Honorable mention: QB - Dylan Blankenship, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe, Sr. RB - Haddon Fries, Ringgold, Fr.; Caden Copeland, Adairsville, Sr.; Khalias Findley, LaFayette, So. WR - Tyson King, Coahulla Creek, Sr.; Robert Henson, Gordon Lee, Sr. TE - Andrew Muldoon, Bremen, So. OL - Chevy Joyce, Coahulla Creek, Fr.; Michael Hamilton, LaFayette, Jr.; Seth Sellers, Adairsville, Jr.; Nolan Dotson, Gordon Lee, Sr; DL - A.J. Thompson, LaFayette, Jr.; Brody Benton, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe, Sr.; C.J. Slocum, Adairsville, Jr.; Jaimen Long, Adairsville, Jr.; Harrison Walker, Gordon Lee, So. LB - Levi Harwell, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe, Jr.; Nathaniel Tilley, Coahulla Creek, Jr.; Howard Bailey, Adairsville, Jr.; Cole Runion, Ringgold, So.; Chase Watkins, Ridgeland, Sr. DB - Demetree Bates, Ridgeland, So.; Hudson Moss, Ringgold, Jr.; Tre Winters, Adairsville, So.; Torrey Harris, LaFayette, Sr.; Deese Miller, Bremen, Sr.

The Cass boys basketball team lost at Rome Thursday night, 55-48. Rome held a narrow 29-26 lead at halftime and the Wolves were able to maintain their advantage through the second half for an eventual seven-point win. Rome’s Braxton Wade scored a game-high 19 points to pace the Wolves. Bryson Thacker and Cameron Keith followed with 18 and 16 points, respectively. Cass was led by Devin Henderson with 16 points. K.J. Rogers followed with 12. Jayden Foster contributed nine points. Isaiah Ford finished with five. Sacovie White, Tom Brannon, and Kevin Henderson added two points each. Cass (2-5) hosts North Paulding Tuesday.

The Excel Christian Academy boys trailed by four points at halftime and the Eagles were down by six points with just eight minutes remaining before rallying for a 64-60 home win Thursday night over Rockmart. Excel led 13-11 at the end of the first quarter but the visiting Yellow Jackets held leads of 25-21 and 46-40 at halftime and at the end of the third quarter. The Eagles, primed by Jakdaden Barkley’s 18 points in the second half, outscored Rockmart 24-14 in the final period. Barkley finished with 22 points. He was followed by Jacob Taylor with 14 and Kyron McClendon with 11 points. Comari Nettles chipped in eight. David Jinks contributed six. Matthew Simon had two and Caleb Landrum one point for the Eagles. Tristan Anderson led Rockmart (1-2) with 18 points. Excel Christian (5-3) plays next at Etowah on Saturday, December 10. ROCKMART 80, EXCEL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY GIRLS 26 The Rockmart girls led 46-6 at halftime and continued to pull away Thursday evening in an 80-26 win at ECA. Emma Hindman led Rockmart (1-2) with 24 points. Sky Myers and Lailya Clark added 12 each for the Lady Jackets. Chae Viera scored 23 for Excel. Clara Holley added three points. Excel (0-5) plays at The King’s Academy Monday night at 7:15 p.m.

The Cass High swim teams won home meets Tuesday night at the Adairsville Swim Center. The Cass girls won a tri-meet with Model and Dawson County while the Cass boys finished ahead of four visitors — Dawson County, Model, Armuchee, and Pepperell. In the combined scores Cass finished with 127 points followed by Model (99), Dawson (73), Armuchee (22), and Pepperell (5). Event winners for Cass included: Adam Pierce, 500-yard freestyle Jake Wright, 100-yard breaststroke Girls 200-yard freestyle relay (Stacia Zappoli, Monica Martinez, Adyson Doolittle, and Jimena Perez) Girls 400-yard freestyle relay (Nicole Davis, Harley Cumbee, Haley Davy, and Luz Rivera) The next meet for the Colonels will be Tuesday, Dec. 6 at the Adairsville pool against Cartersville and Woodland.

The Adairsville wrestling team made a strong start to its 2022-23 campaign Tuesday night at Armuchee by sweeping the host Indians and Cherokee (Alabama) in a three-way meet. The Tigers blanked Cherokee 77-0 and defeated Armuchee 57-23. Six Adairsville wrestlers went 2-0 in the tri-meet including Sam Bailey (106 lbs.), Madden Boyce (113), Jace Silvers (120), Brett Lance (157), Seth Sellers (215), and Jett Johnson (285). Andrew Johnson (132), Jamori Speights (144), Howard Bailey (144), Hayden Blalock (150), Jacob Pasley (150), Dru Faulk (165), and Ethan Blome (175) each won their only bout of the night. Up next for Adairsville is the Carrollton High School Duals on Saturday.

TUESDAY'S HOOPS ROUNDUP There was plenty of action on the hardwood floors Tuesday night with nine local teams all in action. The Adairsville girls' and boys' teams both picked up wins at Woodland. Both Cass teams defeated visiting Southeast Whitfield. The Excel boys dropped a matchup at Calhoun and the two Cartersville teams split games at East Paulding. ADAIRSVILLE GIRLS 48, WOODLAND 20 The Lady Tigers outscored host Woodland 17-2 in the third quarter Tuesday night to break open a close game and pull away for a 48-20 victory. Adairsville led 17-13 at the intermission. Three Lady Tigers reached double figures in scoring led by Analee Morris with 12 points. Naxyria Roberts and Ta’Naysia Porter followed with 11 and 10 points, respectively. Darby Adams contributed seven points. Zariyah Hicks finished with four. Alyssa Jarrett and Alissa Winters chipped in with two points each. Morgan Echols led the Lady Cats with eight points. Megan Schultz scored seven. Kasidee Wall added three points and Reagan Weightman two. Adairsville (3-1) hosts Gordon Lee Friday night at 7 p.m. Woodland (1-4) travels to Temple Friday for a 6 p.m. tip. ADAIRSVILLE BOYS 58, WOODLAND 50 The Tigers built a 19-6 lead in the first quarter and maintained their advantage throughout Tuesday night in a 58-50 win at Woodland. Adairsville led 33-23 at halftime and 47-38 at the end of the third quarter. Both teams had three players reach double-figure scoring. Ben Abernathy led Adairsville with 16 points. Zac Postell followed with 14 and Xavious Nall scored 12 for the Tigers. Brelace Williams paced Woodland with 16 points. Jackson Christiana and Zyon Heath produced 11 points each for the Wildcats. Woodland (1-4) plays at Temple Friday night at 7:30 p.m. Adairsville (1-2) opens play in Region 6-AAA at home Friday against Gordon Lee. CASS GIRLS 62, SOUTHEAST WHITFIELD 24 The Lady Colonels built a 25-9 lead by halftime and continued to pull away in the second half for a 62-24 home win Tuesday night over Southeast Whitfield. Mikaela Jackson poured in 21 points to lead the Cass scoring attack. Olivia Woods followed with 13 points. Kaitlyn Godwin tossed in seven points and grabbed four rebounds. Navaeh Woods, KK Evans, and Kiana McDaniel contributed six points each. Woods and Evans also added 10 and eight steals, respectively. McDaniel led the Lady Colonels with seven rebounds and also finished with three steals and three assists. Reese Howard rounded out the scoring with three points. Miracle Goody led the Lady Raiders (1-3) with 10 points. The Cass girls (4-0) play at Model Friday at 6 p.m. and at Clarkston Saturday at 5:30 p.m. CASS BOYS 72, SOUTHEAST WHITFIELD 55 The Colonels built a 30-23 lead by halftime then outscored the visiting Raiders 18-11 in the third and 24-21 in the fourth period Tuesday night for a 72-55 non-region win. “We played our best game of the season,” said Cass coach Kevin Cunningham. “We played well against a really good Southeast Whitfield team. Tip of the hat to (Southeast's) Cal Rich, he is an amazing player.” Rich led all scorers with 27 points for the Raiders (2-2). K.J. Rogers led Cass with 20 points. Jayden Foster followed with 11 while Sacovie White and Devin Henderson also reached double figures with 10 each. Jakai Baldwin and Kevin Henderson contributed seven points each. Tom Brannon, Isaiah Ford, and Tayvian McKibbins added two each for the Colonels. Cass (2-4) plays at Rome Thursday at 6 p.m. CALHOUN 80, EXCEL CHRISTIAN BOYS 65 The Eagles kept it close deep into the fourth quarter Tuesday night at Calhoun. Excel trailed by only five (66-61) with less than four minutes remaining, but the Yellow Jackets pulled away down the stretch for a 15-point win. Calhoun led 22-17 after the opening eight minutes; 40-34 at halftime; and 57-46 after three quarters before the 80-65 final. The Eagles struggled with the inside presence of Calhoun’s Dylan Faulkner. The 6-9 senior poured in 39 points to lead the Yellow Jackets (1-0). Jakaden Barkley led Excel with 22 points. Kyron McClendon followed with 17 and Jacob Taylor finished with 15 points. Comari Nettles added five while Caleb Landrum and Kamarion Proffit added three points each. Excel (4-3) hosts Rockmart Thursday at 7:30 p.m. CARTERSVILLE GIRLS 64, EAST PAULDING 24 The Lady Canes improved to 2-0 with a win Tuesday night at East Paulding (1-3). No game report was provided. EAST PAULDING 66, CARTERSVILLE BOYS 33 The Cartersville boys dropped their season opener Tuesday night at East Paulding, 66-33. The Raiders improved to 3-0. No game report was provided.

The Excel Christian Academy boys earned a road, region win Monday night at Oakwood Christian Academy in Chickamauga, 77-54. “We started slowly,” said ECA head coach David Archer, Jr., “but we were able to turn it around.” The Eagles trailed 15-8 after the opening eight minutes but recovered in the second quarter to take a 31-24 lead to the locker room. Excel maintained that advantage in the third stanza 56-43 and pulled away in the fourth period for a 23-point win. Kyron McClendon and Jacob Taylor led Excel with 20 and 19 points, respectively. Christian Viera scored six; Kamarion Profit and Caleb Landrum posted five each; Comari Nettles and Trey Webb contributed four, and David Jinks added three points. John McDonough led Oakwood (1-4, 0-3) with 12 points. Excel (4-2, 2-0 GAPPS I-AA, Region 1) plays at Calhoun Tuesday night at 7 p.m. and will host Rockmart Thursday night following a 6 p.m. girls' game. OAKWOOD CHRISTIAN 66, EXCEL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY GIRLS 10 The Excel Christian Academy girls lost at Oakwood Christian Academy Monday night, 66-10. Cheyenne Simpson and Mana Gilchrist led Oakwood with 14 and 12 points, respectively. Chae Viera scored seven points for ECA. Amanda Davidson had three. Oakwood improved to 4-0 overall and 3-0 in GAPP I-AA Region 1. The Excel girls, who host Rockmart Thursday night at 6 p.m., fell to 0-4 and 0-2.

The Cartersville Purple Hurricanes scored touchdowns on five of their six first half possessions, added the first of two defensive scores, and held early control in a 56-28 home playoff win Friday night over the Coffee Trojans. Quarterback Paul Gamble tossed a touchdown pass and ran for two more scores in the first half as the Hurricanes built a 42-14 lead by halftime. The Canes' defense also scored twice before the intermission. On Cartersville’s opening drive, a pair of passes from Gamble to Jamauri Brice and Romo Pace moved the Canes to the Coffee 10-yard line. After a few short runs by Malachi Jeffries, Gamble scored on a 2-yard keeper. Ryan Johnson’s first PAT kick gave the Canes a 7-0 lead with 9:22 remaining in the opening quarter. A Case Adams interception set up the next Cartersville touchdown. Adams picked off the throw at the 32-yard line on a third and long and returned it to the Trojans’ 17-yard line. The Hurricanes added to their lead shortly after with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Gamble to Jeffries making the score 14-0 with 7:46 to go in the first period. On the Canes' next possession they traveled 65 yards for another touchdown. A 28-yard reception by Jamauri Brice and a 22-yard run by Gamble were the big plays on the drive. Gamble punched in the score with a 4-yard run from a power formation giving the Canes a 21-0 lead with 3:09 left in the initial quarter. Coffee found paydirt on the ensuing possession. Runs by Dreshawn Taylor, Fred Brown, and Antwain McDuffie set up a 1-yard keeper by quarterback Maurice Hensley. Following Kah’jere Smith’s kick, the Trojans had narrowed the Cartersville advantage to 21-7 with 10:52 left in the second quarter. The two teams traded punts before Cartersville added to the lead. Gamble connected on a 45-yard touchdown pass to Collin Fletcher, giving the hosts a 28-7 lead with 7:13 remaining in the first half. The Cartersville defense stopped Coffee on their next possession and the offense followed up with another score. Jeffries had a 20-yard dash on the drive and Lando punched home the Canes’ touchdown with a 12-yard run with 3:27 to play in the first half giving the Canes a 35-7 lead. Coffee was stalled again on their next possession and decided to go for a fourth-and-two play at their own 28-yard line. The Canes stuffed that attempt and took over at the Trojans’ 27-yard line with 1:44 remaining in the half holding two timeouts. Four Gamble runs later, Cartersville found paydirt again and built a 42-7 lead. The scoring play was a four-yard run by Gamble with 0:51 remaining in the half. Coffee responded in the final seconds of the half, however, and closed out the half with their second touchdown. A long chunk run by McDuffie set up a pass from Hensley to Billy Simpson that moved the Trojans to the Canes’ nine-yard line. Two plays later, McDuffie scored on a six-yard run with 0:15 remaining in the half to make the score 42-14 at the intermission. Although Cartersville scored a defensive touchdown to start the second half, Coffee did not go away quietly. The Trojans drove about 27 yards on seven running plays and one short pass following the second half kickoff, but a bad pitch on a speed option play bounced into the arms of Cartersville’s Collin Fletcher who returned it 46 yards for a Canes’ scoop-and-score touchdown and a 49-14 lead with 8:57 remaining in the third. Coffee’s Patrick McCall returned the ensuing kickoff 83 yards to the Cartersville 15-yard line. Three plays and one penalty on the Canes later, McDuffie scored on a three-yard run out of a direct snap making the score 49-21 with just under eight minutes to go in the period. After forcing a Cartersville punt, Coffee scored again on a 46-yard drive. The key play on the drive was a 37-yard pass from Hansley to Keshad Turner to the three-yard line. Brown scored on the next play with a short plunge making the score 49-28 with 4:10 remaining in the third period. Early in the fourth quarter, Coffee methodically drove down the field on multiple runs by Tyrese Woodgett. From the Canes’ 27-yard line, Brown found a hole and ran inside the five but was stripped of the football. Case Adams fell on the miscue at the four-yard line halting the Coffee threat. Cartersville put an exclamation point on their victory with another touchdown drive in the final minutes. Jeffries broke free for a 41-yard run for the bulk of the yardage. Four plays later, Lando made a nice cut on a 12-yard touchdown run that made the final score 56-28 with 0:53 remaining. Coffee’s season ends with a 10-3 record. Cartersville (12-1) advances to the GHSA Class 5A semifinals and will travel to Warner Robins for a rematch with the team that has eliminated the Canes each of the past two seasons. Warner Robins (8-4) knocked off Creekside Friday night in overtime, 31-28. The Demons defeated Cartersville last season in the second round 24-17 and topped the Canes in the 2020 state championship game, 62-28. Warner Robins lost four of its first five games this season, but has now reeled off seven consecutive wins.

Former Cartersville High quarterback Trevor Lawrence put together one of the most impressive performances of his young NFL career Sunday. The Jacksonville signal caller led the Jaguars to a come-from-behind home win over the Baltimore Ravens to headline this week’s Athletes Beyond Bartow update. At the NCAA Men’s Soccer National Championship Tournament, Cartersville resident Russell Shealy earned his 10th shutout of the year Sunday as Syracuse advanced to the Elite Eight. On the hardwoods, former Cass standout Braxton Benham poured in 21 points Saturday as Berry College stayed undefeated on the year. In women’s hoops, former Adairsville Lady Tiger — Nakiyah Washington — posted back-to-back, double-double performances over the weekend for Piedmont University. NFL TREVOR LAWRENCE — Jacksonville Jaguars (2nd yr. pro; Clemson; Cartersville HS) … put together one of the most impressive performances of his young NFL career Sunday as Jacksonville came from behind to defeat the visiting Baltimore Ravens. The 23-year-old was 29-for-37 (78%) for 321 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. His 129.5 passer rating was his best ever. His 28-yard touchdown pass to JaMychal Hasty in the second quarter gave the Jags a 7-6 lead. He added a 1-yard scoring pass to Jamal Agnew with 5:55 left in the game that narrowed the Ravens’ lead to 19-17. His final touchdown pass was a 10-yarder to Marvin Jones, Jr. with just 0:14 remaining and his ensuing two-point conversion pass to Zay Jones lifted Jacksonville to a 28-27 win. The game-winning, two-minute drill drive covered 75 yards on 10 plays. The Jaguars (4-7) play at Detroit this Sunday. COLLEGE FOOTBALL JONATHAN CRUZ — University of Mississippi (R-Sr., Cartersville HS) … was 3-for-3 on field goal attempts, including a 49-yarder, and made his only PAT kick attempt but the Rebels lost the annual Egg Bowl game 24-22 to visiting Mississippi State Thanksgiving night. Cruz also booted three of his five kickoffs for touchbacks. Ole Miss (8-4, 4-4 Southeastern Conference) awaits their bowl selection. JORDAN FERGUSON — Middle Tennessee State University (R-Sr., Cartersville HS) … made six total tackles including a pair of sacks and one more tackle for a loss in the Blue Raiders’ 33-28 victory at Florida International last Saturday. He is now one sack shy of the all-time career record. MTSU (7-5, 4-4 Conference USA) awaits its bowl destination. JONAH GAMBILL — University of Memphis (So., Cartersville HS) … was a starter last Saturday afternoon on the Tigers’ offensive line that helped produce 439 total yards (287 passing / 152 rushing) in a 34-31 loss at SMU in Dallas. Memphis (6-6, 3-5) will receive its ninth-consecutive bowl invitation. JaCOREY JOHNS — Wake Forest University (R-Jr., Cartersville HS) … made two tackles, giving him 30 for the season, in the Demon Deacons’ 34-31 loss last Saturday at Duke. Wake Forest (7-5, 3-5 Atlantic Coast Conference) will learn its bowl destination this Sunday. TITUS JONES — Colorado State University (Jr., Woodland HS) … was a participant but recorded no stats in the Rams’ 17-0 home win last Friday over New Mexico. Jones saw action in nine games this season on special teams as the Rams finished the year 3-9. EVAN SLOCUM — Wake Forest University (So., Cartersville HS) … made five total tackles, raising his season total to 43, last Saturday in the Deacons’ 34-31 loss at Duke. Wake Forest (7-5, 3-5 Atlantic Coast Conference) awaits its bowl game assignment. BRANDON WADE — University of West Florida (Grad Student, Cartersville HS) … made one tackle from his defensive line position last Saturday in the Argonauts 38-27 second round NCAA D-II playoff win at Delta State. UWF (11-1) now hosts Wingate University Saturday afternoon in the national quarterfinals. SOCCER RUSSELL SHEALY — Syracuse University (R-Sr., Cartersville resident, Darlington HS) … faced nine total shots, made two saves, and earned his 10th shutout of the season Sunday as the 3rd-ranked Orange blanked 12th-ranked Cornell 1-0 in the third round of the NCAA Championship Tournament. Syracuse (16-2-4) will host Vermont Saturday afternoon in the Elite Eight. BASKETBALL BRAXTON BENHAM — Berry College (So., Cass HS) … scored 21 points with three rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block in the Vikings’ 93-84 win last Saturday at home over Pfeiffer University (North Carolina). Berry (6-0) plays at Maryville (Tennessee) Tuesday night and will host Oglethorpe University Saturday night. CLAIRE DAVIS — Palm Beach Atlantic University (Fr., Cass HS) … grabbed five rebounds with one assist and scored one point in nine minutes off the bench as the Sailfish beat Purdue Northwest last Friday 59-52. She then led PBAU in scoring and rebounds, with 18 points and 11 boards, in an 83-77 loss to Minnesota-Crookston last Saturday. She also chipped in one assist, one steal, and one blocked shot in the loss. The Sailfish (2-2) begin Sunshine State Conference play Wednesday at home against Rollins and travel to Saint Leo Saturday afternoon. DiANTHONY HEATHCOCK — Columbia International University (Jr., Woodland HS) … totaled 16 points, 16 rebounds, five steals, two blocked shots, and one assist as the Rams split games last Friday and Saturday in Kingsport, Tennessee at the NAIA Show. CIU beat Washington Adventist University 76-73 and lost to Trinity International (Illinois) 75-70. The Rams (4-4, 3-2 Appalachian Athletic Conference) play an exhibition game at USC-Upstate Wednesday night before traveling to conference foe Reinhardt on Saturday. T.J. HORTON — Georgia Highlands CC (So., Cartersville HS) … scored five points off the bench with three rebounds, a steal, and an assist last Saturday in a 94-72 loss at Indian River State CC. The Chargers (2-7) also had losses at Polk State CC and State College of Florida last Thursday and Friday at the Thanksgiving Classic in Bradenton. Stats from those games were not available. GHC has a week off prior to playing New Rock Prep on December 9. HALEY JOHNSON — Central Georgia Tech CC (Fr., Cass HS) … scored three points last Tuesday in an 89-66 home loss to East Georgia State CC. The Titans (1-6, 0-3 Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association) entertain Andrew College Saturday evening in Macon. KEARA McDANIEL — Toccoa Falls College (Fr., Cass HS) … collected four rebounds and sank one three-point shot coming off the bench in the Screaming Eagles’ 57-34 loss last Saturday at Queens University (North Carolina). Toccoa Falls (4-4, 0-1 USCAA) hosts Wesleyan Tuesday before traveling to Florida for three games next weekend against Trinity Baptist, Trinity College (Florida), and Johnson University (Florida). JAYLON PUGH — Lander University (Grad Student, Cartersville HS) … scored six points, grabbed a pair of rebounds, and added one steal and one assist off the Bearcats’ bench in a 65-57 loss at Newberry last Tuesday. He then scored 12 points with three boards, two steals, and one assist last Sunday in a 106-72 home win over King (Tennessee). Lander (5-1) hosts Morris College (South Carolina) Thursday night. ABIGAIL TAYLOR — Centre College (Fr., Woodland HS) … scored five points in the Colonels’ 75-49 home win last Tuesday over Maryville College (Tennessee) and did not score but had one steal last Sunday in 65-47 home loss to Hanover College (Indiana). Centre (3-3) hosts Sewanee-University of the South Saturday afternoon. LONDAISHA SMITH — Alderson Broaddus University (So., Cass HS) … finished with 12 points, six rebounds, and two assists last Tuesday in the Battlers’ 91-66 loss at Wheeling University (West Virginia). ABU (1-4, 0-2 Mountain East Conference) plays at California University of Pennsylvania Monday night, hosts Concord College (West Virginia) Wednesday night, and travels to Glenville State (West Virginia) Saturday afternoon. NAKIYAH WASHINGTON — Piedmont University (Sr., Adairsville HS) … posted back-to-back, double-double performances last Friday and Sunday as the Lions split home games with Greensboro College and Sewanee-University of the South. Washington scored 24 points, collected 14 rebounds, and added three steals and two assists in an 84-78 loss to Greensboro. She followed with 28 points, 12 rebounds, two steals, and one assist in the Lions’ 75-57 win over Sewanee. Piedmont (4-2) hosts Tufts University Sunday afternoon.

The Cass wrestling team went 2-0 Saturday at the PapaWayne Duals at Hiram High School. The Colonels defeated the host Hornets 69-12 and beat Rockmart 51-21. In the win over Hiram, Cass wrestlers won nine bouts by pinfall and four more by forfeit. Angel Castenado (113 lbs.) won by a minor decision to round out the Colonels' scoring. Those winning by pin included: Jordan Taylor (120), Ethan Harrington (126), Jake Crapps (138), Tanner Toups (144), Tyler McKnight (150), Eli Doolittle (157), Kriecg Roe (165), Zach McKnight (175), and Parker Dunn (215). In the Cass win over Rockmart, Rowdy Duck (132), Crapps (138), Tyler McKnight (150), Doolittle (157), Roe (165), and Zach McKnight (175) all won by pin. Lee Camp (106) won by technical fall. Toup (144) had a major decision victory while Taylor (120) won by a minor decision in overtime. The Colonels return to action December 3-4 at the Southern Slam hosted by Eastside High School in South Carolina.

The Cass boys basketball team picked up its first win of the 2022-23 season Saturday afternoon with a 49-46 home victory over Arabia Mountain. The Colonels built a 10-point halftime advantage by outscoring the Rams 13-3 in the second quarter to lead 25-15 at the intermission. Arabia Mountain (2-3) narrowed the lead in the third quarter and went ahead in the fourth quarter before the Colonels recovered for their first win. “Any win is a good win,” said Cass coach Kevin Cunningham. “We played well, but we panicked a little bit when they made their run. The guys did a great job of dialing it back to do the little things to come back and win. I’m proud of these guys and happy to get our first win.” Three Cass players reached double figures in scoring. Jayden Foster led the Colonels with 16 points followed by Devin Henderson with 15. Jakai Baldwin finished with 10 points. Sacovie White contributed five points. Kevin Henderson and Isaiah Ford rounded out the scoring with two and one point, respectively. Brendan Rose led Arabia Mountain with 17 points. Traeveon Williams scored 11 for the Rams. Cass (1-4) hosts Southeast Whitfield Tuesday with the girls' tip scheduled for 6 p.m.