The brackets are set for the 2021-22 GHSA State Basketball Tournaments and Bartow County will be represented by three teams. The Cass girls (23-5) are a No. 2-seed in Class 5A and will host St. Pius X (18-10) Tuesday night at 7 p.m. in the first round. The Adairsville boys (16-11) are also a No. 2-seed in Class 3A and will have a home game — likely Wednesday — against Hart County (19-8). Playing date and times were not finalized at the time of this story’s release. The Cartersville boys (12-12) are a No. 3-seed in Class 5A and will play at Lithonia (20-8). The day and time for that matchup has also not been set. CLASS 5A GIRLS STATE TOURNAMENT BRACKET CLASS 5A BOYS STATE TOURNAMENT BRACKET CLASS 3A BOYS STATE TOURNAMENT BRACKET

The LaFayette Ramblers have had an exceptional season. They cruised through the regular season with a 23-0 record and entered the Region 6-AAA Tournament this past week as the No. 1-seed and ranked No. 7 in Class AAA. Meanwhile, the Adairsville Tigers have experienced a more up-and-down season but have enjoyed a pair of dramatic post season wins over Murray County and Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe. In the two regular season meetings, LaFayette won by 13 and by 10 over the Tigers. That set up Saturday night’s region championship game at LaFayette before a packed house where Adairsville started slowly but in the end stood toe-to-toe with the Ramblers before falling by a single point, 58-57. Adairsville held a brief 5-4 lead in the early going before LaFayette built a 22-9 by the end of the opening period. Adairsville, who never led again, narrowed the margin to five points (32-27) by the intermission. Both teams posted 16 points in the third period and went to the final eight minutes with LaFayette leading 48-43. Aidan Hadaway paced the Ramblers with 25 points. Junior Barber followed with 15. Jordan Kennerly scored eight and Jaylon Ramsey had seven for LaFayette. T.J. Printup, Jr. led Adairsville with a game-high 27 points. Tre Mitchell followed with 15 for the Tigers. Tre Winters and Hayden Poarch scored six points. Jordan Carson added three. LaFayette (25-0) advances to the GHSA Class AAA State Tournament as a 1-seed and will host Oconee County next week in the first round. Adairsville (16-11) will also host a first round game. The Tigers will entertain Hart County — likely on Wednesday.

The Adairsville Tigers split a home doubleheader with Darlington Saturday winning the opener 5-0 before dropping the second game, 3-1. In Game 1, Adairsville scored three runs in the third inning and added single runs in the fourth and fifth innings during the shutout. P.J. Weeks had two hits for Adairsville and drove in a run. Six other Tigers finished with one hit each including Evan Sanders (double, RBI), Brenden Carroll (double, RBI), Jack Whitley, Tyler Driggers, Braden Powell, and Dawson Craig. Sanders (5 IP, 0R, 1H, 3BB, 3K) and Carroll (2 IP, 0R, 0H, 2BB, 1K) combined on the mound for the shutout. In Game 2, Darlington’s single run in the first and two more in the second inning were enough for pitcher Logan Floyd. Floyd tossed a complete-game, four-hitter with just one walk. He struck out 13 in the Darlington victory helping his team improve to 2-2 for the season. Weeks had two hits for Adairsville. Tyler Driggers (RBI) and Hayden Blalock finished with one hit apiece. Adairsville (1-1) travels to Trion Tuesday for a 5:30 p.m. start. The Tigers will host Coosa Thursday (5 p.m.) and a doubleheader vs. Armuchee Saturday starting at 12 noon.

The Cass Colonels were swept in a doubleheader Saturday at Paulding County, 7-2 and 8-7. In the opener, the Colonels only two runs came in the top of the first inning on Carson Hill’s two-run home run. Cayden Roberts had the only other Cass hit in the contest. Josh Price tossed a complete-game, two-hitter and struck out nine for the Patriots. Adam Cottingim (2 IP, 3R, 2ER, 3H, 1BB) suffered the first game pitching loss for Cass. Connor Jenkins (1.1 IP, 2ER, 1H, 4BB, 1K) and Roberts (2.2 IP, 2ER, 1H, 0BB, 1K) also pitched for the Colonels in relief. In the second game, Cass was down 6-0 through four innings before scoring seven runs in the next two frames to tie the score 7-7. Aiden Larkin smacked a two-run home run in the sixth to knot the score. Paulding County won in walk-off fashion, however, in the bottom of the seventh. The Patriots utilized a walk and a double that set up the winning run which scored on an infield error for an 8-7 victory. Hayden Cole (1 IP, 1R, 0ER, 1H, 1BB, 1K) was tagged with the tough luck pitching loss for the Colonels despite not allowing an earned run. Carson Hill (4 IP, 6ER, 9H, 0BB, 2K) started on the mound with Devan Hutchinson (1 IP, 1ER, 4H) working in middle relief. Cass compiled 13 hits in the second game loss. Wesley Collins had three hits including one double. Larkin had a double in addition to his homer with three RBIs. Andrew Middleton finished with two hits including a double and two RBIs. Hill, Roberts, and Jenkins (double) added one hit each. Jesiel Moctezuma had two RBIs. Jack Shipp had three hits and three RBIs to pace the Patriots offense. Chris Carson picked up the pitching win in relief for Paulding County (3-2). Cass (0-3) plays at Kell Tuesday at 5:55 p.m. before hosting Armuchee Thursday (5:30 p.m.) and Heritage-Rockdale Friday (5:55 p.m.).

The Canes’ offense posted ten runs in the first three innings Saturday en route to a 13-4 non-region victory at Sprayberry in Marietta. Cartersville led 10-1 until the Yellow Jackets put up three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to make the score 10-4. The Hurricanes added three more runs in the top of the seventh to seal the win. On the mound, Caden Carroll scattered two hits and two walks over the first three innings to earn the pitching win. He allowed one earned run and fanned seven. Collin Eaton (1 IP, 0R, 0BB, 1K), Geoffrey Gore (2 IP, 0R, 0H, 1BB, 3K), and Phillip Schiltz (1 IP, 3ER, 4H, 1BB, 2K) also spent time on the bump for the Hurricanes. Elliott Eastin had two hits including a triple and two RBIs for the Cartersville offense. Drew Rothschild delivered a double and three RBIs. Curt Bonner, Landon Cole (RBI), Jacob Ray, Hank Smith (RBI), Caleb Daniel (RBI), and Trip Bradley contributed one hit each. Jake Brasfield added one RBI. Pedro Luciano had three hits including a two run home run for the Sprayberry offense. The loss dropped the Yellow Jackets to 0-3 on the season. Cartersville (2-0) starts a four-game home stand Tuesday hosting Etowah at 5:30 p.m. The Canes then entertain Decatur Wednesday (5:30 p.m.), Forsyth Central Saturday (1 p.m.) and Ringgold Wednesday, March 9.

Georgia Highlands pounded out 13 hits and scored at least one run in five of six offensive frames in a 12-2 win Friday over USC Salkehatchie at LakePoint. David Smith had three hits including a pair of home runs and six RBIs to lead the Chargers’ offense. Conner Todaro (triple, RBI), Ben Olson (RBI), and Caden Smith each had two hits. Nate Shipley hit a two-run homer. Zayd Brannigan doubled home a run with Parker Poteet and Austin Slate adding one hit apiece. Gage Vailes (6 IP, 2R, 1ER, 5H, 0BB, 2K) earned the pitching victory with a six inning start. Zack Valentine (1 IP, 0R, 1H) closed out the final frame. Georgia Highlands (12-0) hosts a doubleheader with USC-Salkehatchie Saturday starting at 1 p.m. The Chargers also have wins this season over Emmanuel College JV (2), Chattanooga State CC (3), Point University (2), Lincoln Trail College (3), and Cleveland State CC.

The Adairsville girls soccer team cruised to a 10-0 win over Dalton Academy Friday night in Tiger Valley. The Lady Tigers led 6-0 by halftime and seven different players scored goals in the victory. Kaylee Jordan, who also had an assist in the contest, led Adairsville with four goals — each assisted by Megan Hardin. Annie McCormick had a goal and one assist. Elle Causby, Gabi Bacerra, Jessica Hogue, Alex Parr, and Sam Pasley also found the net. Pasley and Emma Ridley contributed one assist each. The Lady Tigers (4-0-1) travel to Rockmart Tuesday to open region play.

The Cass boys soccer team blanked visiting South Paulding Friday night at Cochran Stadium, 5-0. Christian Villella, Camden Hillhouse, Alex Hernandez, Jordan Solis, and Edwin Veliz scored one goal each in the Colonels’ win. Jose Rodriguez contributed a pair of assists and Villella added one assist also. Cass (5-2) hosts Armuchee Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. SOUTH PAULDING 5, CASS GIRLS 0 The Cass girls dropped their contest with visiting South Paulding, 5-0. The Spartans improved to 5-2 on the season. Cass (1-4-1) will look to bounce back Tuesday in a home, 5:30 p.m. kickoff against Armuchee.

The Woodland Wildcats scored three runs in their first three frames and had the game tied at 3-all at Paulding County Friday evening, but a two-run bottom of the third was all the host Patriots needed for a 5-3 win. Both pitching staffs held their opponents scoreless over the final three and one-half frames. Woodland led 1-0 in the top of the first inning on a pair of walks and an infield RBI single by Rowan Billings. Paulding County answered with three runs in the bottom of the first on a pair of Wildcat errors and two singles. The Wildcats tied the score in the top of the third with a two-RBI double by Austin Sanders. Then Paulding scored the two go-ahead runs in the bottom of the third on two hits, a walk, and a pair of hit batsmen. Conner Stermer, Ayden Ray, and Chase Carson had one hit each for the Wildcats. Julian Wright (3 IP, 5R, 2ERE, 4H, 1BB, 3K) was tagged with the pitching loss. Hunter Shirley (3 IP, 0R, 2H, 1BB, 4K) retired the final nine outs for the Wildcats. Woodland (1-1) hosts Rome Wednesday at 5:55 p.m.

Cartersville opened the 2022 baseball campaign Friday evening with an impressive 7-6 home win over Class 6A 8th-ranked Lassiter. The Hurricanes, ranked 4th in Class 5A, got three hits and a pair of RBIs from Harrison Childers along with a pitching victory by Paul Gamble to start the year 1-0. Curt Bonner and Elliott Eastin both had two hits for Cartersville. Blake Sutton doubled and drove in a pair of runs. Drew Rothschild also contributed a pair of RBIs with one hit and one sacrifice fly. Gamble (double), Hank Smith (RBI), and Jake Brasfield added one hit each. Gamble (1.1 IP, 2ER, 1H, 2BB, 2K) picked up the pitching win in relief. Colt McKibben (3 IP, 1ER, 2H, 3BB, 2K) started on the mound and Ryan Johnson (2.2 IP, 3R, 2ER, 3H, 2BB, 7K) worked in middle relief. Nick Newton had two hits including a double for the visiting Trojans. Jared Webb suffered the pitching loss for the visitors. Cartersville (1-0) plays at Sprayberry Saturday at 1 p.m.

The Lady Colonels lost a 50-40 decision to Hiram Friday night in the Region 7-AAAAA championship game at Calhoun High School. In a back-and-forth contest, Cass led 17-9 after one quarter before trailing 27-25 at halftime and 37-36 at the end of the third quarter. A cold shooting final period where the Lady Colonels managed only four points ended in a 10-point loss. Kalisha Phillips led the Lady Hornets with 22 points. Taylor Crawford and Erial Owens added 10 each for Hiram. Miya Winston, Keara McDaniel, and Claire Davis scored eight each for Cass. Justice Bennett added six points. Both teams will host state tournament games Tuesday night against Region 5-5A opponents. Hiram (16-9) will be a No. 1-seed. Cass (23-5) will host as a No. 2-seed.

A strong defensive effort in the third quarter helped lift the Purple Hurricanes to a 53-52 win Friday night over Blessed Trinity in the third place game of the Region 7-AAAAA tournament at Calhoun. The Titans led 20-15 after one quarter; 36-29 at halftime; and 46-41 after three quarters before the Canes rallied in the final eight minutes. Kam Callahan scored 20 points to lead all Cartersville scorers. Romo Pace followed with 17 points. Luke Gambill scored 10. Brygham Rogers led Blessed Trinity with 26 points. Jackson Lewis added 17 for the Titans. Cartersville and Blessed Trinity will open the Class 5A state tournament next Wednesday with road games against teams from Region 5-5A. Cartersville (12-12), now a 3-seed, will play Region 5’s 2-seed while the Titans (14-14) will travel to the region champion of Region 5-5A.