The Cass High School boys basketball team opened the 2021-22 season Friday night at home with an 83-79 win over the Sprayberry Yellow Jackets. The Colonels led 24-22 after one quarter and were up 47-38 at halftime. Cass held a 65-57 advantage headed to the final eight minutes and held on for a four-point win. Ethan McIntyre and Sacovie White paced Cass with 19 points each. Jayden Foster followed with 14 and Jelani Hames scored 13 for the Colonels. Kaden Baldwin chipped in six points while Jackson Hale, Norris Chavez, and Devin Henderson added four points apiece. Knyle Lundy and Amir Rosa combined for nine three-pointers for Sprayberry while scoring 24 and 22 points, respectively. The loss dropped the Yellow Jackets to 0-4 on the season. Cass (1-0) returns to action Saturday against Kennesaw Mountain at Woodstock High School.

Cass opened their wrestling season Wednesday night with a win over Cherokee High School, 45-30. 145- Bryce Kresho (Cass) pin of Alex Ahmad 152- Tyler McKnight (Cass) pin of Lain Watson 160- Kirecg Roe (Cass) decision over Justus Reis 170 Zach McKnight (Cass) pin of Chris Lindeborg 182- Double Forfeit 195- Parker Dunn (Cass) pin of Paul Hefner 220- Tripp Adams (Cass) pin of Nicholas Zelinsky 285- Patrick Crowley (Cherokee) pin over Sean Whatley 106- Cherokee receives forfeit 113- Cherokee receives forfeit 120- Cole Hunt (Cass) pin of Devin Mays 126- Jake Crapps (Cass) pin of Byron Gregorio 132- Christian Tabb (Cherokee) pin of Hunter Barrett 138- Jacob Silka (Cherokee) pin of Richard Martin The Colonels will be back in action this Friday at Adairsville and Saturday at Allatoona High School.

The Georgia High School Association's Reclassification Committee heard appeals from 23 different schools Thursday seeking changes for their respective region assignments for the next two-year cycle starting with the 2022-23 school year. Three of the appeals, each approved Thursday, have direct impact on the makeup of regions involving local Bartow County schools. Villa Rica requested a lateral move from Region 7-AAAAA to Region 5-AAAA. That appeal was approved by the GHSA committee. Villa Rica would have been a 7th member of Region 7-AAAAA along with Cartersville, Cass, Woodland, Calhoun, Dalton, and Hiram. As a result, Region 7-AAAAA will include only six schools. In Class AAA, Gilmer and Pickens were originally assigned to Region 7-AAA. Those two schools would have been the two western-most schools in a nine-school region that stretch all the way east to Hart County. The appeals by Gilmer and Pickens to join Region 6-AAA, which includes Adairsville, were successful Thursday. As a result, Region 6-AAA will be an 11-school region that will also include Bremen, Coahulla Creek, LaFayette, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe, Murray County, North Murray, Ridgeland, and Ringgold.

The Georgia High School Association’s Reclassification Committee convenes again Thursday to hear region assignment appeals in Thomaston. The official agenda lists several appeals that could alter the original region (7-AAAAA) assigned for Cartersville, Cass, and Woodland. There are also requests that could alter Region 6-AAA where Adairsville resides. Villa Rica, assigned to Region 7-AAAAA for 2022, is asking to be moved out of the league and into Region 5-AAAAA. If successful, that would leave Region 7-AAAAA with six schools instead of the current seven school assignment. In Class AAA, Gilmer and Pickens are requesting a lateral move into Region 6-AAA from Region 7-AAA. Region 6-AAA and Region 7-AAA both have nine schools under the current assignments. If successful, the Gilmer and Pickens appeals would create an 11-team league and a full 10-game region schedule for football in 6-AAA.

The Excel Christian Academy boys basketball team dropped an 82-61 decision at The Heritage School in Newnan Wednesday night. Heritage led 24-19 after one quarter before building a 52-33 advantage by the intermission. The Hawks led by 26 points after three quarters and improved to 3-0 on the season. Max Skidmore led four Hawks in double figures with 19 points. ECA’s Jacob Taylore scored 23 points and Jakaden Barkley added 19 in the Eagles’ loss. “We got in some foul trouble and the fatigue of a back-to-back got to us,” said Excel Christian head coach David Archer, Jr. “We kept pace until the foul issues forced mismatches. Heritage took advantage and had a big second quarter. We really never recovered.” Excel (0-2) hits the hardwoods again Saturday at Harvest Baptist in Acworth with a 6 p.m. tip.

The Excel Christian Academy boys basketball team opened the 2021-22 season Tuesday night at Liberty Square with a 65-55 loss to The Weber School. The host Eagles led 30-26 at halftime and maintained a lead well into the third quarter before the Rams (2-0) took control of the game late in the period. “We played well into the third quarter,” said ECA head coach David Archer, Jr. “Our lack of depth told on us in the second half. The fatigue factor crept in. We simply ran out of gas.” Caleb Ouanounou score 28 points to lead The Weber School. Harry Riley followed with 26 for the Rams. Freshman Jacob Taylor paced Excel with 17 points. Junior Jakaden Barkley scored 15. Freshman Comari Nettles chipped in 13 points and sophomore Elijah Payne finished with 10. Excel (0-1) plays at The Heritage School in Newnan Wednesday night.

Reinhardt football captured its sixth consecutive Mid-South Conference championship this season. Three former Bartow County players have helped the Eagles to half of those titles. That trio is juniors Terry Berdin, Bryce Burgess and Bryce Wilkins. Burgess starred at Adairsville High, while Berdin and Wilkins hail from Cartersville High. Berdin helped propel Reinhardt to its most recent win — a 49-15 victory Saturday at Kentucky Christian. Despite the lopsided final score, the Eagles didn't score in the first half and didn't take the lead until Berdin's touchdown run in the third quarter. Elsewhere, former Tigers basketball standout Nakiyah Washington made up for lost time with a big week. After missing Piedmont's first two games of the season for undisclosed reasons, the junior totaled 35 points and 13 rebounds in her first two games. PRO FOOTBALL Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville Jaguars; Cartersville) — Lawrence finished 16-for-35 passing for 162 yards in a 23-17 loss Sunday at Indianapolis. The former Clemson standout didn't throw a touchdown pass or interception. He fumbled twice, losing one, but did pick up 33 yards on the ground — the second-most of his young career. COLLEGE BASKETBALL DiAnthony Heathcock (Columbia International So., Woodland) — Heathcock started each of CIU's three games this past week, as the Rams went 1-2 overall but 0-2 in Appalachian Athletic Conference play. He opened the week with a 13-point, 13-rebound double-double on 6-of-6 shooting in an 86-61 win last Tuesday over Allen. Heathcock added four blocks in the victory. In AAC losses to Bluefield (76-74 Thursday) and Bryan (79-67 Saturday), the former Wildcat totaled 13 points and 15 rebounds. T.J. Horton (Georgia Highlands Fr., Cartersville) — Horton started and played all 40 minutes of an 83-65 win over New Rock Prep Thursday at home. He finished with seven points, three rebounds and three steals. Jaylon Pugh (Furman Sr., Cartersville) — Pugh saw action in two out of Furman's first three games of the season, scoring three points with two rebounds in 15 combined minutes of action. The Paladins opened the year with a 118-66 rout of North Greenville last Tuesday. Furman followed that up with a pair of overtime games — an 80-72 win Friday over Louisville and a 95-89 loss Monday to Belmont. Josie Summerville (North Park Sr., Adairsville) — Summerville started and played 13 minutes in a 68-61 loss Saturday at Otterbein. She finished with four points and three rebounds. Summerville did not feature in a 75-66 win over Maryville (Tennessee) the following day. Nakiyah Washington (Piedmont Jr., Adairsville) — Washington helped lead Piedmont to a pair of wins in the USA South East-West Classic over the weekend in Demorest. The former DTN player of the year contributed 15 points and five rebounds in an 85-65 win Friday over Averett. She made her first start of the season the next day against N.C. Wesleyan. Washington produced 20 points, eight rebounds and two blocks in just 27 minutes of action in a 66-57 triumph. COLLEGE FOOTBALL Terry Berdin (Reinhardt Jr., Cartersville) — Berdin touched the ball just once but certainly made the most out of it, with a 21-yard touchdown run in a 49-15 win over Kentucky Christian to close out the regular season Saturday. The score, which gave Reinhardt the lead for good at 14-9, extended Berdin's touchdown streak to three weeks. Chris Blackston (West Georgia Sr., Adairsville) — Listed as a starting linebacker, Blackston managed three tackles, including two solo, in a 44-6 win over Delta State Saturday at home. No. 5 seed West Georgia (8-2) opens the Super Region 2 playoffs with a trip this Saturday to fourth-seeded Albany State (9-1). The winner will face top-seeded Valdosta State, which received a first-round bye. Bryce Burgess (Reinhardt Jr., Adairsville) — Burgess saw time but didn't record any stats, as the Eagles wrapped up their sixth straight Mid-South Conference championship. Trey Creamer (Charlotte R-Sr., Cartersville) — Creamer finished with two tackles (one solo) in Charlotte's 42-32 loss Saturday at Louisiana Tech. Jonathan Cruz (Charlotte Sr., Cartersville) — Cruz did his part in the 49ers' defeat, making all three of his extra-point attempts, drilling his only field goal and booting two of his five kickoffs for touchbacks. Jordan Ferguson (Middle Tennessee State R-Jr., Cartersville) — Ferguson collected three tackles (two solo) and added a pair of QB hits in a 50-10 thrashing of Florida International Saturday at home. Manny Jones (Colorado State Grad Student, Woodland) — A starting defensive lineman, Jones was credited with eight assisted tackles to go along with one solo stop in a 35-21 loss to Air Force Saturday at home. La'Kwayme Jupiter (N.C. Wesleyan Fr., Cartersville) — Jupiter landed on the participation report but didn't record any stats during a 38-7 loss Saturday at Methodist. Bradley Kirk (Shorter Sr., Cartersville) — Kirk recorded a tackle and forced a fumble in a 56-0 loss Saturday at North Greenville. With the loss, Shorter finished the year 3-8 overall and 0-7 in Gulf South Conference play. Jacob Potter (Kennesaw State Sr., Adairsville) — Potter played his long snapper role during KSU's 28-24 win Saturday at North Alabama. John Scifers (Incarnate Word Grad Student, Woodland) — Scifers kicked off five times, totaling three touchbacks, in a 27-23 victory Saturday at Nicholls State. Evan Slocum (Wake Forest Fr., Cartersville) — Slocum posted three tackles and a pass breakup in a thrilling 45-42 win versus N.C. State Saturday at home. Matthew Surrett (Olivet Nazarene So., Cartersville) — ONU's starting center and his offensive teammates only produced 185 yards but still managed to grind out a 14-7 win over Roosevelt Saturday at home. Brandon Wade (West Florida R-So., Cartersville) — Wade saw time on the field but didn't record any stats during a 61-42 win against Valdosta State Saturday at home. West Florida, which won the GSC title, earned the No. 3 seed for the Super Region 2 playoffs and will host Newberry this coming Saturday. Bryce Wilkins (Reinhardt Jr., Cartersville) — Wilkins and the Reinhardt offensive line paved the way for 247 offensive yards, as the Eagles outscored the Knights 49-6 in the second half. SWIMMING Grayson Breedlove (Lenoir-Rhyne So., Cartersville) — Breedlove finished seventh in each of the 50- and 200-yard freestyle events, while also competing on the Bears' B-team in the 200-yard medley relay, in the Catawba tri-meet Saturday in Salisbury, North Carolina. Harper Powell (Florida Tech Fr., Adairsville) — Powell helped Florida Tech's A-team win the 200-yard freestyle relay in a home duel Saturday versus University of Tampa. The former Tiger also competed in the 50-yard freestyle (1st on team, 4th overall) and 100-yard backstroke (2nd on team, 6th overall). WRESTLING Caden McCrary (North Carolina Fr., Woodland) — Competing as an unattached wrestler, McCrary went 1-1 in the Wolfpack Wrestling Club Open Sunday in Cary, North Carolina. The four-time state champion opened with a 3-1 victory in the 141-pound division before falling by an 8-5 decision in the round of 16.

The Cartersville High School cheer team won its third consecutive region championship Saturday finishing ahead of runner-up Calhoun and third place Cass at the Region 7-AAAAA Championship. Adairsville finished as Region 6-AAA runner-up with Sonoraville taking the region title. Woodland was 16th in the Co-Ed State Sectionals.

The Cass High School girls basketball team opened the 2021-22 season Saturday night with a 73-45 home victory over Alexander. Claire Davis, who broke the school’s all-time career scoring mark, finished with 17 points. She currently has 1,243 career points. Mikaela Jackson followed with 12 points. Miya Winston and Zion Hayes also reached double figures for Cass with 10 points each. Keara McDaniel posted eight points. Amaya Ford tossed in seven. Kiana McDaniel, Haley Johnson, and Reese Howard added three points each. Elon Williams led the visiting Cougars with 10 points. Cass (1-0) returns to action Wednesday, November 24 at noon against the defending Class A state champs, Hebron Christian, at the Apalachee High School invitational tournament.

The Cartersville Purple Hurricanes scored three defensive touchdowns Friday night en route to a 51-0 win over Lithonia in the opening round of the Class AAAAA state playoffs. Linebacker Miller Forristall had a 35-yard scoop-and-score and linebacker Kace Adams, who finished with three interceptions in the game, returned a pick 29 yards for a score in the first half. Meanwhile, the Canes’ offense produced a pair of first half touchdowns as Cartersville took a 27-0 lead by the intermission. Running back Amari White scored on an 85-yard jaunt and quarterback Jake Parker connected with Jacob Ray for a 31-yard touchdown pass. The Hurricanes struck quickly to start the second half. Malachi Jeffries culminated a drive that took just over one minute with a 15-yard touchdown run. A second pick-six by Adams gave Cartersville a 41-0 lead. This interception was returned 13 yards. As the Canes’ defense completed the shutout of the Bulldogs, Cartersville added a field goal and a Dorian Randle 3-yard touchdown run for a 51-0 final. Lithonia’s season ends with a 4-7 record. No. 1-ranked Cartersville (10-0), will host defending state champion Warner Robins in the second round this Friday at Weinman Stadium. The Demons, 10-1 this season, beat Cartersville in last season’s Class AAAAA state championship game 62-28. The lone Warner Robins loss this year came in region play to Ware County on October 15, 29-21.

The Cass Colonels’ return to the state playoffs was short-lived Friday night with a 42-9 loss at eighth-ranked St. Pius X in DeKalb County. Cass, making its first state playoff appearance in 15 years, moved the football into Golden Lions’ territory on each of its first three possessions and ultimately reached St. Pius territory on six of their eight possessions, but failed to finish drives in the loss. The Lions got on the scoreboard first with a scoop-and-score. Jack Tchienchou picked up a Cass fumble and raced 58 yards to give St. Pius an early 7-0 lead. The Colonels responded with a drive into the Lions’ red zone, but settled for a 32-yard field goal by Saul Villeda to cut the St. Pius lead to 7-3. The Lions’ first offensive drive resulted in an unconventional touchdown. After the St. Pius triple-option attack methodically moved the ball down the field, quarterback Alex Possert fumbled near the goal line. The ball rolled into the end zone and was recovered by the Lions for a 14-3 lead. St. Pius wasted a scoring opportunity just before the intermission. Close enough for a short field goal attempt, the Lions spiked the football on a fourth down play giving Cass a turnover on downs. The teams went to halftime with St. Pius leading 14-3. The second half belonged to the Lions. Possert culminated a five minute drive with a 4-yard run then a 65-yard interception return for a touchdown lifted St. Pius to a 28-3 advantage. Shug Bentley and Liam Whitlark added short touchdown runs to finish off two more St. Pius drives as the Lions stretched out their lead to 42-3. Cass added a late score on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Devin Henderson to Tino Jones, but the extra point failed. Henderson finished the game 8-for-18 passing for 77 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He also rushed for 72 yards on 11 carries. St. Pius (9-2) advances to the second round and will host Creekside next Friday. The Seminoles topped Coffee 28-18 in the first round. The Colonels season ends with a 5-6 mark.

The Adairsville Tigers battled second-ranked Oconee County to the wire but came up short Friday night in Watkinsville, 29-22, in the opening round of the Class AAA state playoffs. In a back-and-forth contest, Adairsville had the ball inside the host Warriors’ red zone with an opportunity to tie at the end of regulation, but an interception with about 10 seconds remaining ended the threat and sealed the Oconee County win. Adairsville jumped out to a 15-0 lead early on a pair of Eli Agnew touchdown runs. Agnew capped the opening drive with a 2-yard plunge followed by a two-point conversion. Following a successful onside kick, the Tigers drove for a second score culminated by an Agnew three-yard run on a fourth down play with 3:31 left in the opening quarter. The Warriors cut the Adairsville lead to 15-7 on a short rushing touchdown by quarterback Jacob Wright, but the Tigers answered early in the second quarter with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Jonathan Gough to Evan Sanders. The connection had Adairsville ahead 22-7 with 11:42 remaining in the first half. The Warriors scored twice to close out the first half and send the game to halftime tied 22-22. C.J. Jones scored on a 13-yard touchdown run midway through the period and Wright found the end zone with a 5-yard rushing play with 0:27 remaining in the half. The Warriors knotted the score with a two-point conversion reception by Jack Ward. The teams battled through a scoreless third quarter before the Warriors grabbed an early fourth quarter lead. Wright hooked up with Whit Weeks on a 23-yard touchdown pass that gave Oconee a 29-22 advantage with 9:14 left in the game. The game ended on Adairsville’s late threat thwarted by an interception. Oconee County (10-1) won its eighth straight home playoff game over the past three seasons. The Warriors travel to Crisp County next week for a second round game. Adairsville had its season end with an 8-3 record.