The Class 5A 4th-ranked Cass girls powered past Class 6A Centennial Saturday afternoon in Roswell, 66-44. The Lady Colonels led 23-4 after the opening eight minutes and were ahead 38-20 at halftime. Cass extended the lead in the third quarter to 61-30 and held on for a 22-point win. Londaisha Smith scored 24 points and had 10 steals for Cass. Claire Davis scored 20 points and added 11 rebounds. Keara McDaniel followed with seven points. Gracie Elkins had five. Amaya Ford and Justice Bennett scored three points each. Ariana Hames and Haley Johnson chipped in with two points and Zion Hayes added one. Mary Kate Kahl led the Knights with 11 points. Samantha Ambroselli and Ciara Ware added nine and eight points, respectively. The Lady Colonels (5-0) host Wheeler Tuesday at 6 p.m. before participating in the SMI Carrollton Pre-Christmas Tournament. Cass will play Mt. Zion-Carroll at 4 p.m. Friday at Central-Carroll High School in the opening round. Pairings and times for Saturday and Monday will be determined by Friday and Saturday outcomes.

The Adairsville High basketball teams dropped Region 6-AAA games Saturday at Rockmart. The Lady Tigers fell 71-43 and the Adairsville boys suffered a narrow defeat, 62-60. The win by the Rockmart girls was their first of the season to improve to 1-3. Adairsville slipped to 2-5 for the year and 0-3 in region action. The Rockmart boys led 23-19 after one quarter but the Tigers carried a 36-32 advantage to the intermission locker room. The host Yellow Jackets outscored Adairsville 13-10 in the third period to trail 46-45 with eight minutes remaining. Rockmart outpaced Adairsville 17-14 in the fourth quarter for a 2-point win. Rockmart improved to 2-3 for the season and 1-2 in region play. Adairsville is now 3-2 overall and 1-2 in Region 6-AAA. The Adairsville teams host Coahulla Creek Tuesday with the girls game to start at 6 p.m. Both teams travel to Murray County Friday for a 7 p.m. start.

The Excel Christian Academy boys basketball team pulled away in the fourth quarter Saturday evening to win at Atlanta International, 63-30. Kalil Holley scored 21 points for the Eagles followed by Rashard Doyal with 19 and Jakaden Barkely with 12 points. Blake Bailey added nine for ECA. Excel led 13-4 after one quarter, 28-14 at halftime, and extended the lead to 38-22 after three quarters. The Eagles then outscored AIA 25-8 in the fourth quarter to pull away. Harris Britton and Dylan Palenik scored eight points apiece for Atlanta International. ECA plays at Harrison Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., at Atlanta Jewish Academy Thursday at 6:30 p.m., and at Cherokee Christian Friday at 4 p.m.

The Cass High wrestling team sent ten wrestlers to the Buford Takedown Sportswear Invitational Saturday and had eight to place, including five finalists and three champions. Jake Crapps highlighted the Colonels’ performances by pinning a pair of 2019 state runner ups on his way to the weekend title. Bryce Kresho and Zach McKnight also won their weight divisions. Tyler McKnight and Sean Whatley were tournament runners-up. Montgomery Tompkins and Eli Doolittle both placed third while Adan Urizar earned a fifth place finish. Cass is scheduled to participate in the Berkmar Invitational next Saturday.

The Woodland boys picked up their second win of the season Friday night with a home victory over Pepperell, 80-70. The Wildcats led 24-17 after one quarter, 44-37 at halftime, and 64-48 after three quarters before holding on for the 10-point non-region win. “It was a great win for us and we led most of the game,” said Woodland coach Jacob Selman. “We posted our highest point total of the season and it was great to see our guys put together four good quarters. I’m super proud of my guys tonight.” Kemp Edge led Pepperell with 25 points. Tom Vincent followed with 17 for the Dragons. Diaz Garrett paced the Wildcats with 32 points. KJ Rogers scored 20 and Jaden Langsten added eight for Woodland. The loss drops Pepperell to 3-3 for the season. Woodland (2-3) plays another non-region game Monday in Dalton at Morris Innovative. NOTE: The Woodland-Pepperell girls game was postponed. CASS BOYS 78, NORTH SPRINGS 71 The Cass boys snapped a two-game skid Friday night with a 78-71 home win over North Springs from Region 6-AAAAA. The Colonels led most of the way including a 36-31 advantage at the intermission. Cass also led 56-51 after three quarters, but coach Sean Glaze was not overly pleased with his team’s performance. “It was an ugly seven point win,” said Glaze. “We will have to play much cleaner next week against a really good Hebron Christian team. On the bright side, however, we had a good night collecting toys as part of our Toys for Tots event.” Zaylan Chaney and CJ Pipkin led Cass with 23 and 22 points, respectively. Braxton Benham and Jackson Hale followed with 12 points each. Jelani Howard and Hassane Diallo paced the visiting Spartans with 25 points each. The loss keeps North Springs winless for the year at 0-4. Cass (4-3) will play next Friday and Saturday at the Sequoyah Holiday Tournament in Canton. The Colonels play Hebron Christian Academy at 5:30 p.m. Friday and will square off with the host Sequoyah Chiefs Saturday at 4 p.m. NOTE: The Cass-North Springs girls game was postponed. SONORAVILLE 56, ADAIRSVILLE GIRLS 28 The Sonoraville girls jumped to a 29-8 lead in the first quarter Friday night and never trailed in a 56-28 win over visiting Adairsville. The Lady Phoenix led 43-14 at halftime and held a 53-20 lead after three quarters. Alexa Geary led all scorers with 18 points for Sonoraville. Mattie Parker followed with 13 and Abby Chambers added 11 points. Lexie Childers scored 10 for Adairsville. Autumn Henderson finished with six and Alyssa Jarrett added five points for the Lady Tigers. Sonoraville improved to 4-1 overall and 3-0 in Region 6-AAA. Adairsville (2-4, 0-2) travels to Rockmart Saturday for a 7 p.m. start. SONORAVILLE 71, ADAIRSVILLE BOYS 67 The Adairsville boys suffered their first loss of the 2020-21 season Friday night at Sonoraville, 71-67. The host Phoenix improved to 3-0 on the season with the Region 6-AAA victory. Adairsville (3-1, 1-1) returns to action Saturday at Rockmart with an 8:30 p.m. start.

The Cartersville Purple Hurricanes rallied from 14 points down in the first quarter to defeat the Ware County Gators 34-31 on Friday night to advance in the semi-finals of the GHSA Class 5A playoffs. Thomas Castellanos proved to be a tough quarterback to contain for the Cartersville defense. The dual-threat quarterback scored the game’s first two touchdowns of the game – both in the first quarter. While the Ware County offense was rolling, the Cartersville offense could not find much traction as it had two three-and-outs and an interception in its opening three drives. In the second quarter, the Cartersville offense began to roll. Quante Jennings capped off a 91-yard drive with a 16-yard touchdown run with 2:23 left in the opening half. Then Castellanos fumbled the ball and Cartersville recovered just outside of the Gator 20-yard line. Three plays later, Carlos Del Rio-Wilson scored on an 8-yard rush to tie the game at 14. With just 80 seconds left in the first half, Ware County seemed destined to take the tie into the half. The arm – and legs – of Castellanos proved otherwise as he marched the offense deep into Cartersville territory, but had to settle for a 29-yard field goal as time expired. With Ware County receiving the ball first in the third quarter, everyone knew the opening drive would be a big one. The first play was intercepted by the Hurricane defense. The next play was a 46-yard touchdown from Del Rio-Wilson to Collin Fletcher. A 14-point deficit had turned into a 20-17 Purple Hurricane lead. Cartersville attempted an onside kick, but Ware County recovered. The Gators scored quickly on a 30-yard pass from Castellanos to Cartervious Norton to once again regain the lead 24-20. In just 80 seconds, the teams exchanged touchdowns but Cartersville missed its PAT. On its next drive, Cartersville was aided by some Ware County penalties as Jennings capped off the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run. It appeared that a back-and-forth affair was going to define the rest of the game and set up a thriller in Waycross, Georgia. Ware County continued to answer every Cartersville punch with one that hit just as hard. Castellanos, once again, found the end zone to cap a 69-yard drive and regain the Gator lead at 31-27. The third quarter would end with that score and after 36 minutes of game time, very little had been decided. It seemed inevitable that the last team to score would win. Cartersville struck first in the fourth quarter, as Jennings found the end zone for the third time in the contest to give the Canes a 34-31 lead. It was Ware County that would blink first. Facing a 4th and 11 at the Cartersville 31-yard line, the Gators attempted to go for the first down instead of kicking a field goal that would tie the game. Cartersville had a chance to deliver a big blow with another touchdown to make it a two-score lead with about half the quarter to play. Unfortunately for those in purple, the Hurricanes offense went three-and-out and punted the ball away. Ware County was unable to capitalize on the punt and, instead, threw an interception with just under three minutes left in the game. Again, a first down would all but seal advancing into the Final Four. But nothing about this game had been easy and the final three minutes were to be just as exciting as the first 45. Cartersville was unable to get a first down and was forced to punt the ball away. The final Ware County drive would determine the football game. Ware County gained yards, but the backup quarterback was unable to move the ball forward for the Gators and fumbled the ball, which was recovered by the Cartersville defense. After a 14-point deficit, Cartersville had prevailed. Cartersville will host the semi-final game next Friday night against the Coffee Trojans at Weinman Stadium with kickoff set for 7:30.

The Adairsville Tigers had their 2020 football season come to a close November 27 with a disappointing 45-31 home playoff loss to Dawson County, but the team completed the year as region runner-up with a 6-4 season mark. This week, 15 players on the Tigers' roster were recognized by the coaches and athletic directors from Region 6-AAA for their outstanding play. Three senior Tigers were named First Team All-Region Offense. The trio includes running back/receiver Courtney Slocum along with offensive linemen Mason Cash and David Adams. Four members of the Adairsville defense and special teams were also named First Team All-Region. Senior defensive lineman Evan Smith and punter Emanuel Lopez were among the quartet along with junior defensive back Eli Agnew and sophomore outside linebacker/strong saftey Chris Roper. Five more Tigers were named Second Team All-Region 6-AAA. On offense, senior quarterback Conner Crunkelton; senior wide receiver Dylan Matthews; senior athlete JaMaury Johnson; and freshman offensive lineman Bobby Campbell made that roster. Defensive Second Team selections include: senior defensive lineman K.J. Weaver and senior defensive back, Courtney Slocum. The following Tigers received Honorable Mention All-Region: senior running back and defensive back JaMaury Johnson; sophomore offensive lineman James Ellerbee; sophomore offensive athlete Chris Roper; senior defensive lineman Tywun Gordon; and senior linebacker Drew Wilson. The complete 2020 All-Region 6-AAA selections:

The Cartersville wrestling team swept dual matches with Rome and Coosa Wednesday evening at Rome High School. The Canes defeated the host Wolves 52-30 and toppled Coosa, 45-36. On a night where each of the teams were short-handed due to contact tracing quarantine protocol, both Giles Turner (132) and Lyle Forristall (160) of Cartersville were able to earn wins by pin in both matches. Brady Jenkins (152) also swept to a pair of wins on the mats with a major decision over his Rome opponent and an 8-6 decision over his Coosa counterpart. Cartersville’s Lee Camp (106), Joshua Alvarez (132), Brayden Price (220), and Jamie Altuzar (285) collected victories by pin in the match with Coosa. The Hurricanes are scheduled to wrestle at Adairsville this Friday night in a quad-meet. Cartersville, Adairsville, Rockmart, and North Paulding will participate.

The Cartersville High School swim team won a dual meet with Cass High Tuesday at the Adairsville High swim facility, 101-63. The Cass boys outscored Cartersville 44-27, but the Lady Canes outdistanced the Cass girls 74-19. Cass competes again Thursday at 5 p.m. Event results for Tuesday listed below:

Jordan Thompson scored 18 points while Reagan Weightman and Gracie Styles added six each as the Woodland girls defeated visiting Adairsville Tuesday night, 37-25. Woodland, who avenged a 51-49 loss to Adairsville on November 23, led 6-0 after one quarter, 13-6 at halftime, and 21-13 through three quarters on their way to the Lady Cats first win of the season. Lexie Childers led Adairsville with nine points. Alissa Winters, Haley Stiles, and Hannah Hollingsworth scored four each for the Lady Tigers. Adairsville (2-3, 0-1) plays at Sonoraville Friday and at Rockmart Saturday. Both games are 7 p.m. starts. Woodland (1-5) hosts Pepperell Friday at 6 p.m. and travels to Haralson County Saturday for a 6 p.m. start. ADAIRSVILLE BOYS 94, WOODLAND 57 The Adairsville boys grabbed a 21-11 advantage after one quarter and never trailed in a 94-57 win Tuesday night at Woodland. The Tigers led 42-26 at the intermission and were ahead 65-45 after three quarters. TJ Printup finished with a game-high 39 points for Adairsville. Tucker Deams and Conner Crunkelton followed with 12 apiece. Zac Postell scored nine points and Tre Mitchell added eight for the Tigers. KJ Rogers led Woodland with 30 points. Diaz Garrett finished with eight. Woodland (1-3) entertains Pepperell Friday at 7:30 p.m. Adairsville (3-0, 1-0) plays at Sonoraville Friday and at Rockmart Saturday. Both games are scheduled for 8:30 p.m. starts. SOUTH GWINNETT 66, CASS BOYS 56 The Colonels were victims of a 9-0 run by the host Comets over the final 1:30 of the game and South Gwinnett handed Cass a second straight loss, 66-56. “We took some bad shots and we gave up a few offensive rebounds that hurt us,” said Cass head coach Sean Glaze. The game was tight throughout prior to the final run. South Gwinnett led 16-15 after one quarter before Cass carried a 30-25 advantage into halftime. The Comets regained a 52-50 lead after three quarters. Kevon Shepherd led South Gwinnett (5-1) with 31 points. Maalik Leitch scored 13 for the Comets. Zaylan Chaney paced Cass with 29 points. CJ Pipkin followed with 12 and Braxton Benham added six points. The Colonels (3-3) will host North Springs Friday at 7:30 p.m. for their annual Toys for Tots event. The girls game will precede at 6 p.m. Fans get in free with the donation of a new unopened toy.

This weekend saw Trevor Lawrence play likely his final regular-season game for Clemson the day before Vic Beasley Jr. suited up for his Las Vegas Raiders debut. Facing Virginia Tech Saturday on the road, Lawrence had an uneven night through the air but still managed to account for three scores, thanks to a solid night rushing the ball. The junior threw for 195 yards and a touchdown on 12-of-22 passing, adding 41 yards and two scores on the ground. With the win, Clemson, which is off this week, will face Notre Dame in the ACC Championship Game Dec. 19 in Charlotte, North Carolina. It will be a rematch of a thrilling matchup from earlier in the season that the Fighting Irish won 47-40 in double overtime in South Bend, Indiana. The difference this time around — aside from the neutral-site venue — will be Lawrence, who missed the first meeting due to a positive COVID-19 test. At the professional level, Beasley — a former Clemson standout — saw his first action, limited as it may have been, for the Raiders after recently being promoted from the team’s practice squad. The Adairsville native played eight snaps (13%) Sunday against the New York Jets — his first action in five weeks. After five seasons with Atlanta, Beasley played in five games with Tennessee this year before being released. Elsewhere, Cartersville native Ashton Hagans landed a spot on the training camp roster for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Hagans declared for the NBA draft after his sophomore season at Kentucky. Despite going undrafted, the 6-foot-3 point guard inked a two-way contract with Minnesota to begin his professional career. PRO BASKETBALL Ashton Hagans (Cartersville native; Minnesota Timberwolves) — Minnesota announced an 18-player training camp roster Sunday. Hagans is the lone two-way player on the roster. He signed the deal after going undrafted last month. The Timberwolves are set to play three preseason games before opening the regular season Dec. 23. PRO FOOTBALL Vic Beasley (Adairsville; Las Vegas Raiders) — Despite not recording any stats on his eight snaps, Beasley did manage to make his debut for Las Vegas in a 31-28 road win Saturday over the New York Jets. The Raiders are scheduled to play their next three games at home. First up is a visit from Indianapolis this coming Sunday. COLLEGE BASKETBALL DiAnthony Heathcock (Columbia International Fr., Woodland) — The true freshman scored two points, pulled down five rebounds and swatted a pair of shots in a 110-108 double-overtime loss last Wednesday at Truett McConnell. On the season, Heathcock has 21 points on 9-of-18 shooting across five appearances. He also has totaled 25 boards and six blocks in 60 minutes of play. Jaylon Pugh (Furman Jr., Cartersville) — Pugh sank a pair of 3-pointers in an 89-49 victory over Southern Wesleyan last Wednesday at home. He also had an assist and a rebound in the win. On Saturday, Pugh didn’t score but did contribute a rebound and a steal in an 81-57 triumph at College of Charleston. Pugh has featured in every game this season for Furman (4-0), scoring 11 points on 3-of-7 shooting across 31 total minutes. COLLEGE FOOTBALL Trey Creamer (Charlotte R-Jr., Cartersville) — Making his season debut, Creamer was credited with assisting on one tackle in a 37-19 home loss Sunday to Western Kentucky. Charlotte (2-4, 2-2 Conference USA) is slated to face Marshall in its season finale Friday in Huntington, West Virginia. Jonathan Cruz (Charlotte Jr., Cartersville) — Cruz nailed his only point-after try and didn’t attempt any field goals in Sunday’s defeat. Miller Forristall (Alabama R-Sr., Cartersville) — The Crimson Tide’s starting tight end against LSU, Forristall didn’t record any catches, but Alabama cruised to a 55-17 win against the defending national champion. The top-ranked team in the country is now 9-0 and will close out the regular season this week at Arkansas. Manny Jones (Colorado State Sr., Woodland) — Playing in their first game since Nov. 12, Colorado State fell 29-17 Saturday at San Diego State. Jones assisted on one tackle in the defeat. Having played just four total games, the Rams (1-3) are set to conclude the abbreviated season Saturday against Utah State. Trevor Lawrence (Clemson Jr., Cartersville) — Lawrence finished with a season-low completion percentage but a season-best rushing total in a 45-10 win Saturday at Virginia Tech. The junior completed 12 of 22 pass attempts (55%) for 195 yards. He threw one touchdown but also one interception. On the ground, Lawrence piled up 41 yards and two scores. Having possibly played his final regular-season game for Clemson (9-1, 8-1 ACC), the 6-foot-6, 220-pounder enters the ACC Championship Game with 26 total touchdowns and three interceptions this year. -- Contributor: Nicholas Sullivan, The Daily Tribune News

The Excel Christian Academy boys basketball team evened its season record Monday night with a blowout 97-18 win at Morris Innovative in Dalton. The Eagles sprinted to a 27-5 lead in the opening eight minutes and led Morris Innovative 52-14 at halftime. Five ECA players reached double figures in scoring led by Jakaden Barkely with 29. Kalil Holley and Blake Bailey scored 18 each. Rashard Doyal posted 14 points. Elijah Payne finished with 12 and Trippe Anderson added six points for the Eagles. Jose Cruz scored nine points for MIHS (0-1). Excel (2-2) plays next at Atlanta International Saturday at 3 p.m.