The Cass girls won their fourth straight game to open the 2020-21 season Saturday on the road. The Lady Colonels surged to an early lead and were never threatened in a 66-27 non-region win at Class 6A Wheeler. Cass led 19-8 after eight minutes and held a 33-18 lead at halftime. The Lady Colonels were up 58-24 by the end of the third quarter. Londaisha Smith led Cass with 14 points. Claire Davis and Haley Johnson followed with 13 apiece. Makyera Baldwin totaled nine. Keara McDaniel and Zion Hayes contributed five points each. Gracie Elikins finished with four and Mikaela Jackson added three points in the win. Wheeler falls to 0-2 on the year. The Class 5A, 4th-ranked Cass girls (4-0) host North Springs Friday at 6 p.m. before traveling to Class 6A Centennial in Roswell next Saturday for a 5 p.m. start. SPENCER 64, CASS BOYS 49 Spencer, the No. 2 team in Class 4A, topped the Cass boys Saturday night at the Create The Culture Classic — played at Cass, 64-49. Cass, ranked No. 8 in Class 5A, was tied with Spencer at the end of the first quarter and trailed the Greenwave 30-25 at halftime. In the third quarter, Spencer built a 45-31 lead by the 2:44 mark and Cass was unable to recover. Jaquez Holt, who was named the game’s MVP, led Spencer with 23 points, three rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block. Tycen McDaniels and Quran Hoskins both reached double figures for the Greenwave with 13 and 10 points, respectively. McDaniels added eight rebounds and a pair of blocked shots. Cass junior forward Zaylan Chaney finished with 18 points, seven rebounds, and one steal. CJ Pipkin added 12 points, six boards, and a pair of assists. Andrew Glaze contributed nine points. "We shot it poorly and didn't defend or have great possessions like we need if we want to be really good," said Cass head coach Sean Glaze following the loss. "It was strong competition, however, and that is good for us." Spencer improved to 3-0. Cass (3-2) travels to South Gwinnett Tuesday night for a 7:30 p.m. start and will host North Springs Friday — also scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ADAIRSVILLE BOYS 83, GILMER 60 A huge night for T.J. Printup, Jr. led the visiting Tigers to a 23-point win at Gilmer Saturday. Adairsville used defensive pressure to limit the Bobcats top scorers while Printup scored 45 points (38 in the first half) for the Tigers. Hayden Poarch added 14 points for Adairsville. Printup made six shots from behind the arc and scored all 45 points in the first three quarters. The Tigers led 28-13 after one quarter, 55-28 at the intermission, and 72-43 heading into the final period. Braden Jenkins, Brady Sanford, and Cade Carter reached double figures for Gilmer with 15, 13, and 10 points, respectively. The loss dropped Gilmer to 2-1 on the season. Adairsville (2-0) plays at Woodland Tuesday, at Sonoraville Friday, and at Rockmart Saturday. GILMER 70, ADAIRSVILLE GIRLS 33 The Adairsville girls lost on the road at Gilmer Saturday, 70-33. The host Lady Bobcats extended a 19-15 first quarter lead to 40-16 by halftime and cruised to a 37-point win. Elly Callihan scored 12 of her game-high 20 points in the first quarter for Gilmer. Emma Callihan poured in 13 of her 15 points in the first half and Lark Reece added 14 for the Bobcats. Haley Stiles led Adairsville in scoring with 17 points. Autumn Henderson finished with four. Makayla Wade, Ya’Torrean Hale, and Alissa Winters contributed three points each. Alyssa Jarrett had two and Hannah Hollingsworth added one point. Gilmer improved to 4-0 for the season. Adairsville (2-2) plays three road games next week. The Lady Tigers play at Woodland Tuesday, at Sonoraville Friday, and at Rockmart next Saturday. CEDARTOWN 58, CARTERSVILLE GIRLS 38 The host Lady Bulldogs of Cedartown had three players in double figure scoring Saturday as they defeated the Cartersville girls, 58-38. Cartersville’s Miya Moore suffered an ankle injury in the first three minutes of the game and it disrupted the Lady Canes’ attack. According to Cartersville coach Cindy Moore, Kierra Milline had to fill in as a point guard for the first time and the coach credited her with great second half leadership. Cedartown (1-0) led 20-7 after one quarter and held a 38-21 advantage at halftime. The lead was 20 by the end of the third quarter. KeKe Turner scored 11 of her game-high 20 points for Cedartown in the first quarter. Qiana Watson and Mary Brumby followed with 12 and 10 points, respectively, for the Lady Bulldogs. Sequoyah McConnell, Ansley Griffen, Lehla Thomas, and Zoe Casey had six points each for the Lady Canes. Cartersville (0-4) will entertain Model next Saturday night at 6 p.m. DARLINGTON 56, WOODLAND BOYS 22 The Woodland boys fell to 1-2 on the season Saturday with a 34-point loss at Darlington (1-0). Woodland will host Adairsville Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. CARTERSVILLE BOYS 60, CEDARTOWN 51 The Cartersville boys picked up their first win of the season Saturday night with a nine-point victory over Cedartown at The Storm Center. Cartersville trailed 14-9 after one period, but responded to take a 24-23 lead by halftime. The Canes held a 41-35 advantage through three quarters. Romo Pace led the Hurricanes with 13 points. Chaz Henderson followed with 12. Luke Kottemann contributed 11 and Robert Novak had nine points. Cedartown falls to 0-2. Cartersville (1-2) hosts Model next Saturday night at 7:30 p.m.

Quante Jennings ran for three touchdowns Friday night as Cartersville scored 31 unanswered points to win their GHSA Class 5A second round state playoff road game, 31-19 at St. Pius X in Atlanta. The win for the 4th-ranked Purple Hurricanes sends them on a long, road trip next week to play at Ware County in the Class 5A state quarterfinals. Ware County won its second round game at Creekside Friday night, 49-25. After a scoreless first quarter, it was the host Golden Lions who got on the scoreboard first. St. Pius drove 97 yards for the game’s initial score with the big play coming on a 41-yard run by quarterback Dennis O’Shea to the Canes’ 3-yard line. That set up a short scoring run by junior fullback Luke Jacobellis with 6:39 left in the second quarter. The touchdown gave the Lions a 7-0 lead. Cartersville then scored on back-to-back possessions to take a 14-7 advantage by halftime. The key play on the ensuing drive was a long pass play from Carlos Del Rio-Wilson to Evan Slocum that moved the Hurricanes to the St. Pius 27-yard line. Jennings capped the drive with a four-yard run and Oscar Hernandez added the first of his four PATs for a 7-7 score with 3:40 left in the half. A bobbled snap during a punt on the Golden Lions’ next possession resulted in a short kick and allowed the Canes to take over at the 42-yard line. A Del Rio-Wilson pass to Kyler Johnson moved Cartersville to the 23-yard line. That was followed by a Jennings catch and run to the St. Pius 7-yard line. From there, Del Rio-Wilson powered in with a touchdown run. The PAT gave the Canes a 14-7 lead with 7.5 seconds left in the opening half. On Cartersville’s opening drive of the third quarter, Devonte Ross made an acrobatic catch of a Del Rio-Wilson pass to move the Hurricanes to the SPX 18-yard line. An added penalty advanced the ball inside the 10-yard line. Two plays later, Jennings scored the second of his touchdowns from six yards out and Cartersville led 21-7 with 9:21 remaining in the third quarter. Later in the third period, a St Pius punt pinned the Canes at their own 4-yard line. But a long drive followed and resulted in more Cartersville points. Key plays in the drive included a 31-yard run by Jennings, a 26-yard run by Del Rio-Wilson, and a Jennings 28-yard jaunt to inside the SPX 5-yard line. Del Rio-Wilson scored an apparent touchdown on a 2-yard run, but it was negated by an illegal procedure penalty. The Canes then settled for a 22-yard field goal by Hernandez and a 24-7 lead in the opening minute of the fourth quarter. On the next St. Pius possession, Amarai Orr picked off an O’Shea pass and returned it to the Lions’ 16-yard line. The interception set up an eventual 5-yard touchdown run by Jennings and put Cartersville ahead 31-7 — still early in the fourth quarter. St. Pius drove down the field quickly on their next possession and scored on a 1-yard run by Mason Benefield with 6:21 left in the game. A 2-point conversion pass failed and left the Canes on top, 31-13. After recovering an onside kickoff, the host Lions rallied for one more score. O’Shea connected with Casey Van Meulin for a 13-yard touchdown with 3:57 left in the game. Another 2-point conversion attempt failed. This time a St. Pius X pooch-kickoff was recovered by Cartersville and the Canes were able to run out the clock to secure their 12-point win. Jennings finished with 165 yards rushing for the Canes. 142 of those yards were in the second half. Del Rio-Wilson added 66 rushing yards with 42 coming in the second half. The University of Florida commit also threw for 186 yards while completing 14 of 22 pass attempts. After splitting time with quarterback Stratton Tripp since his mid-season transfer to Cartersville, it was the first game Del Rio-Wilson has taken all the snaps in a game. The Golden Lions, who were ranked 8th in Class 5A entering the game, finish the season with a 9-2 mark. Cartersville (10-1) will travel to Ware County for an Elite Eight quarterfinal matchup with the Gators. Ware County is the No. 2-seed from Region 1-AAAAA.

Adairsville, Cartersville, and Cass all had successful Saturday’s on the wrestling mats. Adairsville finished second at the Carrollton Trojan War Duals between first place Trion and third place Union Grove. Both of those teams were state champions in 2020. Jaxon Owens (113), Doss Dudley (126), and Devin Pryer (138/145) were all undefeated on the day for the Tigers. Adairsville travels to Armuchee Tuesday where they will meet the host Indians and Darlington. CANES SWEEP DUAL MATCHES Cartersville defeated Eagles Landing 58-24 and host North Atlanta 60-21 Saturday in a pair of dual matches. Joshua Alvarez (138) went 2-0 with a pair of pins for the Canes. Lee Camp (106), Eaiden Neal (113), Jackson Lattimer (126), Giles Turner (132), Brady Jenkins (152), and Lyle Forristall (160) each went 2-0 with one pin apiece. Jackson Heilman (170/182) and Pedro Echeverria (195) also added a pair of wins on the day. Cartersville will compete in a tri-match Wednesday night at 6 p.m. at Rome High School. SEVEN COLONELS WIN AT McEACHERN TOURNEY The Cass wrestling team competed in an individual event at McEachern High School. Montgomery Tompkins, Jake Crapps, Bryce Kresho, Eli Doolittle, Zach McKnight, Parker Dunn, and Sean Whatley each won their weight divisions. Tyler McKnight placed second. Jamori Speights and Gavin Smith both finished third. Cass travels to Cherokee High School Wednesday and will compete in the Cleveland Duals next Saturday.

The Cass wrestling team enjoyed success Friday night at a tri-match in Cherokee County. The Colonels traveled to Creekview High School where they defeated Denmark and Creekview. Montgomery Tompkins, Jake Crapps, Bryce Kresho, Eli Doolittle, Adan Urizar, and Zach McKnight were undefeated on the evening for Cass. Tyler McKnight, Brock Gonyea, and Parker Dunn all finished with one win and one loss each. Cass travels to South Forsyth Saturday.

The Class 5A 4th-ranked Cass girls powered past Lassiter Friday night at home for a 75-40 non-region victory. The Lady Colonels led 18-10 after one quarter and surged to a 44-17 advantage by halftime. Cass continued to pull away, leading 63-30 after three quarters on their way to a 35-point win. Londaisha Smith led all scorers with 20 points for Cass. Gracie Elkins followed with 12. Amaya Ford and Mikaela Jackson contributed eight points each. Makyera Baldwin, Claire Davis, and Keara McDaniels had five each. Haley Johnson finished with four. Ariana Hames and Tatianna Christian scored three points apiece and Zion Hayes added two for the Colonels. Ryan Thames led the visiting Lady Trojans (0-4) with 12 points on four three-pointers. Cass (3-0) travels to Wheeler Saturday for an 11 a.m. start. CASS BOYS 60, LASSITER 46 The Class 5A 8th-ranked Cass boys jumped out to a 22-6 lead in the first quarter and held off visiting Lassiter the rest of the way Friday night for a 60-46 win at home. The Cass basketball teams also recognized their middle school feeder teams and collected over 300 cans of food for the Harvest House Pantry at The Church at Liberty Square. Cass led 39-23 at halftime and maintained a 49-38 lead through three periods. “We had a big opening quarter,” said Colonels’ head coach Sean Glaze after the game. “We then shot it poorly afterwards and had too many empty possessions and turnovers. The kids played well defensively and we rebounded well. I thought we played with a lot of energy.” Zaylan Chaney paced the Colonels with 16 points and 14 rebounds. Andrew Glaze followed with 15 points and five boards. Braxton Benham and CJ Pipkin added 10 points each. Benham added three rebounds and three steals. Carson Kenney and Bradley Frye both led the visiting Trojans with 10 points each. The loss drops Lassiter to 1-2 on the season. Cass (3-1) plays Spencer Saturday at 6 p.m. in the fifth game of the day on the Colonels’ home floor. The matchup with the No. 2 team in Class AAAA is part of the Create The Culture Classic that will include nine, top-ten ranked teams in Georgia. WOODLAND BOYS 54, HARALSON COUNTY 46 The Woodland boys basketball team earned its first win of the year Friday night by defeating visiting Haralson County, 54-46 KJ Rogers led the Wildcats with 21 points and Troy Poche’ followed with 11. D. Garrett added nine points for Woodland. The Wildcats led 13-5 after one quarter but trailed 25-21 at halftime and 39-38 at the end of the third period. Woodland then outscored the visiting Rebels 16-7 in the final eight minutes for their 8-point win. “It was a great team win,” said Woodland head coach Jacob Selman. “All the guys fought hard in this one.” The loss drops Haralson County to 0-2 on the season. Woodland (1-1) travels to Darlington Saturday for a 4:30 p.m. start and will host Adairsville Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. ADAIRSVILLE BOYS 80, RINGGOLD 48 Adairsville raced to a 26-9 first quarter lead Friday night in their season opener at home against Ringgold on their way to an 80-48 Region 6-AAA win. The host Tigers led 46-16 at halftime and were ahead 73-30 by the end of the third period. T.J. Printup scored a game-high 20 points for Adairsville. Conner Crunkelton followed with 18 points. Hayden Poarch added 17 points, including five three-pointers. Gage Long led Ringgold (0-5, 0-1) with 15 points. Adairsville (1-0, 1-0) travels to Rossville to take on the Ridgeland Panthers Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. The Tigers will play at Woodland Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. RINGGOLD 62, ADAIRSVILLE GIRLS 36 The Adairsville girls fell behind 23-11 in the first quarter Friday night and were unable to recover in a 62-36 loss to visiting Ringgold. “We held Ringgold to only four points in the second quarter,” said Adairsville head coach Melissa Winters. “but we did not convert enough opportunities. We missed too many layups and had too many unforced turnovers that (Ringgold) was able to turn into points. We are starting to find out roles and played good perimeter defense. The girls played hard but we have to compete every play and not dig ourselves an early hole.” Adairsville cut the Ringgold lead to 27-18 by halftime but later trailed 46-27 at the end of the third quarter. Lexie Childers led Adairsville with 16 points. Ya’Torreon Hale added nine. Maggie Reed was the top scorer for Ringgold (2-1, 1-1) with 20 points. Rachael Lopez and Riley Naydley added 14 and 13 points, respectively. Adairsville (2-1, 0-1) plays at Gilmer Saturday at 4 p.m. and will travel to Woodland Tuesday for a 6 p.m. start. HARALSON COUNTY 43, WOODLAND GIRLS 29 The Woodland girls basketball team dropped a 43-29 non-region decision Friday night at home to Haralson County. The visiting Lady Rebels (2-0) led at each quarter stop including 24-10 at the intermission and 34-20 after three quarters. Kylie Hammell and Chloe Hyatt led Haralson County with 13 and 10 points, respectively. Woodland was led by Ansley Evans with 11 points. Gracie Styles and Jordan Thompson posted eight points each. Bailee Motes added two points for the Lady Cats. Woodland (0-5) hosts Adairsville Tuesday with a 6 p.m. start.

The Cartersville girls, playing without Lehla Thomas, fought back and forth at Dalton Thursday night before the host Catamounts won a 42-33 decision. The score was tied 12-12 after one quarter and Cartersville led 19-18 at halftime. Dalton regained a 29-26 lead through three quarters and outscored the Lady Canes 13-7 in the final period for a nine-point win. Gracie Ridley led the Lady Cats with 12 points. Arianna Johnson and Gracie Shaw added 7 points each for Dalton. Cartersville got 11 points from Jamiya Moore. Lexie Henderson contributed seven points and eight rebounds. Ansley Griffin scored six. Sequoyah McConnell finished with four points. Kiera Milline and Zoe Casey rounded out the Canes’ scoring with three and two points, respectively. The Dalton girls improved to 2-0. The Cartersville girls (0-3) will look to regroup Saturday when the Canes host Cedartown in a 5 p.m. start. The Cartersville boys also lost at Dalton Thursday night, 77-46. Dalton improved to 2-1 with the non-region win. The Hurricanes (0-2) host Cedartown at The Storm Center Saturday at 6:30 p.m.

The Cartersville and Woodland basketball teams lost non-region games Tuesday night. Visiting Sonoraville toppled Cartersville while the Woodland teams dropped games at East Paulding. SONORAVILLE 70, CARTERSVILLE GIRLS 33 The Cartersville girls lost a non-region game Tuesday night to Sonoraville 70-33 at The Storm Center. The visiting Lady Phoenix made eleven, three-pointers in the contest and were led in scoring by Abby Chambers and Alexa Geary with 20 and 17 points, respectively. Lehla Thomas and Jamiya Moore scored six points each for Cartersville. Next for the Lady Canes is a trip to Dalton Thursday at 6 p.m. Cartersville (0-1) will host Cedartown Saturday at 5 p.m. SONORAVILLE 57, CARTERSVILLE BOYS 52 Robert Novak scored a game-high 21 points for Cartersville, but the Cartersville boys dropped their season opener to visiting Sonoraville Tuesday night, 57-52. Orry Darnell led the Phoenix with 15 points. Kevin Morris followed with 14 for Sonoraville (1-0). Kam Callahan added 13 points for the Canes. Cartersville (0-1) plays at Dalton Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. and will entertain Cedartown Saturday at 6:30 p.m. EAST PAULDING 51, WOODLAND GIRLS 45 A 23-point performance by Woodland’s Jordan Thompson was not enough for the Lady Cats in a 51-45 loss Tuesday night at East Paulding. The host Lady Raiders led 11-2 at the end of one quarter and were ahead 22-14 at halftime. Woodland narrowed the margin to 36-34 by the end of the third quarter, but East Paulding held on over the final eight minutes for a six point win. Reagan Weightman and Gracie Styles both scored six points for Woodland. Ansley Evans and Dylynn Motes contributed four points each. Paige Forman added two. Woodland (0-4) plays Haralson County at home Friday in a 6 p.m. start. EAST PAULDING 71, WOODLAND BOYS 37 The host Raiders led 18-14 after one quarter and held a 41-24 edge at halftime on their way to a 34-point win Tuesday night in Dallas. K.J. Rogers scored 15 points and Diaz Garrett had 13 for Woodland in the loss. East Paulding improved to 2-0 on the season. Woodland (0-1) hosts Haralson County Friday night at 7:30 p.m. before traveling to Darlington Saturday for a 2:30 p.m. start.

The Cartersville wrestling team opened the 2020-21 season Tuesday night at Armuchee High School with a pair of wins over the hosts and Coosa at the Toys for Tots Tri-Match in Rome. The Canes defeated Armuchee 48-33 and topped Coosa, 54-30. Senior Brady Jenkins (152) won both of his matches by pin. Giles Turner (132), Jackson Heilman (170), Braydan Price (220), and Jackson Lattimer (126) all went 2-0 with one pin each. Jamie Altuzar (285) and Diego Olalde (285) both won their matches by pin. Joshua Alvarez (145), Kevin Mejia (138), Lyle Forristall (160), Lee Camp (106), and Eaiden Neal (113) each finished with one win and one loss. Next for the Cartersville wrestling team is a tri-match Saturday morning at North Atlanta where the Canes will also take on Eagles Landing.

The Cass High School swim team narrowly defeated Dawson County 66-65 Tuesday evening in competition at the Adairsville High School swim center. The Cass girls outscored the visiting Tigers 41-25, while the Dawson boys were 15 points better than the Cass boys. Complete results from each event:

The Class AAAAA 4th-ranked Cass girls defeated visiting Allatoona Tuesday afternoon 80-29. Cass raced to a 23-7 lead in the first eight minutes and led 43-18 at halftime. The Colonels built a 68-27 lead through three quarters. Haley Johnson led the Cass scoring attack with 18 points. Keara McDaniel followed with 14 points and had seven steals. Gracie Elkins finished with 12, Claire Davis 11, and Londaisha Smith 10 as the Lady Colonels had five players in double figures. Rounding out the Cass scoring were Amaya Ford with six, Zion Hayes with four, Mikaela Jackson three, and Makyera Baldwin added two points. Cass (2-0) hosts Lassiter Friday, December 4.

In what may have been the final home game of his collegiate career at Clemson's Death Valley, Trevor Lawrence returned to action Saturday in outstanding fashion. The former Cartersville Hurricanes' quarterback had not seen action in five weeks due to his own COVID-19 positive test, another coronavirus cancellation, and a scheduled bye week in the Tigers' schedule. Lawrence, who is high on the Heisman Trophy candidate list and the presumptive top overall pick in next spring's NFL draft as a junior, racked up 403 passing yards and two touchdowns in a 26-for-37 passing performance. The final home game of the season for Clemson was celebrated as Senior Day, but may have also been the final home game for Lawrence. When asked if it was his finale' at Clemson, Lawrence responded to ESPN's Andrea Adelson: "I mean, that's been the plan going into this season," Lawrence said of entering the 2021 draft. "You just never know, but if it is [my last home game], it was a fun one for sure. I've enjoyed it. This place has been so good to me and my family, and I love it here. So whatever I decide to do is going to be a tough decision because I love Clemson, I love the people, but this was a good one if it's the last one, it's a good one to go out." In other college football action over the weekend involving former Cartersville standouts, Miller Forristall had a catch in Alabama's Iron Bowl win and Avery Showell had a tackle and a pass breakup in Georgia Tech's win over Duke. Miller Forristall (Alabama R-Sr., Cartersville) — After being held without a catch against Kentucky the week prior, Forristall managed to secure one reception for 9 yards in a 42-13 home rout of rival Auburn Saturday in the Iron Bowl. Top-ranked Alabama (8-0) will travel to LSU for a makeup game this Saturday in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Trevor Lawrence (Clemson Jr., Cartersville) — Playing in his first game in more than a month, Lawrence didn’t appear to have missed a beat. He helped Clemson to a record-setting first quarter in an eventual 52-17 victory over Pittsburgh in what was likely Lawrence’s last home game for the Tigers. (He was even honored on “Senior” Day.) Lawrence finished 1 yard shy of matching his career-high passing yardage total, posting 403 yards and two touchdowns while completing 26 of 37 attempts. The numbers would have been even better had Lawrence not missed out on two potential touchdown passes — one due to a penalty and the other overturned because the receiver stepped out of bounds before reaching the end zone. No. 4 Clemson (8-1, 7-1 ACC) is set to wrap up the regular season this week at Virginia Tech. Avery Showell (Georgia Tech R-Jr., Cartersville) — Showell chipped in with a tackle and a pass breakup in an impressive 56-33 home victory Saturday against Duke. The Yellow Jackets (3-5, 3-4 ACC), who hadn’t played since Halloween, will look for a second consecutive win this weekend at North Carolina State. -- contributed by Nicholas Sullivan, The Daily Tribune News

Elite Stone Supply, in conjunction with WBHF and Bartow Sports Zone, presents the ELITE ATHLETES OF THE MONTH. Each month, local high schools are provided opportunity to name an Elite Athlete of the Month from their varsity programs and present the information on their honoree through Bartow Sports Zone and on 100.3FM and AM1450, WBHF in Cartersville. Asa James is the November 2020 Elite Athlete of the Month representing Woodland High School. The son of Latoya and Taras James, Asa is a junior running back on the Wildcats’ football team. He also plans to wrestle and run track this year. James accumulated over 1,000 yards of total offense in seven games this football season. “Asa is a leader in the school building,” noted Woodland head football coach Tony Plott. “Other students are naturally drawn to Asa. He is a vital part of our program and plays at a very high level each time he walks on the field. He also wants everyone to know that he loves his parents very much.” James, who carries a 3.1 GPA, plans to continue his education after high school with the goal of playing college football. The November 2020 Elite Athlete of the Month from Adairsville High School is Avery Mealer. A senior and four-year member of the Tigers’ competition cheer team, Mealer has helped her team to a pair of region championships. “Avery is consistent. She works hard and leads by example. She is a constant source of encouragement for her teammates.” commented Kaylie Noe, Adairsville head cheerleading coach. The daughter of Robert and Lori Mealer, Avery is high achieving academically. She is in all honors and AP classes while also dual enrolled at Georgia Highlands College. Cass High School’s November 2020 Elite Athlete of the Month is Londaisha Smith. An integral part of the Cass girls basketball team for four years, Smith has been a varsity player each season and currently serves as a team captain. She is one of the team leaders in scoring, steals, and rebounds. “Londaisha has a passion and joy for the game,” said Cass head coach Burt Jackson, “but more importantly she serves as a positive role model for the younger players through constant encouragement. It is an honor and blessing to have her on the team.” She is the daughter of Chrystal Darden and London Smith. McKenzie Spinks is the November 2020 Elite Athlete of the Month for Cartersville High School. A junior who runs cross country and track, Spinks is an A/B Honor Roll student and the daughter of Travis and Sherry Spinks. “McKenzie was running very strong in the middle/late part of the season,” noted Cartersville cross country coach David Matherne. “Due to contact-tracing, unfortunately, she had to be quarantined for two weeks since she was in a classroom sitting near someone who tested positive. That could’ve derailed her training but it did not.” Matherne continued, “McKenzie—our #2 runner at the time—was forced to sit out the Region Championship, as was our #3 runner on the team for the same reason, contact-tracing. While the Lady Canes sorely missed them both, the girls rallied and still qualified for state. McKenzie continued to train in isolation, and when she returned she did so just in time for state. Because as fate would have it, she was our #1 runner at the state meet. Her leadership in encouraging the girls while she was not physically present to train with them, coupled with her fantastic effort on the notoriously difficult Carrollton state meet course, made her an obvious choice for Athlete of the Month. We are all so proud of how hard McKenzie works. That example does not go unnoticed by all of the coaches and athletes. McKenzie runs some really fast times, but it is that heart of hers, the heart of a champion, that makes her so impressive to me.” Spinks plans to continue her education while running collegiately. Editors Note: Photos and bios are supplied to Bartow Sports Zone and WBHF by the respective schools and their athletic departments. Elite Stone Supply Co., LLC is the monthly sponsor. Athletes receive a plaque along with recognition during a radio feature on WBHF. #EliteAthletesoftheMonth #Cass #Cartersville #Woodland #Adairsville #highschool