The Adairsville girls basketball team opened the 2019-20 season Monday night with a 78-46 loss to Lafayette at the Gordon Central Thanksgiving Tournament in Calhoun. The Lady Tigers were tied with the Ramblers 11-11 after one quarter, but trailed 35-19 at halftime and were down 55-33 through three quarters. Barber and Johnson led Lafayette with 28 and 18 points, respectively. Haley Stiles scored 10 points to lead Adairsville. Alexis Childers and Ji’Leyah Mitchell scored nine each. Autumn Henderson and Makayla Wade contributed six points. Alexa Varner had four and Kaitlynn Stiles added two points. “The score is not indicative, but we played better than we did in the scrimmage,” said Adairsville coach Michael Roberson. “We made way too many turnovers and many were really unforced. We’re young with only two returning players with any real varsity experience. It will be a process this season to get to the level we can achieve. We expect some growing pains early.” Gordon Central improved to 1-1. Adairsville (0-1) plays at Gordon Central Tuesday at 7 p.m.

The Cass boys utilized a 25-point third quarter Monday night to ease away from Fort Payne (AL) and completed a 3-0 trip to the Chattooga Thanksgiving Classic in Summerville with an 84-73 victory. Cass had wins over Northwest Whitfield last Thursday and the host Chattooga Indians Saturday to go with Monday's win. Monday night, the Colonels led 27-21 after one period, but the Wildcats tied the game at halftime, 41-41. Cass outscored Fort Payne 25-12 in the third quarter to take a 66-53 lead and held on for an 11-point win. Jacob Hendricks paced all scorers in the game and led Fort Payne with 30 points. Nate Crane had 18 and Lane White 13 for the Wildcats. Cass had four players reach double figures in scoring. Jordan Ford led with 22 points. C.J. Pipkin followed with 17. Braxton Benham scored 15 and Trey Scott contributed 11 points. Ethan McIntyre posted seven points. Jaquan Heard scored six. Zaylan Chaney and Andrew Glaze added four and two points, respectively. The loss dropped Fort Payne to 0-7 on the season. Cass (4-2) begins Region 7-AAAAA action December 3 at Kell. MT. PARAN CHRISTIAN BOYS 55, ADAIRSVILLE 29 The Adairsville boys basketball team dropped its season opener Saturday at Mount Paran Christian School 55-29. The host Eagles improved to 3-0 on the season. Adairsville (0-1) plays Saturday at Southeast Whitfield.

The Bartow County Panthers youth football program won a pair of Northwest Georgia Youth Football League Super Bowl titles Saturday in league title games played at North Cobb High School. The 9U Bartow Panthers defeated the Acworth Warriors to win the Division I championship in that age group. The 10U Bartow Panthers blanked the Rome Wolves to capture the Division II title for 10U and the 12U Bartow Panthers settled for a runner-up finish in Division I after suffering a 20-6 setback to the Douglasville TigerCubs. In the 9U Panthers championship victory, Cooper Melvin received MVP honors and led all Bartow County tacklers on defense. He also rushed for 22 yards in the game. Bartow quarterback Trace Hawkins, who ran for 28 yards in the game, scored the 9U Panthers first touchdown on a one-yard run. The scoring play was set up by a 37-yard reception by Lance Tippett on a throw by Hawkins. The second Bartow score was an eight yard run by Solomon James. He had 28 yards on three carries during the drive and finished the day with 35 yards rushing. Kaiden Kent added 25 rushing yards for the 9U Panthers and J’Tayvious Whatley finished with 17 yards rushing. In addition to Melvin’s MVP efforts, James, Whatley, and Nathan Woods were the leading tacklers for Bartow County. Bartow 9U is ranked No. 4 in the state B2C poll and will participate in the B2C State Tournament December 3-8. In the Division 2 10U title game, the Bartow County Panthers blanked Rome, 32-0. Demarcus Ballenger had a trio of touchdown runs while Clay Hilburn and Jeremy Dent added one scoring run each. Ballenger scored on runs from 25, 30, and 13 yards out. Hilburn’s rushing touchdown was a 15-yarder and Dent found paydirt from 10 yards out. Dent also connected with Hilburn on one extra point. Eli Simmons had a fumble recovery on the defensive side for the 10U Panthers. He also recovered an onside kick by Jake Orton. “It was a great defensive effort by our guys,” noted Panthers’ coach Jody Orton. “We kept them off the scoreboard with a goal line stand and it was a great way to finish an outstanding season.” 10U Bartow outscored its opponents 386-37 during the 2019 season and finished with a 10-1 record. The Bartow County 12U Panthers fell to the Douglasville TigerCubs in their NWGYFL DI Super Bowl. Douglasville defeated Bartow County three times during the regular season and playoffs to earn the league title. “The boys played their hearts out, but a couple of fumbles on the plus-side of the field and a massive (Douglasville) line proved to be too much for us to overcome,” said 12U Panthers’ coach Josh McWhorter. “We actually out gained them 286 to 247, but they capitalized on offense and we didn’t. That was the difference in the game and I personally take that blame,” McWhorter added. 12U Bartow totaled 216 yards rushing on 28 carries as a team and quarterback Brodie McWhorter was 7-for-20 passing for 70 yards. Isaiah Livsey and Baylon Long led the Panthers’ rushing attack with 81 and 80 yards, respectively. Livsey also had the lone Bartow County touchdown. Jacob Ellis added 57 rushing yards. Talan Nix hauled in four pass receptions for 48 yards. Keve Porter caught two passes for 15 yards and Logan Shrewsbury had a 7 yard reception. Ellis led the defense with 7.5 tackles. Long finished with 6.5 stops. Nix and Jachai Delgado had 4.5 tackles. Livsey made three tackles. Kelson Mitchell contributed 2.5 tackles. Bear McWhorter and Shrewsbury finished with two tackles each. Cooper Moon, Bryce Wilson, and Xavier Parker had one stop each. Information for the youth football updates provided by the Cartersville Parks and Recreation Department, the Bartow County Parks and Recreation Department, and the Bartow County Panthers youth football program. The updates are sponsored on Bartow Sports Zone by Cici's - Beyond Pizza in the Cherokee Place Shopping Center in Cartersville.

The Cass Colonels broke open a close game with a big third quarter Saturday night to defeat the host Indians at the Chattooga Thanksgiving Classic in Summerville, 71-54. The game was tied after one quarter 14-14 and Cass held a slim 31-30 lead at halftime. The Colonels separated in the third period by outscoring Chattooga 25-5 to lead 56-35 heading into the final eight minutes. “It was a good win tonight,” said Cass head coach Sean Glaze. “We’re still missing a couple of guys, but we played hard and had nine different guys in the scoring column.” Braxton Benham, Jordan Ford, and C.J. Pipkin each reached double figures for Cass with 16, 13, and 10 points, respectively. Jaquan Heard followed with nine. Andrew Glaze chipped in with eight points. Ethan McIntyre finished with five. Zaylan Chaney and Trey Scott scored four points each. Zay Jackson added one point. Chattooga (1-1) was led by Malachi Jackson with 16 points. Cass (3-2) plays a third game in the Thanksgiving Classic Monday at 5:30 p.m. against Fort Payne, Alabama. Cass defeated Northwest Whitfield in the Classic Thursday night.

The Cartersville High School girls basketball season opened the 2019-20 season Saturday with a convincing 58-36 road win at South Paulding. The Lady Canes used a balanced scoring attack to lead 17-11 after one quarter, 29-20 at the intermission, and pulled away to a 40-25 advantage through three periods. Lehla Thomas paced eleven Cartersville players scoring in the game with 12 points. She was followed by Naijah Evans with eight; Jakayah Draughn and Jada Cunningham with seven; Ariana Cochran with six; Campbell Rogers and Kiera Milline five each; Jamiya Moore and Cio Seigler with three apiece; Alexia Henderson and Taylor Benham added one point each. The loss dropped the host Lady Spartans to 0-3 on the year. Cartersville (1-0) plays at Model next Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m.

The Cartersville Hurricanes continued their unbeaten season — improving to 12-0 — Friday night with a 35-0 blanking of visiting Thomson. Cartersville led 14-0 after one quarter and was up 21-0 at the intermission. Quante Jennings (photo) set up his own one-yard touchdown plunge with 10:11 remaining in the opening quarter. After receiving the opening kickoff, the opening drive included a 42-yard run by Jennings as the Hurricanes took a quick 7-0 lead. Devonte Ross then made an impressive touchdown catch over the top of a defender on a pass from Tee Webb with 30 seconds left in the first quarter as the Canes went up 14-0. Kicker Oscar Hernandez made all five PATs on the night. Cartersville’s second quarter score came on a two-yard run by Harrison Allen with 7:14 remaining in the half. Long passes from Webb to Kyler Johnson and Kolbe Benham contributed to the drive. The Hurricanes’ final two scores came in the third quarter. A fumble recovery by La’Kwayme Jupiter set up an ensuing drive that gave the Canes a 28-0 advantage. Webb connected with Evan Slocum on a 50-yard pass play that set up Jennings’ second touchdown run of the night from six yards out. Slocum later added a 40-yard touchdown run to close out the Cartersville scoring and prompt a running clock in the final period. Webb finished the night 9-for-17 passing for 192 yards and one touchdown. Ross had three catches for 65 yards. Slocum had a 50-yard reception and Johnson hauled in two passes for 45 yards. Thomson’s season ends with a 6-6 record. Cartersville will host Woodward Academy (12-0) in the Class AAAA state quarterfinals next Friday at Weinman Stadium. Woodward Academy defeated St. Pius X Friday night in the second round, 41-0.

The Cass High girls basketball team cruised to another early season victory Friday night recording a 71-39 home opening win over Lithonia. The Lady Colonels led 28-6 after one quarter and were up 47-13 as they amassed their big lead. Londaisha Smith (photo from last season) led Cass and all scorers with 19 points. Three other Lady Colonels reached double figures with Ariana Hames and Claire Davis posting 16 points. Justice Bennett scored 12. Haley Johnson contributed four points and five steals. Amaya Ford and Keara McDaniel added two points apiece. Alivia Matnis and Mykayla Spires led the visiting Lady Bulldogs with 12 and 11 points, respectively. Cass (3-0) begins Region 7-AAAAA action December 3 at Kell.

Three local high school swimming teams — Adairsville, Cartersville, and Cass — competed Thursday at the Calhoun Aquatic Center. The eight team meet was won by Calhoun with a combined score of 683. River Ridge followed with 677. Cartersville was third at 368. Adairsville placed fourth in combined scores with Heritage fifth, Cass sixth, Southeast Whitfield seventh, and Ringgold eighth. River Ridge was the top scoring girls team. Calhoun won the boys meet. The Cartersville girls placed third with Adairsville fourth and Cass sixth. The Adairsville boys finished third with Cartersville fourth and Cass sixth. Adairsville junior Harper Powell won the girls 50-yard freestyle race with a state meet qualifying time of 25.94 The Cartersville girls 200-yard medley relay team of Grayson Breedlove, Rachel Long, Gracie Siniard, and Giulia Vidoli also had a state meet qualifying time of 2:04.41 and placed third in Calhoun. The same relay team also earned a spot at state with a 4:08.74 third place finish in the 400-yard freestyle relay. Vidoli, a junior, also earned a state meet spot with a third place finish in the 200-yard freestyle (2:06.37) along with a state qualifying time of 1:02.94 with a second place finish in the 100-yard backstroke. The Adairsville girls 200-yard freestyle relay team placed third in Calhoun but had a state qualifying time of 1:51.86. That relay team is comprised of Mallory Cook, Sam Pasley, Josie Siniard, and Harper Powell. Cass will host Southeast Whitfield and Dawson County December 3 at 5 p.m. at the Adairsville Swim Center. Adairsville will host the Tiger Splash and the Tiger Plunge Saturday, December 7 beginning at 10 a.m.

The Cass boys basketball team opened play in the Chattooga High School Thanksgiving Classic with an 86-71 win over Northwest Whitfield. The Colonels captured the win in Summerville a bit short-handed with three players out sick or injured. Cass started fast — taking a 22-8 lead after one quarter — but the Bruins hung close through three quarters. The Colonels had a 35-32 advantage at halftime and led 56-55 heading into the final period. The Colonels outscored Northwest 30-16 over the final eight minutes for a 15-point win. Braxton Benham led the Cass offense with 26 points. Jordan Ford and JaQuan Heard followed with 16 and 13 points, respectively. C.J. Pipkin scored 11 points. Zay Jackson tossed in seven. Trey Scott had six. Ethan McIntyre scored four and Jackson Hale added three points.0 Blaine Greene led the Bruins (0-1) with 20 points. Cass (2-2) plays the host team, Chattooga, in the Thanksgiving Classic Saturday night at 5:30 p.m. and will face Fort Payne, Alabama Monday at 5:30 p.m. in Summerville.

The Daily Tribune News released its 2019 All-Bartow County team this week. PLAYER OF THE YEAR Lauren Wenzell, Sr., Cartersville HS ALL-BARTOW COUNTY TEAM Aaliyah Applin, Jr., Adairsville HS Caroline Gore, Sr., Woodland HS Keegan Krause, Sr., Cass HS Halle Matthews, Sr., Cartersville HS Sydney Molinaro, Jr., Woodland HS Madison Philpott, Sr., Cass HS Grace Webb, Sr., Woodland HS HONORABLE MENTION Emmalee Cigainero, Woodland junior; Lauren Morris, Woodland senior; Megan Smith, Adairsville senior; and Macey Vaughn, Cartersville junior. For more, please see the full article in The Daily Tribune News.

The Georgia High School Association’s Reclassification Committee released the approved regions for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 school years on Tuesday from Thomaston, Georgia. The new region alignments for local schools included the following after the approved changes from appeals. REGION 7-AAAAA The new Region 7-AAAAA will include only six schools after Northview High School was granted approval to move from Region 7-AAAAA to Region 5-AAAAA. Local schools Cartersville, Cass, and Woodland will be combined with Blessed Trinity, Calhoun, and Hiram to form the six-school league. REGION 6-AAA Adairsville will be a member of the nine-school Region 6-AAA that also includes: Coahulla Creek, LaFayette, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe, Murray County, North Murray, Ringgold, Rockmart, and Sonoraville. REGION 7-A PRIVATE Excel Christian Academy joins Christian Heritage, Darlington, Mt. Paran Christian, North Cobb Christian, and Walker to form a six-school region. Excel is the only non-football playing school in the league.

The Cass girls and boys basketball teams split a pair of non-region games Tuesday night at Lassiter. CASS GIRLS 70, LASSITER 20 The Cass girls basketball team blew out Class 7A Lassiter Tuesday night 70-20. The Lady Colonels led 14-7 after one quarter, 28-9 at halftime, and 52-18 after three periods. Cass was led by Claire Davis with 18 points and Ariana Hames with 16 points. Hailey Johnson followed with 11 points. Londaisha Smith scored six. Keara McDaniel, Taryn Callahan, and Justice Bennett posted four each. Amaya Ford and Mikaela Jackson contributed three points each. Alexis Woods added one point. Lassiter falls to 0-4 with the loss. Cass (2-0) hosts Lithonia Friday night at 6 p.m. LASSITER BOYS 53, CASS 44 The Cass boys suffered a difficult loss Tuesday night at Lassiter, 53-44. The Colonels led 11-7 after on period and 33-23 at halftime, but the host Trojans outscored Cass 10-5 in the third quarter to take a 38-33 lead into the final eight minutes. Down the stretch, Lassiter pulled away for a nine-point victory. “We played an ugly second half,” said Cass boys head coach Sean Glaze. “There are lots of teachable moments on the film. We’ll get back to it tomorrow.” Kyle Keener led the Trojans and all scorers in the game with 14 points. Greg Watkins added seven points and eight other Lassiter players scored. Jordan Ford led Cass with 12 points. Braxton Benham followed with 11. Ethan McIntyre tossed in seven points. Zay Jackson had six. C.J. Pipken posted five points and JaQuan Heard added three. The win improved Class 7A Lassiter to 3-2 on the season. Cass (1-2) opens the Chattooga Thanksgiving Classic Thursday with a 5:30 game against Northwest Whitfield.