The Woodland girls and boys tennis teams both won matches over Rome Tuesday evening at the Rome Tennis Center. The Lady Cats and the Wildcats both took all three singles lines to secure their victories. WOODLAND GIRLS 3, ROME 2 Singles Line 1 — Breanna Shook won 6-2, 6-2 Line 2 — Kayla Gales won 6-2, 0-6, 6-4 Line 3 — Eryn Gentry won 6-3, 6-3 Doubles Line 1 — Becky Wesley / Emma Savage lost 1-6, 2-6 Line 2 — Abigail Spaulding / Monterya Morrow lost 1-6, 4-6 WOODLAND BOYS 3, ROME 2 Singles Line 1 — Bryce VanOrder won 6-1, 6-4 Line 2 — Connor Gunnell won 6-2, 6-1 Line 3 — Garrett Wesley won 6-2, 6-1 Doubles Line 1 — Adam Pirkle / Keegan Gallagher lost 6-4, 1-6, 2-6 Line 2 — Mason Tucker / Ian VanOrder lost 0-6, 6-7 (2-7) NEXT: The Woodland teams host Rockmart Wednesday.

After falling behind early, Georgia Highlands posted runs in the third and fourth innings and then held on for a 5-2 victory Tuesday afternoon over Cleveland State Community College at LakePoint in Emerson. GHC starting pitcher Zach Fordham earned the win by making it through the first four frames to benefit from the Chargers’ comeback. Fordham (4 IP, 2ER, 4H, 2BB, 2K) yielded back-to-back triples and one more hit in the second inning as Cleveland State produced their only runs of the day. The Chargers’ pitchers that followed shut down the Cougars the rest of the way. Brady Barker (3.1 IP, 0R, 3H, 1BB, 3K) took the game into the eighth inning. Ryan Smithson (0.2 IP, 0R, 0H, 1K) completed the eighth inning and Logan Ward struck out the side in the ninth to earn a save. Georgia Highlands scored twice in the third to knot the score 2-2. Trace Twardoski’s single was followed by a Lavoisier Fisher RBI triple and a Skylar McPhee RBI double to produce the tying runs. The Chargers then went ahead 5-2 with a three-run fourth. Parker Orr singled and Malik Spratling walked with one out to start the frame. Twardoski followed with a line drive single for score Orr and move Spratling the third. That was followed by a two-RBI double off the bat of Fisher. Twardoski and Fisher combined for four hits and three RBIs. McPhee, Orr, Travis Sands, Blake Brady, and Keith Lyle contributed one hit each. Georgia Highlands (12-7) opens conference play Saturday at LakePoint against East Georgia CC at 3 p.m.

This week's 'Athletes Beyond Bartow update for college and professional basketball, along with collegiate tennis, track & field, and wrestling. NOTE: The weekly update for local athletes in baseball and softball was published separately and may be viewed at this LINK. Jason Greenberg of The Daily Tribune News provided this update for Bartow Sports Zone. PRO BASKETBALL A.J. Mosby (Eri Bayhawks, NBA G League, Cartersville) — Mosby received his first career NBA G League starts Friday and Saturday and has played in all three games since the Bayhawks decided to pick him up temporarily as a FIBA Replacement Player. Mosby will fill out the team’s roster while Isaac Humphries competes in two FIBA qualifiers for Australia. Mosby scored five points with five rebounds, six assists and two steals in 39 minutes over his three games last week with the Bayhawks. Mosby is now averaging 2.5 points, 1.2 assists, .8 rebounds and .5 turnovers in 10.7 minutes per game across 10 games as an NB G League rookie. Elijah Robinson (Villa San Martin, Argentina, Excel) — Robinson started and scored 13 points on 3-of-5 shooting from the field to go along with seven rebounds and an assist in 22 minutes of an 81-69 win over San Isidro Thursday. Villa San Martin is now 16-9 on the year and Robinson is averaging 14.2 points per game, which is second on the team, to go along with 6.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists and a steal per game. He is shooting 51.4 percent from the floor and has played in all 25 of his team’s games. COLLEGE BASKETBALL Ryan Davis (Francis Marion Sr., Cartersville) — Francis Marion went 2-1 in conference games last week, while Davis continues to put up well-rounded statlines. He scored 40 points, grabbed 19 rebounds and had 14 assists over the course of the three games. He is now averaging 15.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.6 steals in 34 minutes per game. He has started all 25 games this season. Francis Marion has two more Peach Belt Conference games next week before the PBC tournament. Ashton Hagans (Kentucky Fr., Cartersville native) — Kentucky continued its strong play last week in wins at Missouri and at home against Auburn. Kentucky has now won 13 of its last 14 games and have risen to No. 4 in the national rankings. Hagans scored in doubles figures in both games last week. He had 12 points and two assists against Missouri and 14 points and five assists against Auburn. He shot a combined 9-for-13 in the two games. Of course, Hagans has spearheaded Kentucky’s midseason surge on the defensive end, and he was rewarded Thursday by being named as a semifinalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award. Kentucky will take on Arkansas today before heading to No. 7 Tennessee Saturday. Kimora McClinic (Middle Georgia State So., Cartersville) — McClinic saw action in both games last week for Middle Georgia, registering a combined four points and three rebounds in 23 minutes of action. Middle Georgia went 1-1 with a loss to Brewton Parker and a win against Florida College. Jana Morning (Berry So., Cass) — It was announced Monday that Morning had been named to the SAA’s all-conference second team. However, her team was eliminated from the conference tournament on Friday with a 57-44 loss in the SAA tournament quarterfinals against Centre. She scored three points in 27 minutes with three rebounds, an assist and a steal. Morning averaged 9.4 points per game on the year and helped Berry to a nine-game winning streak, averaging 17.3 points per game during that stretch. She closed the season ranked in the top 10 in the SAA with 2.7 assists per game, a 70.7 free throw percentage and 38 total steals. Jonathan Pritchett (Vermont Tech So., Woodland) — Pritchett played 14 minutes and scored five points with a steal and a rebound off the bench in an 82-74 loss Saturday at Southern Maine. He’s now averaging 4.1 points, 3.2 assists and 2.2 rebounds in 19.9 minutes per game. Josie Summerville (North Park Fr., Adairsville) — North Park was bounced in the semifinals of its conference tournament last week, but Summerville finished her first collegiate season on a high note. In the two CCIW tournament games, she scored 16 points in 56 minutes with 12 rebounds, two assists and two steals. Summerville played in all 27 games for North Park this season, starting 16 and seeing an average of 19 minutes per game. She averaged 5.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. Carrod Watson (North Georgia Jr., Woodland) — Watson saw one minute of action and grabbed one rebound in an 89-72 road loss to Clayton State Feb. 20. TENNIS Peyton Gollhofer (Ball State Sr., Cartersville native) — Gollhofer had an undefeated week, winning her Line 3 singles and Line 3 doubles matches Sunday against the University of Indianapolis, even though her team took a 4-3 loss. Gollhofer and partner Livia Lukacs were also ahead of Western Kentucky’s Line 2 doubles team earlier in the week, 5-4, before the match was called due to Ball State already winning the needed amount of matches. Against Indianapolis, Gollhofer won on Line 3 singles, 6-3, 6-1; and she won on Line 3 doubles with partner Isabelle Dohanics, 6-2. Gollhofer is now 7-0 on the season as a singles player and 7-1 as a doubles player. Ball State is 7-2 on the season and still has a little less than a month before its first MAC match. Upcoming this weekend for Ball State will be home matches against Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville and Oakland. TRACK AND FIELD Trevor Knowles (Albion So., Woodland) — Knowles competed in four events in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Men's Indoor Track and Field Championship over the weekend. His best finish was in the triple jump where he came in third out of 17 competitors with a distance of 13.48 meters. He also placed fourth in the long jump with a distance of 6.75 meters and fifth in the high jump with a height of 1.95 meters. In the 200-meter dash, he placed 13th with a time of 23.76 seconds. WRESTLING Jake Huffine (UT-Chattanooga Jr., Woodland) — Chattanooga did not score any points in its regular season finale Sunday at Indiana, losing 32-0. Huffine, though, was the most competitive of the Mocs’ wrestlers, losing 3-2 for a minor decision. Next up for Chattanooga is the Southern Conference Tournament on March 10.

The Cartersville tennis teams split region-opening matches Monday against LaGrange at Dellinger Park. The Canes win and the Lady Canes loss each came on 3-2 final team scores. Luke Kottemann won at Line 2 singles for the Cartersville boys. Will Allen at Line 1 and Griffin Shaw at Line 3 dropped close matches. The Canes’ Line 1 doubles tandem of Nate McDonald and Luke Gambill along with the Line 2 team of Jackson Cline and John Blackhall also captured wins. McDonald and Gambill won in straight sets while Cline and Blackhall won in three sets. In the girls match, Cartersville’s Line 1 singles player Ashley Popham won 6-0, 6-0 and Emily Bush won 6-3, 6-3 at Line 2 singles. The Lady Grangers took wins at both doubles lines and Line 3 singles. Cartersville travels to Sandy Creek for another Region 5-AAAA match Tuesday.

Woodland’s Bailey Ward tossed a five-inning, no-hitter Monday night and Marco Haro went 4-for-4 at the plate with a double and a home run as the Wildcats blanked visiting Coosa 10-0 in a non-region game at The Ballpark at Woodland. Ward needed only 77 pitches in his five innings of work. He walked two batters and struck out nine. Haro hit a solo home run in the third inning to give the Wildcats at 3-0 lead. Along with his second homer in two games, he also doubled, singled twice, scored three runs, and stole a base. Fisher Davis had two hits for Woodland with three RBIs. He also stole two bases. Koby Stansel (RBI) and Ward also had two hits apiece. Carter Heath drove in a pair of runs with a double. Peyton Posey added one hit and one RBI. Scotty Smith drove in a run with a bases loaded walk. The loss evened the Eagles’ season record at 1-1-1. Woodland (2-0) travels to Coahulla Creek Tuesday for a 5 p.m. first pitch and travels to South Paulding Wednesday. The Wildcats will then face Cedartown Friday night in their first of three game over the weekend in the Toyo Tires Battle for Bartow Baseball Classic. CARTERSVILLE 12, VILLA RICA 0 A trio of Cartersville pitchers combined for a five-inning, one-hitter Monday night at Villa Rica to blank the Wildcats, 12-0. Canes’ starter Kolby Adams (3 IP, 0R, 1H, 2BB, 3K), J.P. Martin (1 IP, 0R, 0H, 2BB, 3K), and Reece Thompson (1 IP, 0R, 0H, 0BB, 2K) silenced the Wildcats’ bats and fanned a total of eight Villa Rica batters in the five-inning shutout. PHOTO: Canes celebrate at home plate around Josh Davis who smacked a third inning grand slam Cartersville scored in each of their offensive frames, highlighted by a third inning grand slam off the bat of Josh Davis. Jordan Wilkie and Ian Inaba both had two hits. Preston Welchel had a hit, two RBIs, and a walk while scoring two runs. Mason Barnett, Brant Smith, Jackson Norris (double), Alan Thacker, Noah Davis, and Adams all contributed one hit apiece. The win by Cartersville completes a two-game season sweep of Villa Rica (2-3). The Canes (3-1) play at Sprayberry Wednesday at 5:55 p.m. before opening the Toyo Tires Battle for Bartow Baseball Classic Friday at LakePoint at 5 p.m. against Kennesaw Mountain. CASS 10, SPRAYBERRY 0 Colonels’ starting pitcher Logan Nelson (photo) tossed a complete-game, two-hitter Monday night at home as Cass evened its season mark with a 10-0 victory over Sprayberry. With the victory, Cass earns a split in the home-and-home series with the Yellow Jackets. Sprayberry defeated Cass 7-4 one week ago. Nelson allowed a second inning single and a fifth inning double, but kept Sprayberry off the scoreboard. He walked two and struck out eight. The Colonels scored seven times in the first inning to take command, then added a single run in the second inning and two more in the third. Bryson Markley had two hits for Cass including a leadoff triple to start the game. He also walked twice to reach base in all four plate appearances. Clay Means (RBI), Matt Shook (RBI), Blaine Ingram (RBI), and Sam Melton had the other Colonels’ hits. Logan Nelson and Nic Wallin both drove runs with bases loaded walks as four Sprayberry pitchers combined to issue ten free passes in the contest. The loss evened the Yellow Jackets’ record at 3-3. Cass (2-2) plays a home-and-home series with Sequoyah Tuesday and Thursday — both 5:55 p.m. starts. Tuesday’s game is at Cass with Thursday’s game in Hickory Flat. The Colonels will then open the three-game Toyo Tires Battle for Bartow Baseball Classic at LakePoint Friday at 5 p.m. against Pepperell.

Rain all across the Southeast limited the number of games completed this week for college softball and baseball programs, but some teams managed to avoid the weather cancellations. Former Cartersville standout Paris Poston had three hits last week as her Columbus State team improved to 8-6 on the softball diamond. Two more former Canes’ pitchers — lefty Elliott Anderson at Auburn (photo) and Harrison Osborn at Point — had quality weeks. Anderson made three solid relief appearances and Osborn picked up another win in a start. Meanwhile former Woodland standout, Mason Robinson, continued his seven-game hitting streak to start the season for Louisiana Tech. NOTE: ‘Athletes Beyond Bartow’ updates for other sports will be published separately this week. SOFTBALL SARAH FOX — Agnes Scott College (Fr., Inf., Cass HS)… was 0-for-6 with a walk and one run scored in Saturday’s home doubleheader sweep of Sewanee. A Sunday doubleheader scheduled with LaGrange College was cancelled. The Scotties (2-4) travel to Brenau Tuesday and host Greensboro Friday. PARIS POSTON — Columbus State University (Fr., OF, Cartersville HS)… playing in the Florida Tech Tournament in Melbourne, FL, the Cougars won four of five games. Poston made four starts and was 3-for-13 with a double, four walks, three RBI, a hit by pitch, a sacrifice, and two stolen bases. CSU (8-6) plays at Montevallo Wednesday before hosting the CSU Classic Friday through Sunday where the Cougars will face Lynn University, Barry University, Coker College, and King University. ANNALYN YANTIS — Samford University (Sr., P, Cartersville HS)… made appearances this past Friday and Saturday in a loss to Lipscomb University and at Florida State during the FSU Invitational. Yantis did not start, but entered in the first inning with no outs and her team down 4-0 to toss six innings against Lipscomb. She allowed three earned runs on nine hits, two walks, and a hit batter. She recorded one strikeout in the 8-0 loss. Yantis also started against No. 1 Florida State Saturday, but recorded only two outs in the first inning before being lifted in an eventual 13-0 loss. She allowed seven earned runs on four hits and three walks. Samford (5-11) plays at Jacksonville State Wednesday before hosting Houston Baptist, Jackson State, Evansville, and Western Kentucky Friday through Sunday in the Samford Invitational. BASEBALL ELLIOTT ANDERSON — Auburn University (So., LHP, Cartersville HS)… worked two innings of middle relief Friday night as the 15th-ranked Tigers won the series opener at UCF 4-1. Anderson entered with two outs in the sixth inning and worked into the eighth allowing no runs on three hits and a pair of walks. He struck out two Knights. In an eighth inning relief appearance Sunday at Central Florida, he hit a batter but needed only nine pitches to retire the side as the Tigers won 13-9. He also worked a two inning stint last Tuesday as Auburn routed visiting Alabama A&M 10-1 in the first game of a doubleheader sweep. In four relief appearances this season, the southpaw has not yielded a run and has recorded 11 strikeouts in nine innings of work. Auburn (6-2) hosts Cincinnati this weekend in a three-game series. BAILEY CAMPBELL — Young Harris College (So., 1B, Cass HS)… went 0-for-2 but was hit by a pitch and walked in a 13-1 loss at home Sunday against 6th-ranked Georgia College. The Mountain Lions had three other games cancelled this past week. YHC (6-6, 2-2 Peach Belt Conference) hosts a doubleheader with Clark Atlanta Tuesday, a single game with Cedarville University Thursday, before traveling to UNC-Pembroke for a three-game set Friday through Sunday. CARRINGTON EVANS — Augusta University (R-So., OF, Cartersville HS)… went 2-for-4 Sunday with a walk, one RBI, and a run scored in an 11-6 win over Georgia Southwestern. He was also hitless in two official at-bats off the bench last Tuesday during a 4-3 home win over Emmanuel College. Augusta (7-7, 3-6 Peach Belt Conference) was 2-2 for the week. The Jaguars play at Coker College Tuesday and travel to Columbus State for a three-game conference series Friday through Sunday. LANE GRIFFITH — University of West Georgia (Jr., C, Adairsville HS)… finished 0-for-3 in the first game of a doubleheader loss Sunday at Mississippi College. The Wolves (4-9, 2-3 Gulf South Conference) are scheduled to complete the three-game series at Mississippi College Monday. They will then host University of North Georgia Wednesday and a GSC three-game series Friday and Saturday with West Alabama. HUNTER HICE — USC Upstate (Fr., Inf., Adairsville HS)… made a successful pinch hitting appearance Sunday in a 14-2 home loss to Virginia Commonwealth. He also made a start at third base Saturday going 0-for-2 before being lifted in a 6-3 home loss to Pittsburgh. Hice had his first collegiate hit February 18 coming off the bench to play third base in a 5-3 home loss to Kansas. USC Upstate (2-5) travels to Davidson Wednesday and hosts a three-game series with Ohio University Friday through Sunday. HARRISON OSBORN (photo left) — Point University (So., RHP, Cartersville HS)… tossed eight strong innings and shutout Albany State Friday afternoon. Osborn allowed only two hits and three walks while striking out four in an eventual 6-0 win. The Skyhawks won two of three at Albany State and improved to 10-4 on the season. They host Morehouse College Wednesday in a doubleheader and will entertain Union College (KY) in a three-game series Friday and Saturday. MASON ROBINSON — Louisiana Tech (R-Sr., OF, Woodland HS)… has now hit safely in all seven of the Bulldogs games this season including three, two-hit games this week. Robinson finished the week 7-for-17 with a home run, three RBIs, and three runs scored as Louisiana Tech beat Louisiana-Lafayette Wednesday and won one of three at home against Troy over the weekend. He is hitting .375 in 32 ABs with an OPS of .894. The Bulldogs (5-2) host Arkansas State in a three-game series Friday through Sunday. TRISTIN SMITH — Young Harris College (R-Sr., Inf., Adairsville HS)… came off the bench Sunday and was 0-for-1 at the plate in the Mountain Lions only game this week — a 13-1 loss to 6th-ranked Georgia College. YHC (6-6, 2-2 Peach Belt Conference) hosts a doubleheader with Clark Atlanta Tuesday, a single game with Cedarville University Thursday, and travels to UNC-Pembroke for a three-game PBC series Friday through Sunday. DEVIN WARNER — Auburn University (Fr., Inf., Cartersville HS)… made a pinch hitting appearance in the DH spot in the order last Tuesday but struck out in the Tigers’ 10-1 home win over Alabama A&M. Auburn (6-2) hosts Cincinnati this weekend in a three-game series. TYLER WASHINGTON — Young Harris College (Sr., OF, Adairsville HS)… entered defensively, but did not have an at bat in the Mountain Lions’ Sunday loss to 6th-ranked Georgia College. The loss slipped YHC to 6-6 overall and 2-2 in the Peach Belt Conference. It was their only game played this week. They are scheduled for a doubleheader with Clark Atlanta Tuesday at home and will host Cedarville University Thursday before heading to conference foe UNC-Pembroke for a three-game series Friday through Sunday.

Facing some of the top competition in the state and across the Southeast has been a formula for success for Cartersville baseball in recent years, and that blueprint continued for the Hurricanes Saturday at LakePoint as they split a pair of games. The Canes knocked off nationally ranked Blessed Trinity in their first game of the night but were edged by Class 7A Etowah in Game 2. PHOTO: Canes celebrate their victory over Blessed Trinity Saturday night at LakePoint CARTERSVILLE 8, BLESSED TRINITY 2 Class AAAA top-ranked Blessed Trinity took an early 2-0 lead on unearned runs in Saturday’s opener, but Cartersville responded with eight unanswered runs down the stretch for an 8-2 win. Canes’ pitchers Mason Barnett (5 IP, 2R, 0ER, 2H, 1BB, 8K) and Gage Morris (2 IP, 0R, 2H, 0BB, 2K) combined for a four-hitter, no earned runs, and ten strikeouts. J.P. Martin smacked a three-run home run in the sixth inning and had four RBI in the game. Brant Smith had a double, a sacrifice fly, and three RBI. Jordan Wilkie (RBI) and Ian Inaba had the only other Hurricanes’ base hits. The Canes also took advantage of eight walks by Titans’ pitchers. Preston Welchel, Josh Davis, and Barnett combined to collect seven of those passes. PHOTO: Auburn commit Mason Burnett was the winning pitcher Saturday vs. Blessed Trinity. Ryan Davis had two of Blessed Trinity’s four hits including a triple as the Titans — ranked No. 5 nationally by Perfect Game USA — lost for the first time this season and slipped to 4-1. ETOWAH 5, CARTERSVILLE 4 Cartersville started fast in the nightcap against Etowah, but ultimately lost for the first time this season. The Canes scored three runs in the top of the first inning off a double by Jordan Wilkie and triples by Preston Welchel and J.P. Martin. As a result, Cartersville starting pitcher Cohen Wilbanks took the mound with a 3-0 lead. Two hits, a pair of walks, and a passed ball resulted in two runs for Etowah in the bottom of the first inning to get the Eagles right back into the game. Preston Welchel tripled with two outs in the third inning and scored on a wild pitch to give the Canes a 4-2 lead in the top of the third, but would be the final run of the night for Cartersville. Wilbanks (2 IP, 2R, 1ER, 5H, 2BB, 0K) gave way to Logan Martin in the third inning who worked two innings of his own. A two-run double by Etowah’s Michael Sharman tied the game 4-4 in the bottom of the fourth with the key hit coming on the heels of three walks in the inning. Davis Williams (2 IP, 1ER, 3H, 1BB, 1K) took the mound for the Canes in the fifth inning and ultimately suffered the pitching loss. He worked a scoreless fifth inning, but the Eagles pushed across the game-winning run in the sixth. Etowah’s Cole Ellis tripled with one out in the bottom of the sixth and then scored on a subsequent single to centerfield by Michael Sharman for a 5-4 lead. Eagles’ winning pitcher, Ryan Lobus (3 IP, 0R, 2H, 0BB, 3K), put the Canes down in order in the top of the seventh to preserve the one-run win. Jacob Fletcher (2 IP, 3ER, 4H, 1BB, 2K) started on the bump for Etowah with Dean O’Brien (2 IP, 1ER, 1H, 2BB, 2K) working the middle innings. Cole Ellis, Nick Block, and Sharman combined for eight hits and four RBI to pace the Eagles’ offense as Etowah improved to 4-2 on the season. Welchel led Cartersville in the nightcap with three hits including a pair of triples and one RBI. Martin (triple, RBI), Wilkie (double, RBI), Ian Inaba, and Kolby Adams added one hit each. Cartersville (2-1) will look to bounce back at Villa Rica Monday at 5:55 p.m. and will travel to Sprayberry on Wednesday for a 5:55 p.m. first pitch. Those games prelude next weekend’s three games in the Toyo Tires Battle for Bartow Baseball Classic at Lakepoint on Friday and Saturday.

The Cartersville girls soccer team went 3-0 this weekend at the Lakeshore Shootout in Birmingham, Alabama to win the Silver division of the tournament. Micah Vance scored six of the team’s nine goals in the tournament to earn MVP honors. The Lady Canes defeated Decatur (AL) 3-2, Calera (AL) 3-0, and Indian Springs (AL) 3-2 to take the title. Linet Chege and Abbey Craig were also named to the all-tournament team for Cartersville. The Lady Canes (3-1-1) travel to Sequoyah Tuesday and will host Troup County in a Region 5-AAAA tilt Thursday.

Mikaela Jackson won the 12 and 13 year old division of the Georgia State Elks Hoop Shoot free throw shooting contest by successfully making 22 of 25 free throws. Jackson will represent Georgia at the Southeastern Elks Hoop Shoot competition in Valdosta on Saturday, March 16 where she will compete against the champions from Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, and South Carolina. The winner of the Southeastern competition advances to Chicago for the National Championship on April 27.

Skylar McPhee homered, doubled, and drove in two runs while Dalton Rhadans tossed eight solid innings to lead Georgia Highlands College past Sinclair College (OH) in the opening game of a Saturday afternoon doubleheader at LakePoint. The visiting Tartan Pride bounced back in the second game, however, to out-hit the Chargers nine to three in a 5-3 Sinclair win to earn a doubleheader split. In Game 1, Georgia Highlands scored four times in the first four innings and held that 4-0 lead until Sinclair posted its only run in the top of the eighth. The Chargers added three more insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth to take a commanding lead. The run support was more than enough for Rhadans (8 IP, 1ER, 7H, 1BB, 9K) who picked up his third win of the season. Logan Ward (1 IP, 0R, 0BB, 2K) took the mound in the ninth to strike out two in a shutout inning and earned his fourth save. Blake Brady and Lavoisier Fisher singled home runs in the second inning for the Chargers. Brady doubled home another run in the third and McPhee hit a solo home run in the fourth inning. McPhee (photo) doubled home the first of three GHC runs in the eighth. Parker Orr drove in the final two runs with a line drive single to left field. Despite managing only three hits in Game 2, the Chargers stayed close. Sinclair led 2-1 after one inning and 3-2 after three frames. The Tartan Pride added single runs in both the seventh and eighth innings while the Chargers scored only one more run in the seventh on an Orr solo shot. Ethan Underwood (5.1 IP, 3ER, 4H, 2BB, 5K) suffered the pitching loss for Georgia Highlands. Anthony Reneo (0.2 IP, 0R, 2BB), Trace Twardoski (1.2 IP, 2ER, 4H, 3BB, 2K), and Brady Barker (1.1 IP, 0ER, 1H, 1K) each worked in relief for the Chargers. Orr finished the doubleheader with three hits that included a homer and three RBI. McPhee doubled, homered and had two RBI. Brady contributed two hits including a double and two RBI. Fisher had two hits and one RBI along with three stolen bases. Malik Spratling also had a two hit day. Next for Georgia Highlands (11-6) is a home game with Cleveland State CC (TN) Tuesday at 3 p.m. at LakePoint.

After battling to a scoreless draw in the first half Friday night at Darlington, the Adairsville girls soccer team and coach David Sexauer made a tactical change at the intermission and results were definitely positive in a 6-0 road win. The personel and attacking style moves led to four goals by sophomore Cat Wheeler in an 11-minute stretch of the second half. Freshman Kaylee Jordan and Megan Hardin assisted on Wheeler’s first to scores. Lilli McBride scored Adairsville’s final two goals off assists from sophomore Sadye Johnson and Hardin. Senior keeper Havyn Isaac stopped all five Darlington shots on goal to complete the shutout Adairsville (2-1) travels to Fannin County Tuesday for a 5 p.m. kickoff.

The Cartersville boys took control early Thursday night and never trailed in a GHSA Class 4A second round win at The Storm Center. The Hurricanes defeated visiting West Hall 83-55 and will advance to the state quarterfinals for the second year in a row. Cartersville started quickly and held a 9-0 lead early on their way to a 19-9 advantage after one quarter. The Canes, led by Isaac Gridley’s 13 first half points and nine more by Micah Tart, pushed their lead to 23 points by the intermission, 43-20. The visiting Spartans matched the Canes in the third quarter, but still trailed 57-37 entering the final eight minutes and Cartersville eased away for a 28-point win. Nine different Canes found the scoring column with Gridley (photo) leading the way with 24 points. Perignon Dyer followed with 19 and Tart finished with 11 points. Kolbe Benham added seven points for Cartersville. Austin Cauffman and Amarai Orr finished with five points apiece. Robert Novak, Manny Hayes, and Marquail Coaxum added four each. West Hall’s season ends with a 9-20 record. Cartersville (17-13) will now travel to 5th-ranked Carver-Columbus for an Elite Eight matchup in Class AAAA. Carver-Columbus, who features highly rated point guard A.J. Watts, routed Howard Thursday night in their second round game, 76-49. The date and time are not yet set, but the game is expected to be on Tuesday in Columbus.