It might be an understatement to say Cass senior guard Jana Morning has enjoyed the Lady Colonels' trip to the Chattooga Christmas Classic through two rounds. The Lady Colonels' leading scorer poured in 30 points Thursday evening to lead the Cass Lady Colonels into the Championship Game of the tournament at Chattooga High School in Summerville as Cass rallied for a 63-60 win over Southeast Whitfield. The Lady Colonels will play the survivor of a Thursday night semifinal game between Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe and Ridgeland at 7pm Friday night -- again at Chattooga High School. Morning's 30-point production comes on the heals of a 20-point performance in her team's first round win Wednesday. In the victory over Southeast Whitfield, the Lady Colonels were outscored 15-7 in the second quarter and trailed 27-19 at the intermission. Cass then battled back in the third quarter to narrow the Lady Raiders' lead to one, 46-45, but trailed by three points with just under three minutes remaining in the game. The Lady Colonels took a one-point lead at 60-59 in the final 1:20 and then held off the Raiders down the stretch for a three-point decision. Maddie Pearson and Emily Early scored 24 and 20 points, respectively, for Southeast Whitfield. In addition to Morning's performance, Kyla Michienzi totaled 13 for Cass. Esmeralda Thomas contributed seven points, followed by Chanel Clemmons with six, Payton Stoddard with five, and Lyric Curtis with two points. Clemmons added ten rebounds. The Lady Raiders fell to 9-4 on the year with the loss and will play for third place on Friday. The Lady Colonels, who defeated Cartersville 50-35 in the first round of this tournament on Wednesday, improved to 8-3 and have now won six of their last seven games.

Hunter Hice (photo) scored 19 points and Cole Hewatt added 10 as the Adairsville boys basketball team defeated Pickens Thursday afternoon 60-47 in a consolation round game at the Fannin County Mountain Top Tournament in Blue Ridge. The Tigers led 14-12 after one period and 30-20 at halftime. Adairsville continued to build their lead in the third quarter, taking a 49-30 advantage to the final period. Seth Bishop led Pickens with 22 points. Jacob Brumby scored eight for the Dragons. Cody Henderson added nine points for Adairsville, followed by four each from Ronald Hardin, James Sims, and Ethan Belcher. Mason Boswell contributed three points for the Tigers. Juan Perez, Grayson Dailey, and Gavin Crunkleton scored two points each. Savaun Henderson added one. Pickens fell to 1-12 on the season with the loss. Adairsville (7-5) concludes play in the tournament Friday with another consolation game. The Tigers lost their tournament opener to Fellowship Christian Wednesday.

The Cartersville boys basketball team took control in the second half as the Canes defeated rival Cass 71-52 in the first round of the Chattooga Christmas Classic Wednesday evening in Summerville. Cass led 14-9 after one quarter, but Cartersville responded to take a 28-27 lead going into halftime. The Canes pushed their lead to 48-38 after three quarters and pulled away in the fourth in their 19-point victory. T.J. Horton led all scorers with 20 points for Cartersville. Teammates Jaylon Pugh, Avery Showell, and Isaac Gridley also reached double figures with 15, 14, and 11 points, respectively. Ian Whittington led Cass with 16 points. Steven Spell added 12 and Ashton Burley 11 for the Colonels. Cartersville (7-1) advances to the tournament semifinals on Thursday. Cass (7-4) will play in a consolation game on Thursday.

The Woodland Wildcats placed third overall and the Cass Colonels were sixth at the Buford Takedown Sportswear Wrestling Invitational Tuesday and Wednesday. The host Wolves of Buford won the event with 242.5 points. They were followed on the team scoreboard by Archer (211.5), Woodland (194), Gilmer (176.5), Father Ryan (TN) (163), and Cass (130). A total of 32 different schools participated in the event. Cass had a pair of individual champions and Woodland had one. Colonels’ Tripp Breeden (195 pound class) and Seven Richards (Heavyweight) won their respective brackets. Kyle Gollhofer of Woodland won the 113 pound division. WOODLAND PLACERS 1st — Kyle Gollhofer (113 pound weight class) (photo right) 2nd — Gavin Nix (106) 2nd — Dawson Woods (138) 3rd — Cody Cochran (152) 3rd — Hunter Hardin (220) 4th — Vinnie Rosati (126) Joshua Veley (132 pound weight class), Kristian Fisher (160), Jacob Frye (170), Brody Williams (182), and Kurtis Feanny (285) earned team points for the Wildcats. Woodland also entered a second team with Justin Kellett (113) and Jacob Kellett (132) earning tournament points. CASS PLACERS 1st — Tripp Breeden (195 pound weight class) (photo left) 1st — Seven Richards (285) (photo right) 3rd — Houston Jones (170) 5th — Tyler Pilcher (126) 6th — Nick Mills (106) Alex Depasquale (120 pound weight class), Jaylen Callahan (145), Kendall Arnold (160), and Reed Davis (182) also earned team points for the Colonels. Woodland and Cass will wrestle next at the Area 7-5A Tournament at Carrollton High School January 7. The top two teams at the Area Championship will advance to the GHSA Class AAAAA State Duals at Macon Coliseum January 12-14.

The Cass Lady Colonels’ basketball team started fast and then held off rival Cartersville 50-35 to open play Wednesday at the Chattooga Christmas Classic in Summerville. Payton Stoddard and Jana Morning combined for 18 first half points as the Lady Colonels took leads of 15-6 after one quarter and 31-14 at halftime. Cartersville — who had won three straight going in — rallied to outscore Cass 11-3 in the third period and narrowed the lead to nine (34-25) heading to the final eight minutes. The Lady Colonels’ Jana Morning (photo) scored a dozen of her game-high 20 points in the final period, however, to help lift Cass to a 15-point win. Stoddard finished with 12 points for Cass. Kyla Michienzi added seven points. Esmeralda Thomas finished with six points. Lyric Curtis totaled four and Chanel Clemmons one point for Cass. Cartersville (5-4) got six points each from Kimora McClinic, Camila Rodriguez, Madison McKinney, and India Reid. Both teams play again Thursday at the Chattooga Tournament. The Lady Canes will play a consolation round game against the North Murray / Southeast Whitfield loser. Cass (7-3) advances to the tournament semifinals Thursday to play the North Murray / Southeast Whitfield winner (played Wednesday night). The Lady Colonels have won four of their last five games.

The Adairsville Lady Tigers basketball team won big Wednesday in their opener at the Haralson County Hilburn-Patterson Invitational Tournament, defeating Rockmart 65-29. Adairsville led 16-3 after one quarter and 31-12 at halftime on their way to a 49-21 lead after three periods. Rockmart (6-5) was led in scoring by Desiree Williamson with 10 points. Kahayla Robinson and Madison Davis finished with six and five points, respectively. Nakiyah Washington led the Lady Tigers with a game-high 23 points. Emily Collum scored 14 points and Josie Summerville also reached double figures with 11. Zay Harris added six points; Latya Printup four; Alexa Varner three; Aubrei Atchley two; Havyn Isaac and Taylor Green one point each. Adairsville (5-6) continues play in the Haralson County Tournament Thursday where they will play the host Lady Rebels at 6pm.

The Adairsville boys basketball team lost its first round game at the Fannin County Mountain Top Tournament Wednesday in Blue Ridge. The Tigers fell to the Fellowship Christian Academy Paladins, 58-40. Fellowship took a 17-11 lead after one quarter and held a 33-23 advantage at halftime. The Paladins, led by three players in double figures, stretched their lead to 47-33 after three periods. Harrison Massell led Fellowship with 18 points. Teddy Kleim added 16 points and Cody Frazer 13 for the Paladins. Ethan Belcher led Adairsville with nine points. Juan Perez scored six. Cody Henderson and Hunter Hice posted five points each. Trevis Williams scored four points. Cole Hewett added three points. Ronald Hardin, Jesse O’Kelley, Mason Boswell, and Dezel Pitt scored two points apiece. Fellowship Christian of Region 6-A improved to 4-7 overall and will play the winner of Wednesday afternoon’s Pickens/Coahulla Creek Thursday in the tournament semifinals. Adairsville (7-5) will face the Pickens/Coahulla Creek loser on Thursday at 11:30am.

The Christmas holidays provide a relaxing break, but also traditionally mark an unofficial division in the high school basketball schedule. Many teams are near the midway point of their regular season schedules and few have played very many region games at this point. So where do the local high school teams stand at the Christmas break? Below is a breakdown of each local team's season results thus far. The table includes the season and region records; a list of wins and losses; how each team has faired against teams with winning records and against teams at .500 or less; plus the opponents' winning percentage for each local team's wins and losses. Excel Christian Academy is in Region 6-A Adairsville is in Region 6-AAA Cartersville is in Region 5-AAAA Cass and Woodland are in Region 7-AAAAA UPCOMING SCHEDULES ADAIRSVILLE Dec. 28 — vs. Fellowship Christian at Fannin Co. Mtn. Top Tourney Dec. 29 — at Fannin Co. Mountain Top Tourney Jan. 6 — CALHOUN* Jan. 7 — at Pickens CARTERSVILLE Dec. 28 — vs. Cass at Chattooga Christmas Tourney Dec. 29 — Chattooga Christmas Tourney Dec. 30 — Chattooga Christmas Tourney Jan. 3 — at Cedartown* Jan. 6 — CENTRAL-CARROLLTON* Jan. 7 — LAGRANGE* CASS Dec. 28 — vs. Cartersville at Chattooga Christmas Tourney Dec. 29 — Chattooga Christmas Tourney Dec. 30 — Chattooga Christmas Tourney Jan. 3 — at Woodland* Jan. 6 — at Paulding Co.* EXCEL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Jan. 3 — TRION* Jan. 6 — at Darlington* Jan. 7 — GORDON CENTRAL WOODLAND Jan. 3 — CASS* Jan. 6 — at East Paulding* Jan. 7 — at Hiram* *indicates region opponent The 2016-17 season has a long way to go, but the information above may help you evaluate the progress of your favorite local team at the unofficial mid-season break.

When schools return to session in January 2017, the Bartow-Gordon Middle School Athletic Association's (BGMSAA) basketball regular season will have only three weeks of games remaining before the league's championship tournaments begin. The 2016-17 basketball tournament will be hosted by Cartersville January 21-29. At the holiday break, the Red Bud Middle girls lead the BGMSAA standings by one-half game over Cass Middle and one game over Calhoun Middle School. Red Bud and Cass split their two regular season meetings. Calhoun and Red Bud have a head-to-head game remaining in the regular season and Cass has a game remaining with Calhoun also. In the boys' BGMSAA race, Cartersville Middle remains undefeated with Adairsville Middle and Cass Middle close behind with only one loss each. Cartersville has yet to play Adairsville but does have one win over Cass. Adairsville and Cartersville will meet twice (home-and-home) in early January. Cass defeated Adairsville in December for the Tigers only loss and they will face off one more time before the league championship tournament. At the junior varsity middle school level, Cartersville's girls lead Calhoun by one game at the holiday break and the middle school JV Canes lead the boys standings by one game over Calhoun and Cass. The complete basketball standings and remaining basketball schedules for each of the four groups are listed below. BGMSAA GIRLS BGMSAA BOYS All information, standings, schedules and more regarding all sports and competitions for the Bartow-Gordon Middle School Athletic Association may be found on this website. Please use the menu link at the top of this page for more information.

CARTERSVILLE BOYS 49, WOODLAND 38 The Cartersville boys basketball team held visiting Woodland scoreless in the second quarter Thursday night at the Storm Center, but the Wildcats rallied in the third quarter to challenge their hosts before the Canes pulled away for an 11-point win. Jaylon Pugh and Avery Showell led Cartersville with 16 and 11 points, respectively. T.J. Horton followed with seven points. Trase Fezzia and Isaac Gridley contributed five for the Hurricanes in their victory. Cartersville led 15-13 after one period and 24-13 at halftime, but Woodland tied the game at one point in the third period before trailing 34-30 heading into the final eight minutes. Camden Royal led Woodland with 10 points. Hunter Johnson added nine. Jaylen Ballard contributed seven points, followed by Trevor Knowles and Justice Hayes with six points each. Cartersville (6-1) will play Cass on December 28 at 5:30pm in the opening round of the Chattooga Christmas Tournament in Summerville. Woodland (1-7) hosts Cass for their next game on January 3. CARTERSVILLE GIRLS 54, WOODLAND 25 The Lady Canes have now won three in a row and four of their last five after defeating visiting Woodland Thursday night at the Storm Center, 54-25. Cartersville built their scoreboard advantage early, leading 14-3 after eight minutes and 28-13 at the intermission. Camilla Rodriguez and Madison McKinney led the way for Cartersville, scoring 19 and 10 points respectively. Anya Davis, Kimora McClinic, Addie Smith, Monica Motuba, and India Reid contributed four points each for the Lady Canes. Caroline Bagwell finished with three points and Ariana Cochran added two. Madgie Robinson scored eight points for the Lady Cats. Jamison Kilgo and Lexie Robinson totaled five points each. Nichiah Metcalf scored three, while Jordan Duck and Danielle Downs both added two points. Woodland (0-9) is off for the remainder of the holiday break and will host Cass January 3. Cartersville (5-3) will face Cass in the opening round of the Chattooga Christmas Tournament December 28 at 4pm in Summerville.

Woodland senior linebacker, Emmanuel Jones, along with Cartersville standouts Trevor Lawrence, Avery Showell, Torrian Scrutchins, Trey Creamer, and Antoine Jefferson were players recognized Thursday on the 2016 Atlanta Journal-Constitution All-State Teams. Canes’ head coach, Joey King, was also named Class 4A Coach of the Year after guiding Cartersville to a second consecutive state title. Jones (6-3, 230, Sr.) was listed as an all-state defensive lineman although he played the majority of the 2016 season as a linebacker for the Wildcats. Lawrence (6-6, 196, Jr.), who was named all-classification Player of the Year by the AJC (see previous article: LINK ) is the Offensive Player of the Year in Class 4A and the classification’s all-state quarterback. Showell (6-2, 195, Sr.) was named to the Class 4A offensive all-state team as an Athlete and wide receiver Antoine Jefferson received honorable mention recognition. Hurricanes on the defensive all-state team include Scrutchins (6-1, 232, Sr.) and Creamer (6-0, 170, Sr.) Scrutchins was recognized as one of the state’s top defensive linemen and Creamer as a defensive back.

Cartersville High School quarterback, Trevor Lawrence, has been named the 2016 Atlanta Journal-Constitution's All Classification Player of the Year. His head coach, Joey King, was also named Class AAAA Coach of the Year. Lawrence, who committed to Clemson University a few days after helping lead the Hurricanes to their second straight state title, was 250-of-406 passing for 3,904 yards and 51 touchdowns with nine interceptions this season. He needs 2,477 yards and 40 touchdown passes as a senior to break the Georgia career records of 13,077 and 159 held by former Gainesville quarterback Deshaun Watson. A starter since early in his freshman season, Cartersville teams are 42-2 during that stretch and currently riding a 30-game win streak. Head coach Joey King arrived at Cartersville that same season and has guided the Hurricanes through each of the three record-breaking seasons. The complete story is available online: by Todd Holcomb, AJC http://highschoolsports.blog.ajc.com/2016/12/22/cartersville-quarterback-trevor-lawrence-is-2016-player-of-the-year/