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February 21, 2026 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com Georgia Highlands College softball split a home doubleheader on Saturday with visiting Gaston College (NC), winning the first game 2-0 before falling in the second game by the same 2-0 score. Emily Ferro tossed a complete-game shutout in the first game for the Chargers. She scattered five hits and one walk with one strikeout. The pitching performance by Haley Curtis was also outstanding for the Chargers in the second game, but the visiting Rhinos took advantage of an error, two hits, and a sacrifice fly for the game’s only runs in the top of the seventh. Curtis allowed six hits and five walks with two strikeouts. Both runs by Gaston were unearned. Alivia Fannin (double) and Gracie Azpeitia had two hits for GHC in the doubleheader. Anslee Logan (RBI), Emma Darrow, Athens Hudson, Ahmani Green, and CeCe Williams each had one hit. The Chargers (6-6) will host Chattanooga State CC on Tuesday for two games starting at 1 p.m.

February 21, 2026 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com The Woodland Wildcats and the Adairsville Tigers both earned their fifth wins of the young season on the road on Saturday, while the Cartersville Hurricanes were blanked in their final game at the Brunswick Baseball at the Beach event. WOODLAND 12, NORTH COBB 4 The Wildcats broke open a 1-1 game in the top of the sixth inning on Saturday at North Cobb, scoring nine runs en route to a 12-4 victory. Grant Tidwell (5.1 IP, 4R, 3ER, 9H, 0BB, 4K) earned the pitching victory for Woodland. Clayton Wilkes (1.2 IP, 0R, 2H, 2BB) retired the final five outs on the mound. Tidwell also led the Wildcats’ bats with four hits and two RBI. Tommy Risner (two RBI) and Jonathan Ryan (RBI) each contributed two hits. Alfredo Romo (two RBI), Tucker James (two RBI), and Preston Sorrells (RBI) each had one hit. Zaylen Cochran added one RBI. The loss dropped the Warriors to 3-4 on the season. Woodland (5-1) travels to Darlington for a 4 p.m. start on Monday. ADAIRSVILLE 5, DARLINGTON 0 The Tigers scored four runs in the top of the second to gain control and added an insurance run in the fifth to win at Darlington on Saturday, 5-0. Hudson Parr (6 IP, 0R, 4H, 3BB, 10K) went six innings and struck out ten to pick up the pitching victory. McCayden Hufstetler retired Darlington hitters in order in the seventh, including one strikeout. Matthew Cook had two hits and one RBI to lead the Adairsville bats. Evan Hardin (double, three RBI), Parr (RBI), Harrison Cole, Tyler Parker, Kaden Coker, and Bryson Weaver each added one hit. The loss left Darlington with a 2-3 record. Adairsville (5-1) plays at Sonoraville on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. and will host the Phoenix on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. WARE COUNTY 5, CARTERSVILLE 0 Cartersville managed only three hits and was shut out on Saturday night by Ware County 5-0 in a game played at Glynn Academy.  The loss left the Canes winless in three games at the Brunswick Baseball at the Beach event.  It also marks a fourth straight loss for Cartersville. The Gators posted a single run in the top of the first inning, scored three in the second, and added another run in the third inning.  Pitcher Seth Seuss went all seven innings for Ware County, struck out five, and issued no walks for the victory. The Gators also produced eleven hits, including five extra-base hits. Coleman Stubblefield (2 IP, 5R, 4ER, 6H, 1BB, 2K) made the pitching start for Cartersville and was saddled with the loss. Wyatt Earwood (1 IP, 0R, 2H), Brayden Logan (2 IP, 0R, 2H, 3K), Tyler Hickman (1 IP, 0R, 0H, 1K), and Gianni Gandy (1 IP, 0R, 1H, 1K) also pitched in the loss. Brant Rutledge (double), David Vargas, and Logan each had one hit for the Hurricanes. Ware County improved to 2-5 on the season. Cartersville (2-4) hosts Forsyth Central on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. and will play Hillgrove and host Carrollton in games on Saturday.

February 21, 2026 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com PHOTO: Courtesy Excel Christian Academy The Excel Christian Academy boys basketball team made it back-to-back state championships on Saturday at Gordon State College in Barnesville by defeating Promise Preparatory Academy of Dawsonville 87-64 in the Georgia Association of Private and Parochial Schools (GAPPS) Class A title game. The Eagles started quickly and led at the end of each quarter.  Excel led 26-17 after one quarter and 45-33 at the break. The Knights outscored ECA 25-21 in the third quarter, narrowing the margin to 66-58. From there, the Eagles put the foot on the gas and pulled away with a 21-6 fourth quarter and a 23-point win. Ten different Eagles contributed to the scoring column, led by Mason McKinney with 20 points. Damir McBride scored 16. Jamari Gatson finished with 14 points, and Aston Chappell contributed 11 points. Mier Bell scored nine points. Connor Garland, Christian Vieira, and T.J. Hubert each finished with four points. Tristan Jenkins had three, and Karden Wingard added two. Promise Prep was led by Padiet Amum, who scored 21 points. Gradu Kapugnya scored 14, and Eli Mayfield added 11 points for the Knights (19-6). Excel Christian completed its second-straight state championship season with a 23-6 record.

February 19, 2026 Zoe McCurry (with ball) scored 14 points with nine rebounds and six assists in the Lady Canes' Region 7-AAAA semifinal win on Thursday over Cass. Kylie Miles of Cass (20) plays defense on Thursday. PHOTO: CanesAthletics.com The Lady Canes defeated Cass 44-29 on Thursday evening at The Storm Center in the Region 7-AAAA tournament semifinals and will play in the championship game against Dalton on Friday night at 7 p.m. Cartersville led 19-16 at halftime and extended the lead to 29-23 by the end of the third quarter. Zoe McCurry led Cartersville with 14 points, nine rebounds, and six assists. Blakely Morris contributed a double-double with 10 points and 10 boards. KK Arnold followed with 10 points, five rebounds, and four assists. Anaizah Taylor and Nakayla Evans led Cass with 12 and nine points, respectively. The Lady Canes (21-4) will face Dalton (23-3) in the region title game on Friday at The Storm Center at 7 p.m. Dalton defeated Hiram in Thursday’s other semifinal game, 78-15. Cass (11-13) will play Hiram (10-15) on Friday at 4 p.m. in the region's third-place game. Cartersville and Dalton split their regular-season games, with each team winning at home. The Lady Canes won 55-46 on December 9, and the Lady Catamounts won on January 20, 59-27. ALLATOONA 68, CARTERSVILLE BOYS 60 The Cartersville boys lost to Allatoona in the Region 7-AAAA semifinals on Thursday evening at The Storm Center, 68-60. Allatoona improved to 18-8 on the season and will play in the region championship game on Friday at 8:30 p.m. against the Hiram/Dalton winner from Thursday night. Cartersville (20-6) will face the Hiram/Dalton semifinal loser in the third-place game on Friday at 5:30 p.m.

February 21, 2026 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com Trinity Montgomery (5) releases a shot on Friday night in the Lady Canes' overtime loss to Dalton. Montgomery paced Cartersville with 26 points and added six rebounds. PHOTO: Bryce Barkley / CanesAthletics.com The Lady Canes battled Dalton into overtime on Friday night, but came up just short in the Region 7-AAAA championship game at The Storm Center. Earlier on Friday, the Cass girls and the Cartersville boys won Region 7-AAAA tournament third-place games. DALTON 68, CARTERSVILLE GIRLS 66 (ot) The Lady Canes and Lady Catamounts split their regular-season games and tied in the Region 7-AAAA regular-season standings at 13-1. Both teams have been ranked in the Class AAAA top ten for most of the season, and Friday night’s region championship rubber game needed overtime to decide the title. Dalton led 15-14 after one quarter, and the two teams went to the intermission deadlocked at 29-each. The Lady Canes surged to a 50-40 lead in the third quarter, but Dalton rallied in the fourth quarter to send the game to overtime tied at 59. In the overtime period, Georgia Sanders scored six of her 11 points, and Dalton escaped with a 68-66 victory.  Dalton’s junior point guard, Aubriyana Camp poured in a game-high 44 points to lead all scorers in the contest. Trinity Montgomery led Cartersville with 26 points and added six rebounds. Zoe McCurry scored 19 points with four boards and four assists. Blakely Morris grabbed 11 rebounds and pitched in seven points. Kaitlyn Arnold collected seven rebounds and scored seven points. Dalton (24-3) will host Maynard Jackson on Tuesday in the first round of the state tournament. Cartersville (21-5) will welcome Pace Academy to The Storm Center on Tuesday. CASS GIRLS 45, HIRAM 36 The Cass Lady Colonels won the Region 7-AAAA tournament’s third-place game Friday evening at Cartersville High School, defeating Hiram 45-36. Cass led 11-3 after the opening eight minutes, but the Lady Hornets cut their deficit to 21-18 at the intermission. Cass outscored Hiram 12-9 in the third quarter to lead 33-27, then held off the Hornets over the final eight minutes for a nine-point victory. Nakayla Evans led Cass with 14 points. Yvonne Ellison scored 10, and Cadie Paez added eight points. Brittain Payne led Hiram with 12 points. Taylor Gaddis contributed 10, and Adriana Howell added eight points. Hiram (10-16) will be the No. 4 seed from Region 7-AAAA in the opening round of the state tournament on Tuesday and will play at Region 4-AAAA champion Creekside. Cass (12-13) will be the No. 3 seed and play the Region 4-AAAA runner-up, Midtown, on Tuesday in Atlanta. CARTERSVILLE BOYS 60, DALTON 29 Cartersville's Shakai Taylor goes up for a bucket in the Hurricanes' third-place game win on Friday over Dalton in the Region 7-AAAA tournament at The Storm Center. PHOTO: Bryce Barkley / CanesAthletics.com The Purple Hurricanes outscored Dalton 37-14 in the second half on Friday evening en route to a 31-point win in the Region 7-AAAA third-place game at Cartersville’s Storm Center. Following a 9-9 first period, the Canes carried a 23-15 lead to the halftime break. In the third quarter, Cartersville outscored the Catamounts 20-8 to take control. Xavier Lowe paced Cartersville with 23 points. Wyatt Thomason finished with 16 points. Kyron McClendon scored 11 points and added eight rebounds and four steals. Nas Bennett contributed six rebounds, four points, four assists, and two steals. Jermichael Craft led Dalton with eight points. Cole Laubscher added seven Dalton (14-13) will open the state tournament on Wednesday at Pace Academy. Cartersville (21-6) visits Mays on Wednesday in the first round.

February 21, 2026 The Cass Colonels picked up their second win of the young season on Friday evening at Model to earn a split with the Blue Devils during the week, and the Cartersville Purple Hurricanes suffered their third-straight loss. CASS 1, MODEL 0 Cass freshman Noah Rogers bounced an RBI single into left field in the top of the seventh inning for the game’s only run, lifting the Colonels to a 1-0 non-region win on Friday at Model. Zach Stiles had reached on a two-base error with two outs and scored on the Rogers base hit. Cass pitchers Landon Lamb (3.1 IP, 0R, 1H, 3BB, 1K) and Easton Lee (3.2 IP, 0R, 0H, 1BB) shared the mound duties and combined on the Colonels’ one-hitter. Rogers (RBI) and Dustin Wallin each had two hits for Cass. Lamb, Stiles, Lee, and Kasey Jacobs contributed one hit each. The win for Cass evened the season series with the Blue Devils, who won at Cass last Tuesday, 11-2. Cooper Rampley had three hits for the Colonels in the loss. DJ Vigil (solo home run), Rogers, Stiles (double), and Lamb each added one hit in the loss.  Cass (2-4) visits East Paulding on Tuesday, Pepperell on Wednesday, and Sonoraville on Friday. GLYNN ACADEMY 8, CARTERSVILLE 7 The Hurricanes scored six runs in the top of the second inning on Friday to take a 7-3 lead at Glynn Academy, but failed to push another run across in an 8-7 loss to the Red Terrors in Brunswick. Glynn Academy narrowed the margin to 7-4 in the bottom of the second, and took the lead in the fifth on a single, three walks, an infield error, and a two-run double by Braden Milkwick for a four-run frame. Cole Crawford (1.1 IP, 3ER, 1H, 3BB, 2K) took the pitching loss in relief. Collier Jordan (0.1 IP, 3ER, 2H, 2BB), Wyatt Earwood (2.2 IP, 1ER, 2H, 1BB, 2K), and Logan Buchanan (1.2 IP, 1R, 0ER, 1H, 1BB, 2K) also pitched for the Canes.  Brayden Logan had two hits for Cartersville, including one double. Crawford (double, sac fly, three RBI), Cooper Reynolds (two RBI), Tyler Hickman (RBI), Gianni Gandy (RBI), David Vargas, Nolan Elrod, and James Manring each added one hit. Carterville (2-3) plays Ware County on Saturday night at Glynn Academy.

February 20, 2026 By Scott Barkley / CanesAthletics.com Photo courtesy of Canes Rifle/Facebook Lucy Evans and Maggie Sheffield finished 1-2, and Chance Van Pelt set a personal best as the Canes Rifle team dispatched Columbus Thursday afternoon, Feb. 19, for a semi-final date in the state playoffs.    The Canes shot an 1146-59x to Columbus’ 1130-49x. Evans, the team’s captain, led the way with 293-20x while junior co-captain Sheffield posted 289-18x. Van Pelt secured a third team spot at 286-15x. Emma Daughdrill finished with 278-6x, Bryson Newport had a 268-7, and Lucas Gibson tallied a 250-2.  Cartersville (17-1) was looking to rebound from a second-place finish in the Area 10 championships after an undefeated regular season. A semi-finals win would secure a spot in the state finals in Waycross on March 21.

February 19, 2026 BRUNSWICK 1, CARTERSVILLE 0 Tyler Hickman (34) celebrates a home run with Gianni Gandy (20) in Tuesday's home loss to Etowah. The Brunswick Pirates improved to 6-0 on Thursday by winning a 1-0 pitcher’s duel over the visiting Cartersville Purple Hurricanes.  Avery Jefferson of the Pirates hit a solo home run to leadoff the bottom of the second inning for the game’s only run. Trenton Robinson had the only other Brunswick hit in the game — a double in the fifth inning. Tyler Hickman’s second-inning single was the only Canes’ base hit. Trenton Robinson and Braxton Johnson combined for nine strikeouts on the mound for Brunswick. Nolan Elrod (5 IP, 1ER, 2H, 0BB, 6K) was saddled with the tough-luck pitching loss for the Hurricanes. Logan Buchanan (1 IP, 0R, 1BB, 2K) tossed one scoreless frame for Cartersville. The Canes (2-2) play at Glynn Academy on Friday at 7 p.m. and will play Ware County on Saturday evening. ETOWAH 8, CARTERSVILLE 4 Cartersville lost an 8-4 decision to Class 6A top-ranked Etowah on Tuesday at Richard Bell Field,  The Canes swapped leads with the Eagles in the first two innings, but Etowah scored two runs in the third, two in the fourth, and one more in the seventh in their victory. Nate Russell (4 IP, 7R, 4ER, 7H, 1BB, 5K) suffered the pitching loss for Cartersville. Coleman Stubblefield (2.1 IP, 1R, 0ER, 2H, 1BB, 4K) and Wyatt Earwood (0.2 IP, 0R, 0H, 0BB, 1K) pitched for the Canes in the loss. David Vargas (double, two RBI) had two hits for Cartersville. Tyler Hickman (home run, two RBI), Nolan Elrod, Cole Crawford, Brayden Logan, Harris Turner, and Gianni Gandy added one hit.

February 19, 2026 Woodland boys’ soccer earned a non-region 3-1 road win at Villa Rica on Thursday, with the visiting Wildcats controlling play from the opening whistle. Woodland wasted little time asserting dominance, striking just five minutes into the contest. Aiden Carrillo finished off a crisp through ball from Hunter Limbaugh to give the Wildcats an early 1-0 lead. The pressure continued, and Limbaugh was involved again in the 16th minute. The playmaker delivered another precise assist, this time finding Luis Sanchez, who slotted a shot home to make it 2-0. Woodland capped a dominant first half in the 30th minute when David Hernandez added a third goal, sending Woodland into the break with a commanding 3-0 advantage. Villa Rica showed some fight in the second half, breaking through in the 69th minute to get on the scoreboard and cut the deficit to 3-1. Seth Goodall was solid in goal for the Wildcats, turning away six shots to preserve the victory and limit Villa Rica's opportunities. The win improves Woodland's record to 3-1 overall, while Villa Rica falls to 0-3 on the young season. The Wildcats hit the road next, traveling to face Kennesaw Mountain on Tuesday. VILLA RICA 5, WOODLAND GIRLS 0 Villa Rica evened its season record at 2-2 with a 5-0 shutout of the Woodland Lady Cats. Woodland dropped to 1-3 and will play at Kennesaw Mountain on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

February 18, 2026 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com Adairsville pitcher Kaden Coker tossed a four-inning no-hitter, and the Tigers pounded visiting Cass on Wednesday evening, 15-0, for a non-region win. The Tigers took an early lead by scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning, then added seven runs in the third and five more in the fourth to secure the win. Coker walked one and struck out two. Cass starter Darren Cole (2.1 IP, 9R, 5ER, 6H, 1BB, 2K) was saddled with the Colonels’ pitching loss. Easton Lee (0.2 IP, 1R, 0ER, 1H) and Jase Radford (0.2 IP, 5R, 3ER, 3H, 2BB, 1K) also pitched. Cass pitchers hit five batters, and the Colonels’ defense committed eight errors. Westin Barfield (double, three RBI), was credited with three hits for the Tigers. Harrison Cole (RBI) and Coker (double, RBI) produced two hits. Hudson Parr (RBI), Tyler Parker (double, RBI), McCayden Hufstetler (RBI), and Evan Hardin (RBI) had one hit. Brody Varner and Bryson Weaver added one RBI. Adairsville (4-1) welcomes Darlington on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. and will visit Sonoraville on Monday for a 5:30 p.m. first pitch. Cass (1-4) travels to Model on Friday for a 5:30 p.m. start and visits East Paulding on Tuesday at 5:55 p.m. WOODLAND 17, WOODLAND-STOCKBRIDGE 7 Visiting Woodland-Stockbridge scored seven runs in the top of the third inning to lead 7-0 at Woodland-Bartow on Wednesday, but the Wildcats responded with 10 in the bottom of the fourth and seven in the fifth to win in five innings. Cameron O’Shields (2.1 IP, 0R, 2H, 0BB, 2K) earned the pitching victory for the Wildcats in relief of starter Tucker James (2.2 IP, 7ER, 4H, 6BB, 4K). Preston Sorrells (RBI) had two hits at the top of the Woodland-Bartow lineup. Sammy Ray (double, three RBI), Zaylen Cochran (two RBI), Tommy Risner (RBI), Steven Tumlin (RBI), and Clayton Wilkes (RBI) each contributed one hit. Jonathan Ryan and Grant Tidwell added two and one RBI, respectively. The loss dropped the Wolfpack to 3-2 on the season. The Wildcats (4-1) visit North Cobb on Saturday at 1 p.m. before traveling to Darlington for a 4 p.m. start on Tuesday.

February 18, 2026 WOODLAND GIRLS 8, NORTH COBB 2 The Lady Cats led 3-2 at halftime on Tuesday, but overpowered the visiting North Cobb Lady Warriors with five unanswered goals in the second half to record Woodland’s first win. Ansley Burns and Mahdi Hernandez each scored two goals for the Lady Cats. Maddie Weightman, Jaqueline Arias, Samantha Espinosa, and Avery Burns added one goal each. Woodland goalkeeper Maya Baldwin was credited with a few saves, including one on a breakaway. The loss dropped North Cobb to 1-2 on the season. Woodland (1-2) visits Villa Rica on Thursday for a 5 p.m. kickoff, and will play at Kennesaw Mountain on Tuesday, February 24. NORTH COBB 4, WOODLAND BOYS 1 The Wildcats trailed visiting North Cobb 2-0 at halftime on Tuesday night on a Warriors’ free kick in the 7th minute and a late goal in the opening half’s final minute. Woodland’s Xavier Salgado cut the deficit in half with an unassisted goal in the 53rd minute, but the Warriors (1-2) put the game away with goals in the 59th and 70th minutes.  Seth Goodall had five saves in net for the Wildcats, who slipped to 2-1 on the young season. Woodland plays at Villa Rica on Thursday and will visit Kennesaw Mountain on Tuesday, February 24.

February 18, 2026 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com Georgia Highlands College softball won both games of a home doubleheader on Tuesday, sweeping Cleveland State CC (TN) 13-4 and 5-2. In the opener, the Chargers broke open a 4-4 game with three runs in the third and added six in the fourth to pull away. In Game 2, GHC pitcher Haley Curtis went seven strong innings in the circle and struck out five to limit the Cleveland State offense. CeCe Williams (2 IP, 4ER, 4H, 2BB, 1K) and Athens Hudson (3 IP, 0R, 1H, 0BB, 5K) shared the pitching duties in the first win. Curtis allowed just one earned run on five hits and four walks in Game 2. Emma Darrow (triple, RBI) and Emily Ferro (double, triple, four RBI) had three hits in the doubleheader to lead the Chargers’ offense. Ahmani Green (two RBI) and Hudson (double) each collected two hits. Williams (RBI), Gracie Azpeitia (two sac flies, three RBI), Anslee Logan (three RBI), and Emmalee Freeman had one hit on Tuesday. Georgia Highlands (5-5) hosts Gaston College (NC) for a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 1 p.m.