February 23, 2025 The Georgia Highlands College Chargers had a seven-game win streak snapped Saturday night with a 14-inning home loss to Wabash Valley College (IL), 6-3. The two teams were tied 3-3 after four innings but went the next nine frames scoreless, even though the Warriors and Chargers combined for 27 hits in the contest. Wabash gained a 4-3 lead in the top of the fourteenth inning on a two-out RBI single. The next batter followed with a two-run home run and a 6-3 lead. Grayson Godbee led off the Chargers’ half of the frame with a double but was ultimately stranded. Garrett Goblish (3 IP, 3ER, 3H, 2BB, 3K) was saddled with the GHC pitching loss and was the fifth hurler utilized in the extended game. Kaiden Krak worked four scoreless innings. Hunter Ward contributed three scoreless frames on the mound, and Calvin Koo tossed a scoreless inning in the loss. Godbee finished with three hits, including a double and one RBI. Wyatt Gatlin (RBI, Ryan Martin, and Ali Banks had two hits for the Chargers. Georgia Highlands (13-2) hosts Macomb CC and Wabash Valley again on Sunday at noon and 6 p.m. GEORGIA HIGHLANDS 14, MACOMB CC (MI) 4 Georgia Highlands baseball blew open their game with visiting Macomb CC (MI) on Saturday afternoon with a nine-run fourth inning that saw the Chargers send 14 men to the plate. The Chargers went on to win the contest 14-4. GHC trailed the Monarchs 3-2 in the middle of the third inning but scored three in the bottom of the third and sealed the game with a productive fourth inning. Canadian Andrew Bishop had two hits, including a homer and four RBI. Sequoyah High product Kenskey Thomas (double, RBI) and Lassiter High product Ryan Martin (double, RBI) also had two hits. Ali Banks (two RBI), Ian Fullerton (two RBI), Wyatt Gatlin (two RBI), and Grayson Godbee (RBI) added one hit apiece. The Chargers also took advantage of ten walks in their offensive production. Andrew Arnold started on the mound and went 3-⅔ innings for the pitching victory. He allowed four earned runs on five hits and two walks. Braxton Wade struck out three of four batters to close out the five-inning contest.

February 23, 2025 Clifton Puckett, GHC Staff Jah'kim Payne drives to the basket in the Chargers win Saturday over Albany Tech. The Georgia Highlands Chargers used a three-point shooting barrage to jump out to an early lead on Saturday, up by 13 points four minutes into the game. Albany Tech clawed back, however, and led 43-39 at the half in a game that saw six lead changes and five ties.  The Chargers regained their stake in the game and outscored the Titans 41-33 in the second half to seal the victory. Jah’kim Payne (Alexander HS) led the Chargers with a double-double of 25 points and 11 rebounds. He added five assists and a blocked shot. Payne and Jay’Quan Nelson (Alexander HS) also led the team with four buckets from beyond the arc. Gregory Jones paced Albany Tech with 23 points and 14 rebounds. Georgia Highlands (15-10, 7-6 Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association) returns to action next Saturday against conference-leading South Georgia State in Rome at 4 pm. It is also Military Appreciation Day. All veterans and active member families receive free admission.

February 23, 2025 Charles Wilson, BartowSportsZone.com The Excel Christian Academy boys basketball team won the 2024-25 Georgia Association of Private and Parochial Schools (GAPPS) Class A State Championship on Saturday in Macon by defeating Notre Dame Academy of Duluth 67-61. The title game was played on the campus of The Academy for Classical Education. The Eagles fell behind early, but a furious rally in the second and third quarters that included scoring contributions from nine different players put ECA in contention to complete their comeback in the fourth quarter. The Irish Wolfhounds led 22-9 at the end of the first quarter and seemed in control. However, the Excel Christian come-from-behind charge began in the second period, with the Eagles narrowing their deficit to 36-29 by halftime.  Evan Chappell (2) scored 16 of his game-high 20 points in the second half Saturday in the Eagles' come-from-behind victory over Notre Dame Academy. ECA turned the tables in the third quarter by outscoring Notre Dame Academy 20-9. Evan Chappell had eight points in the quarter. Christian Vieira scored two buckets, and Jorge Ricardo, Kamarrion Profit, Jayden Jinks, and Kaiyu Huffman added two points each in the period as the Eagles claimed a 49-45 advantage with eight minutes remaining. Chappell, who finished with a game-high 20 points, scored eight more points in the fourth quarter, and the Eagles made eight of twelve free throws down the stretch to seal their six-point victory and the state title. Ricardo scored 10 points for Excel. Vieira, Jinks, and TJ Hubert finished with six points. Profit, Carter May, and Connor Garland contributed five points. Kaiyu Huffman added four points for the Eagles. Kiandrey Thomas and Geronimo Holmes led the Wolfhounds with 19 points. CJ Peoples added 11 for Notre Dame Academy (18-10). Excel Christian Academy completed the 2024-25 season with a 19-8 overall record and only one loss to a GAPPS opponent during the year. The other seven losses were against GHSA competition. The Eagles, under head coach Evan Black, went undefeated in their region regular season and won the GAPPS Region 1-A tournament championship. The Eagles’ 2024-25 varsity roster includes eight seniors — Huffman, Chappell, May, Ricardo, Profit, Gavin Dyson, and Daniel Lewis. Viera is the only junior with sophomores Garland, Jinks, Hubert, and Tristan Jenkins.

February 21, 2025 The Georgia Highlands College softball team won the first two games of a four game series with visiting USC Union on Friday, 8-1 and 16-3 at Carol Brown Field on the Cartersville campus. The Chargers outhit the Bantams 27 to eight in Friday’s two games. GHC had 12 extra-base hits and stole 14 bases in the doubleheader sweep. Grace Kendrick went seven innings in the circle to collect the pitching win in the opener. She allowed one hit and one walk with two strikeouts. Maci Andrews worked all five frames in the circle for the Chargers in Game 2. She allowed two earned runs on seven hits and two walks with two strikeouts. Ahmani Green had five hits on the day, including one triple, one double, and five RBI. Haylee Dishmon (two triples, four RBI) and Emma Darrow (triple) contributed four hits. Mary Catherine Kimball (triple, three RBI), Hayden Joyner (two doubles, RBi), Abbi Hall (triple), Sapphire Barker (double, RBI), and Athens Hudson (RBI) finished with two hits. Cayden Warren (double, RBI), Abbey Yates (RBI), Emmalee Freeman (double, three RBI), and Andrews (two RBI) added one hit for the Chargers. Georgia Highlands (15-1) completes its series with the Bantams (2-7) on Saturday with a doubleheader at noon.

February 21, 2025 Cameron Cochran’s first-inning, three-run homer gave the Hurricanes an early lead Friday night at Class 6A No. 1-ranked Etowah, but Cartersville managed only one more hit and did not score again in a 5-3 loss to the Eagles. Carson Moore hit a solo home run for Etowah in the second inning, and Deion Cole smacked a three-run homer in the third to give the Eagles their first lead. Later, Etowah took advantage of an infield error, a walk, and two ground balls to add an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth. Avery Shiflett made the pitching start for Cartersville and was tagged with the loss. He allowed four earned runs on four hits and one walk while fanning one. Logan Shrewsbury pitched the final two innings, allowing one unearned run on one hit and one walk with two strikeouts. Tristan McKibben had the other Canes’ base hit — a two-out single in the second inning. Etowah improved to 6-0. Cartersville (2-2) visits Ringgold on Saturday for a 1 p.m. start. BREMEN 9, CASS 0  Nic Wright had the only Cass base hit in the Colonels' five-inning 9-0 loss to Bremen on Friday night in the Georgia Dugout Challenge at LakePoint in Emerson. The Blue Devils (2-2) posted three runs in the third inning, one in the fourth, and five more in the bottom of the fifth inning to close the game. Jacob Johnson (2.1 IP, 3ER, 1H, 6BB, 1K) made the pitching start for Cass and took the loss. Wright (1.2 IP, 1ER, 1H, 1BB, 1K), Trenton Elario (0.2 IP, 5ER, 1H, 4BB, 1K), and Joshua Churchwell (1H, 1BB) took the mound in relief. The Colonels (1-2) are scheduled to face Cambridge and Osborne at 10 a.m. and noon Saturday at LakePoint.

February 21, 2025 The Cartersville Lady Canes cruised to a 66-37 second-round win Friday night in the Storm Center, defeating Pace Academy and advancing to the Class AAAA state quarterfinals. In Fairburn, the Cass Lady Colonels were not as successful in a 73-29 loss to the No. 1-ranked Creekside Seminoles. GHSA Class AAAA Round of 16 CARTERSVILLE GIRLS 66, PACE ACADEMY 37 Senai Camper poured in 25 points Friday night to lead the Lady Canes in a 66-37 victory over Pace Academy. The Lady Canes made five first-quarter shots from behind the arc and led 24-5 at the end of the opening period Friday night in the Storm Center en route to an easy 66-37 win over Pace Academy in the second round of the Class AAAA state playoffs. Cartersville maintained a 34-15 advantage at the intermission and extended the lead to 46-24 by the end of the third quarter before winning by 29 points. Senai Camper scored a game-high 25 points, delivered seven assists, and added four steals to lead the Lady Canes. KK Arnold scored 17 points with three steals and two assists. Bayley Stanley and Zoe McCurry contributed seven points. Stanley collected six rebounds and four steals. McCurry contributed five rebounds and six assists. Blakely Morris finished with six points, and Trinity Montgomery added four for the Hurricanes. Lawson Monroe scored 13 points for the visiting Knights. Kate Grice added 11 points in a losing cause. Pace Academy finished the year with a 13-12 record. Cartersville (19-9) will travel to Atlanta on Tuesday night to play Marist in a 6 p.m. tip. GHSA Class AAAA Round of 16 CREEKSIDE 73, CASS GIRLS 29 The Cass girls fell behind early and never recovered against unbeaten Creekside. The No. 1-ranked Seminoles used a relentless pressure defense on the ball, depth, and speed to defeat the visiting Lady Colonels 73-29 Friday night in the second round of the Class AAAA state tournament. Creekside raced to a 23-10 lead by the end of the first quarter and led 39-20 at halftime. Cass fell off the pace in the second half and managed only nine points in the final two quarters. CeCe Dennis led the Seminoles with 27 points. Maliha Harris and Sydnee Hunter followed with 14 and 12 points, respectively. Cass was led in scoring by KK Evans, who scored 16 points. Cadie Paez scored six. Darianna Sosa tossed in four points. Kiana McDaniel finished with two points, and Lily Powell added one. Creekside improved to 29-0 for the year and will play at Ware County on Tuesday in the state quarterfinals. Ware defeated East Forsyth on Friday night, 57-46. The season ends for Cass with a 13-14 record.

February 20, 2025 The Cartersville High School gymnastics team opened the 2025 season on February 15 by hosting a quad-meet with Cherokee, Lassiter, and Allatoona. Lassiter won the competition with 98.175 points. Cartersville (93.85) finished second, followed by Cherokee (93.8) and Allatoona (81.7). Freshman Layla Poole led the Lady Canes with an all-around score of 36.750. Poole scored 9.35 on vault, 8.75 on bars, 9.25 on beam, and 9.4 on her floor exercise. Emerie Elrod scored 8.7 on floor and 8.9 on vault. Sydney Jackson contributed an 8.45 on vault. Other Cartersville contributions included Laney Saunders on vault (8.05) and beam (7.3). Kyndal Shook scored 6.9 on bars and 8.2 on floor. Katy Grace Wolfe scored 7.4 on vault, 8.1 on beam, and 7.1 on floor. Adalynn Weir contributed an 8.3 on floor. The next home meet for the Lady Canes is March 1 at the Cartersville Twisters facility.

February 20, 2025 Use this link -- https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/bartowsportszone/episodes/2025-02-20T11_20_04-08_00 -- to listen to interviews with local high school basketball coaches Karisma Boykin (Cartersville girls), Brandan Harrell (Cass girls), and Evan Black (Excel Christian Academy boys).

February 19, 2025 Kyron McClendon The Cartersville Hurricanes only trailed seventh-ranked Kell 19-18 following the first eight minutes Wednesday night in Marietta, but the Longhorns built a 20-point lead by halftime and held off their challengers 84-70 in the opening round of the Class AAAA state tournament. Kell led 66-40 after three quarters and improved their season mark to 21-7. The Longhorns will play at Pace Academy in the second round on Saturday. Pace defeated Central-Carroll 66-31 in the opening round. Connor Staphylans scored 28 points for the Longhorns on Wednesday. King Jones finished with 12 points. Zach Graves and Ben Lee contributed nine points. Kyron McClendon led Cartersville with 27 points. Nas Bennett followed with 21, and Wyatt Thomason added nine points for the Canes. “We battled hard, and they proved why they have been a top-five team in the state most of the year,” said Cartersville coach Mike Tobin. “Our goal was to take care of the ball and not give up easy baskets against their pressure. Unfortunately, we had too many turnovers. I’m proud of our guys for finishing the season strong. We were 7-2 over the final nine games.” The Purple Hurricanes’ season ends with a 17-12 record. “We are thankful to our seniors Jake Johnson and Kaden Baldwin and look forward to the remaining players returning next year with abundant experience and confidence,” added Tobin. GHSA Class AAA State Tournament First Round LUELLA 69, ADAIRSVILLE BOYS 62 The Luella Lions opened the Class AAA state tournament Wednesday night with a 69-62 win at Adairsville. The Tigers trailed 14-10 after one quarter and 39-33 at halftime before knotting the score heading into the fourth quarter at 50-all. Jordan Smith scored a game-high 33 points to lead the Lions. Kai Wood followed with 13 points. Xavious Nalls led three Tigers in double figures with 16 points. Ben Abernathy scored 14 points, and Jamarian Pullum finished with 10 points. Tre Winters added eight. Luella improved to 19-9 on the season and advanced to face No. 1-ranked Cedar Grove on Saturday in the Sweet Sixteen round.  The Saints defeated Harlem on Wednesday in their first-round game, 61-48. The season ends for the Tigers with a 17-11 record.

February 19, 2025 Jordan Johnson fires a jump shot Wednesday in the Chargers' overtime loss to Central Georgia Tech. Georgia Highlands College men’s basketball forced overtime with visiting Central Georgia Tech on Wednesday night in Rome but lost in overtime 74-69. Central Georgia Tech led 29-26 at halftime and outscored GHC in the extra session 9-4. Kaden Douglas led the Titans with 17 points. Christian Torres scored 16 for Central Georgia Tech, and Christian Watkins added 14 points. Chi Shannon scored 18 points off the Chargers’ bench. Cameron Baldwin finished with 14 points, and Marquin Thompson scored 11. Central Georgia Tech improved to 12-8 overall and 4-6 in the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association. Georgia Highlands (14-10, 6-6) hosts conference co-leader Albany Tech on Saturday at 3 p.m.

February 19, 2025 The Georgia Highlands Chargers completed a doubleheader sweep of USC Salkehatchie on Tuesday with pitching shutouts and plenty of offense. Nic Kane tossed a seven-inning, no-hitter for GHC in the first game and struck out 14. He issued only one walk or would have completed a perfect game on the mound. Kaiden Krak pitched a one-hitter in Game 2 with no walks and three strikeouts. He also faced only one batter over the minimum in the five-inning victory. Grayson Godbee had three hits, including a home run, one double, and five RBI in the doubleheader. Ryan Martin also homered, doubled, and had one RBI. Heath Whitlock (double, RBI), Andrew Bishop (home run, three RBI), and Wyatt Gatlin (home run, double, four RBI) had two hits on the day. Ali Banks, Kenskey Thomas (double, RBI), and Tyler Phillips added one hit. Alex Karst contributed one RBI. The two losses left USC Salkehatchie at 0-10 to begin the season. Georgia Highlands (12-1) carries a six-game winning streak into the weekend. The Chargers will host Macomb CC (MI) and Wabash Valley College (IN), playing each team once daily. GHC plays at noon and 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

February 19, 2025 The Georgia Highlands College softball team extended its current win streak to nine games on Tuesday with a doubleheader sweep of Cleveland State CC. The Chargers won 4-3 and 8-1. Emma Darrow hit a walk-off, inside-the-park home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift GHC in the opening win. Ahmani Green had two hits in the game, including a home run and three RBI. In Game 2, the Chargers scored five runs across the first three innings and added three more runs in the fifth and sixth innings. Cayden Warren paced the Georgia Highlands’ offense with two hits and three RBI. Grace Kendrick pitched a seven-inning, complete game in Game 2. She allowed one earned run on six hits with no walks while striking out four. Maci Andrews and Hannah Mounce combined in Game 1 to limit the Cougars to three earned runs on seven hits with no walks. Andrews recorded two strikeouts. The losses left Cleveland State with a 2-6 record. Georgia Highlands (13-1) hosts USC Union for four games this weekend at Carol Brown Field. Friday’s doubleheader begins at 3 p.m. Saturday’s games start at noon.