Second half rally lifts Colonels to opening round tourney win

The Cambridge Bears' defensive game plan clamped down on the Colonels' Mike Sims Friday night, keeping the Cass scoring threat from many good looks at the basket. Colonels' head coach David Brock made adjustments in the second half, however, and his team rallied for a 61-51, come-from-behind victory in a first round game of the Region 7-AAAAA basketball tournament in Cumming.

Cambridge took a 16-8 advantage after one quarter and held a 25-17 lead at halftime, but the Colonels utilized Sims primarily as a screener on the offensive end in the second half to set up his teammates. It was a strategy that enabled the Cass rally. The Bears continued to lead after three quarters, 40-35, but the Colonels took their initial lead of the night midway through the fourth quarter and held on down the stretch to advance with a ten point win.

C.J. Bennett led Cass in scoring with a game-high 20 points. He was followed by Ashton Burley with 14, Ian Whittington 10, and Ed Curtis with six points. Cambridge was led by Jackson Boya with 18 points. Kyler Ingram scored 14 points for the Bears and Caleb Snyder finished with eight points. The Colonels (10-14) face the Kell Longhorns (14-11) Saturday in the second round of the region tournament being played at Forsyth Central High School.