Cass, Excel girls capture season-opening wins

MORNING'S 15 LEADS LADY COLONELS

The Cass Lady Colonels opened their 2016-17 basketball campaign Friday night at home with a 43-38 victory over pre-season, 10th-ranked Armuchee.

Jana Morning led the Lady Colonels with 15 points and Payton Stoddard added nine.

Cass went ahead 15-10 after one quarter and 25-17 at the break, but the visiting Lady Indians (1-1) outscored the Lady Colonels 12-4 in the third quarter to tie the game at 29 each.

Cass responded in the final frame, outscoring Armuchee 14-9 for the five point, season-opening win.

Livia Skinner led all Armuchee scorers with 15 points. Morgan Copeland added nine for the Lady Indians.

Cass (1-0) will host South Paulding Monday afternoon at 4pm and plays North Murray in the Ridgeland Thanksgiving Classic next Saturday at 1pm.

LADY EAGLES EDGE EAST PAULDING

The Excel Christian Academy Lady Eagles outlasted a furious fourth quarter comeback and 30 turnovers they committed to earn a season-opening win at East Paulding, 47-46.

A tight game throughout, Excel led 22-19 at halftime after each team finished with 11 points in the first quarter.

ECA took a six point lead after three quarters at 32-26 and held on in the final stanza for a one point, road win.

Rylie Boston led the Lady Eagles’ in scoring with 16 points. Whitney Harris and Brighton McCollum added 10 each. Kalli Beth Scheff scored 9 points with Landry McCollum and Bailey Cox contributed one point apiece.

Dajuan Browder and Kayla Sanford led East Paulding (0-1) with nine points each.

Excel hosts Adairsville Tuesday at 6pm.