8U Bartow Blue boys basketball team reaches GRPA District 5 finals; 8U Bartow girls fall in district

The 8U Bartow Blue boys basketball team scored 18 points in the first half Tuesday night and more than doubled that total with a 20-point third quarter on their way to a 44-13 win over Dalton in the GRPA District 5 semifinals at the Houston Suggs Youth Facility at Hamilton Crossing Park.

Ja’kez Baldwin led Bartow in scoring with 12 points. Tavaris Burleson followed with seven points. Nasier Bennett and Jabari Burleson scored six points each. Jaden Daise totaled five points. Jeremy Dent added four points. Eli Pearson and Kyron McClendon each added a basket.

The win advances 8U Bartow Blue to the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association District 5 championship game where they will play Whitfield County. Whitfield defeated Rome Tuesday night in the other semifinal, 20-16.

The title game will be Thursday night at 6:30pm at the Houston Suggs Youth Facility at Hamilton Crossing Park.

8U WHITFIELD COUNTY GIRLS 27, BARTOW COUNTY 10

The 8U Bartow County girls basketball team lost Tuesday night in the GRPA District 5 championship game to host Whitfield County 27-10 at the Whitfield County Recreation Department Gym in Dalton.

Akhari Hames scored three points for Bartow. Rihanna Crittenden, Ansley Tilley, and Haley Collum scored two points each. Lily Roberts added one point.