Colonels open basketball season with win

The Cass boys basketball team opened the 2017-18 season Friday night with a 56-47 win over Hephzibah at the Evans High School Tip-Off Classic near Augusta.

The Colonels had three players reach double figures with Carter Hedden leading the scoring with 15 points. Ashton Burley followed with 12 points and Justice Hayes added 10.

Cass trailed 14-12 after the opening period, but outscored the Rebels 12-8 in the second quarter to take a 24-22 advantage at the intermission.

Cass added to their lead in the third quarter to take a 43-35 edge into the final quarter and held off Hephzibah over the final eight minutes for a nine-point win.

Sophomore forward Robert Johnson led Hephzibah (0-1) with 15 points. Lynn Rhodes scored eight, with E’Shawn Mayes and Braylon Davis contributing seven and six points, respectively.

Rounding out the Colonels’ scoring were Ethan Carter with nine points, Mark Chester eight, and Steven Spell with three points.

Cass (1-0) plays Thomson Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in their final game at the Evans tournament and returns for a home game Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. against Class AAAAAA power South Paulding. The Spartans were 28-2 last season and were a perfect 17-0 in Region 5-AAAAAA. South Paulding reached the state quarterfinals before falling to South Cobb.