Lady Colonels blast Mt. Zion-Carroll in Christmas Tourney opener

The Cass girls basketball team blasted Mt. Zion-Carroll in the opening round of the Central-Carroll Christmas Tournament Thursday night, 78-9.

Cass coach Burt Jackson pulled the starters early, cleared the bench, and gained some varsity playing time experience for much of his roster. No starters played in the second half.

The Lady Colonels led 27-3 at the end of the first quarter and 55-6 at halftime.

Mt. Zion fell to 1-6 on the season with the loss.

Eleven different Cass players scored led by Payton Stoddard and Alexis Ware with 11 points each. Sharia Wade followed with 10.

Aaliyah Curtis contributed nine points for the Lady Colonels. Amber Brittian and Damia Simpson scored eight points each. Lyric Curtis posted seven points. Londaisha Smith scored six. Kyla Michienzi posted four points while Chanel Clemmons and Brianna Stephenson added two each.

Cass (4-1) will face host Central-Carroll (5-1) in the tournament semifinals Friday night at 7 p.m. The championship game will be Saturday night.

Region 7-AAAAA foe and 8th-ranked Villa Rica, who edged Cass 70-62 on December 2 is the favorite on the other side of the tournament bracket.