Colonels reach tourney finals, Lady Colonels edged in OT, Woodland teams fall at home

The Cass boys trailed most of the night, but rallied in the final period Thursday to edge Chattahoochee 42-40 in the semifinals of the Chattooga Christmas Classic in Summerville.

Carter Hedden scored 11 of his 13 points in the final period to match teammate Justice Hayes as leading scorers for the Colonels. Ashton Burley followed with 12 points. Mark Chester added three points and Ethan Carter scored one.

The Class 6A Cougars led 9-4 after one quarter, 20-12 at the intermission, and 25-20 after three periods before the Colonels mustered their comeback in the final quarter.

Cass made four of their six three-pointers in the final stanza including three by Hedden. Burley converted 7-of-8 free throws in the second half to help seal the win.

A.J. White led the Cougars with 14 points. Will Bracknell added 12 and Cam Sheffield 10 for Chattahoochee.

Chattahoochee falls to 4-7 with the loss and will play in Friday’s third place game.

Cass (8-3) will face the Chattooga/Cedartown winner Friday at 8:30 p.m.

WOODSTOCK GIRLS 53, CASS 48 (Overtime)

The Cass Lady Colonels lost 53-48 in overtime to Class 7A Woodstock Thursday in the Chattooga Christmas Classic semifinals in Summerville.

Cass led 10-8 after one quarter, but fell behind 25-19 by halftime. The Lady Wolverines maintained their lead through the third period at 37-30, but the Lady Colonels rallied to send the game into overtime at 48-48.

Sophia Singer made the only overtime field goal for either team and Cass was shutout in the extra four minutes.

Bri Burnett led Woodstock with a game-high 14 points.

Alexis Ware and Chanel Clemmons scored 10 points each to lead Cass. Kyla Michienzi and Payton Stoddard scored seven points each. Lyric Curtis and Aaliyah Curtis scored five. Amber Brittian added four points for the Lady Colonels.

Woodstock (8-3) will play for the tournament championship Friday night.

Cass (7-3) plays the Rockmart/Chattooga loser Friday at 4 p.m. in the tournament’s third place game.

VILLA RICA GIRLS 61, WOODLAND 11

Sixth-ranked Villa Rica scored the game’s first 31 points and led 31-5 at halftime on their way to a 50-point region win Thursday night at Woodland.

Deasia Merrill led four Villa Rica players in double digits with 13 points. Tee Windom added 12. Kyndal Coleman and Emmy Parham added 10 points each.

Villa Rica improved to 10-0 overall and 5-0 in Region 7-AAAAA.

Lauren Morris led Woodland with four points. Madgie Robinson scored three.

Woodland (2-6, 0-4) plays at Cass Tuesday, Jan. 2 at 6 p.m.

VILLA RICA BOYS 69, WOODLAND 41

The Villa Rica boys jumped out to a 9-0 lead Thursday night and led Woodland 40-19 at halftime on their way to a 69-41 Region 7-AAAAA victory.

Latrell Swanigan had a game-high 20 points and Javonte Holt scored 15 to lead the visitors.

Justice Carter led Woodland with nine points. Jaylen Ballard followed with eight and Dustin Ivie scored six points. Hunter Johnson and Charles Norman added four points each. Connor Gallagher and Kenny Jinks contributed two points.

Villa Rica improved to 11-0 overall and 5-0 in region play.

Woodland (1-10, 0-5) plays next at the Trion Holiday Tournament where they will face Gordon Lee at 4:30 p.m. Friday.