Adairsville Tigers, Lady Tigers advance to tourney semifinals Saturday
The Adairsville girls and boys basketball teams both won opening round games Friday night as they host the Ace Hardware Christmas Clash.
The Lady Tigers edged Walker 44-42 and the Tigers dismantled the Woodland boys, 72-39.
The Woodland girls also dropped an opening round game to the Lady Bulldogs of Trion, 38-32.
ADAIRSVILLE BOYS 72, WOODLAND 39
The Adairsville Tigers started fast and did not relent Friday night in a 72-39 defeat of visiting Woodland in first round action of the Adairsville Ace Hardware Christmas Clash. Adairsville head coach Alex Disbrow noted after the win he was most pleased with his squad's defensive effort.
The Tigers led 22-8 after the opening eight minutes and extended their lead to 42-15 by halftime on their way to a 33-point win over the Wildcats. Adairsville led 59-28 at the end of the third quarter.
Gaven Crunkleton had a game-high 24 points to pace Adairsville while eight more Tigers contributed in the scoring column.
Malachi Gardner (photo) scored nine for Adairsville. Jaxon Welchel finished with eight points. Jonathan Jarrett and Conner Crunkleton scored seven points each. T.J. Printup, Tucker Deams, and William Longmore contributed five apiece while Savaun Henderson added two points.
DiAnthony Heathcock led the Wildcats with 19 points. Conner McGuire followed with 11 for Woodland. Trey Poche and K.J. Rogers added six and two points, respectively.
Woodland falls to 2-10 on the season with the loss. The Wildcats will play a consolation game Saturday at 2:30 p.m. against Madison County.
Adairsville (7-5) will square off with LaFayette in one of Saturday night’s semifinals at 8:30 p.m.
ADAIRSVILLE GIRLS 44, WALKER 42
The host Lady Tigers won a back-and-forth tussle with the Lady Wolverines of Walker Friday night and came away with a 44-42 opening round win in the Ace Hardware Christmas Clash.
Adairsville led 12-9 after one quarter but trailed at halftime, 24-20. The Lady Tigers outscored Walker 17-9 in the third period to take a 37-33 lead and held on in the fourth quarter for a two-point victory. Sophomore Lexie Childers placed the Lady Tigers with 15 points. Autumn Henderson and Alexa Varner followed with six each. Yatorrean Hale scored five points while Makayla Wade, Alexia Crisp, Ji’Leyah Mitchell, and Kaitlynn Stiles added two points apiece. Grace Koutouzis scored 20 points for Walker and Sophie Hill added 11. Walker (3-8) will play Woodland in a consolation game Saturday at 1 p.m. Adairsville (4-8) will face Trion in one of Saturday’s semifinals at 7 p.m. TRION 38, WOODLAND GIRLS 32
The Lady Cats held a 15-11 advantage at halftime Friday afternoon but Trion rallied in the second half for a 38-32 win in opening round action of the Ace Hardware Christmas Clash at Adairsville High School. Shelby Carlock paced the Bulldogs with 12 points. Woodland got 17 points from Jordan Thompson and seven by Ansley Evans. Trion (7-4) advances to the tournament semifinals Saturday against Adairsville at 7 p.m. The Lady Cats (2-9) will play Walker in a consolation game at 1 p.m.
