Bartow 10U boys win GRPA state championship

The Bartow County Parks and Recreation 10-and-under boys all-star team finished 3-0 over the weekend in Spalding County to bring home the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association state championship. The three wins kept the Bartow team unbeaten at 6-0 following a District 5 championship the previous weekend. The state title is the third all-time for the Bartow County Recreation Department.

The Bartow County 10U all stars won the 2021 GRPA state championship this past weekend and completed a 6-0 run through the playoffs on their way to the title.

Team members: Braylen Cleaver, Brayden Ford, Camden Green, Kameron Hosey, Solomon James, Christen McClendon, Anthony Moreno, Landon Smith, Jaiden Taylor, and Dametrius Wynn. Coaches: Jerelle Taylor and Mike Moreno.

BARTOW 69, COLLEGE PARK 36

Bartow poured in 28 points in the second quarter to take a 43-25 halftime lead and was never threatened in the bracket preliminary game. Bartow extended the lead to 62-33 through three quarters on their way to a 33-point win.

Anthony Moreno led Bartow with 26 points. Solomon James followed with 17. Christen McClendon contributed nine points. Kameron Hosey finished with eight. Braylen Cleaver and Dametrius Wynn scored four points each and Brayden Ford added one.

BARTOW 44, SOUTH BRYAN 38 - State Semifinals

South Bryan slowed the pace in the state semifinals and forced Bartow to play more of a half court game. The strategy kept South Bryan close, but Bartow was still able to pull out the win. Moreno led Bartow with 14 points. James and McClendon also reached double figures with 10 points each. Hosey scored seven and Wynn added three for the locals.

The semifinal victory sent Bartow into the tournament finals and set up a rematch with College Park who defeated Tucker to qualify for the title game.

BARTOW 55, COLLEGE PARK 45 - State Finals

Bartow fell behind early and trailed after one quarter 11-10, but grabbed the lead for good in the second quarter and never looked back. Bartow led 26-21 at halftime and the game settled into a back-and-forth struggle for most of the second half but the locals never trailed after taking a second quarter lead. Moreno poured in 26 points in the title game followed by 14 by James. McClendon contributed eight points. Hosey posted six and Jaiden Taylor added one point for Bartow.

-- Jeff Shinall, Bartow County Parks and Recreation Department