Canes extend streak, Lady Canes fall to Collins Hill

January 19, 2026

The Cartersville High basketball teams split games on Monday at the MLK Showcase hosted by Rome High School.

CARTERSVILLE BOYS 85, SECTION (AL) 69

Kyron McClendon scored 27 points and grabbed 10 rebounds on Monday as Cartersville defeated Section (AL) at the Rome MLK Showcase.

The Canes stepped out of region play on Monday afternoon, but extended their current winning streak to five games with an 85-69 win over Section (AL) at the Rome High School MLK Showcase.

Cartersville led 31-26 at the end of a furiously paced first quarter and extended its lead from there. The Hurricanes led 55-41 at the intermission and 72-54 by the end of the third period.

Kyron McClendon finished with a double-double that included 27 points and 10 rebounds. Wyatt Thomason scored 19 points with six boards. Xavier Lowe pitched in 14 points, and Nas Bennett added eight points and seven rebounds for the Canes. 

Jake Cloud scored a game-high 46 points for the Lions (15-7).

Cartersville (14-3, 7-0 Region 7-AAAA) travels to region-foe Dalton on Tuesday and hosts Allatoona on Friday.

COLLINS HILL 62, CARTERSVILLE GIRLS 55

The Class 4A third-ranked Lady Canes fell to Class 6A Collins Hill on Monday afternoon, 62-55, at the Rome High School MLK Showcase. 

The Lady Eagles built a 35-9 first-half lead and held off a second-half rally by Cartersville for a seven-point win.

Kaytlin Arnold led Cartersville with 27 points, five steals, and two assists. Trinity Montgomery posted 10 points, three boards, and two assists. Jayda Cothran finished with seven points, three rebounds, and two assists.

Collins Hill improved to 14-4 with their victory.

Cartersville (14-3, 7-0 Region 7-AAAA) visits ninth-ranked Dalton on Tuesday and welcomes Allatoona on Friday.