Canes open region play with comeback win; Tigers earn region, road victory

The Cartersville boys utilized a late rally Friday night at The Storm Center for a come-from-behind Region 5-AAAA win over Cedartown. Cartersville outscored Cedartown 6-0 over the final 36 seconds to edge the Bulldogs 59-57 in both teams’ region opener. Cartersville led 15-10 after the opening quarter, but Cedartown took a 31-27 advantage to the halftime locker room. The Hurricanes led again, 45-40, after three quarters but Cedartown (6-3, 0-1) held the lead heading into the final minute. Kam Callahan paced the Canes with 22 points. Kolbe Benham followed with 13 and Robert Novak scored nine for Cartersville. Jeremiah Johnson led Cedartown with 22 points. Elijah Diamond scored 14 for the Bulldogs. Cartersville (5-4, 1-0) travels to Central-Carroll Saturday for a 4 p.m. tip-off. ADAIRSVILLE BOYS 56, HARALSON COUNTY 36 The Adairsville Tigers evened their season mark and picked up a Region 6-AAA victory Friday night at Haralson County, 56-36. Gaven Crunkleton, Malachi Gardner, and Savaun Henderson led Adairsville with 14, 11, and 10 points, respectively. The Tigers led 27-16 at the intermission and 36-24 after three quarters before pulling away in the final period. Adairsville improved to 7-7 on the season and 4-3 in region action. The loss dropped the Rebels to 2-12 overall and 0-7 in Region 6-AAA. The Tigers host Murray County in another region tilt Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. HIRAM 60, CASS BOYS 52 The Cass boys led after the opening eight minutes Friday night at Hiram, but the tables turned in the second quarter and the Colonels were not able to catch the Hornets in the second half. Cass led 11-6 after one quarter, but the Hornets held leads of 22-19 at halftime and 47-33 through three quarters. The Colonels made a run at Hiram in the final period but came up eight points short, 60-52. Tyler Merriweather led four Hornets in double figures with 14 points. Jayven Brown had 13. Deandre Brown followed with 12 points and Jackson Price scored 10 for Hiram (10-4, 5-1). C.J. Pipkin and Zaylan Chaney led Cass with 12 points each. Jordan Ford added eight. Cass (10-7, 5-3) hosts 5th-ranked Kell Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m.

DARLINGTON 62, EXCEL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY BOYS 42 The Excel Christian Academy boys trailed Darlington by only five points at halftime Friday night, but were outscored 23-5 in the third quarter in an eventual 20-point loss. The host Tigers led 32-27 at the intermission before extending their lead to 55-32 after three quarters. Patrick Shelley led Darlington with 18 points. Griffin Brewster scored 12 and Hank Crawford finished with 10 for the Tigers. Rayshawn Womack paced ECA with 12 points. Brenden Qullin and Kalil Holley scored nine points apiece for the Eagles. Darlington improved to 4-8 overall and 3-1 in Region 6-A with their win. Excel Christian (2-11, 1-2) hosts Bowdon Saturday at 5 p.m. in another region matchup. CARROLLTON 85, WOODLAND BOYS 25 Marcellious Lockett led Carrollton with 18 points while Jordan Harrison and Melvin Edwards chipped in 15 each as the Trojans beat visiting Woodland, 85-25. Carrollton (10-5, 4-3) led 13-6 after one quarter, but pushed their lead to 41-12 by halftime and led 68-23 after three quarters. DiAnthony Heathcock led Woodland with 11 points. K.J. Rogers was next for the Wildcats with five. Woodland (2-13, 0-7) travels to Villa Rica Saturday for a 4:30 p.m. opening tip.