Canes suffer narrow first-round loss at Christmas Clash

Staff
14 hours ago
2 min read

December 28, 2025

Results from the opening round of the 2025 Adairsville Christmas Clash.

CALHOUN 77, CARTERSVILLE BOYS 76

The Purple Hurricanes' season-opening eight-game winning streak came to an end on Saturday with a 77-76 loss to Calhoun in the first round of the Adairsville Christmas Clash at Adairsville High School.

The Canes were ahead 24-23 after a quick-paced first quarter, but by halftime, they fell behind 41-35. Calhoun led 61-52 at the end of the third quarter and built an 11-point lead at one point in the final period. Cartersville surged to take a one-point lead with 20 seconds remaining, but ultimately fell short by one point after missing a last-second shot at the buzzer.

Trace Hawkins led the Yellow Jackets with 28 points. Jaden Perkins knocked down five from behind the arc and finished with 16 points. Blake Hammett scored 13 points, while Parks Layson grabbed 10 rebounds and chipped in six points.

Nas Bennett scored a game-high 33 points to lead the Hurricanes. He added three rebounds and one steal. Wyatt Thomason scored 20 points with eight boards, and Kyron McClendon contributed 11 points, six rebounds, four assists, and two steals.

Calhoun (5-1) advanced to the semifinals on Monday at 8:30 p.m. against Sonoraville. Cartersville (8-1) will play in the consolation semifinals Monday at 2:30 p.m. against Adairsville.

SONORAVILLE 57, ADAIRSVILLE BOYS 44

The Adairsville boys had an early lead on Saturday, hosting Sonoraville in the first round of the Adairsville Christmas Clash, but the Phoenix chipped away and eventually overcame the Tigers in the fourth quarter for a 57-44 victory.

Adairsville led 17-8 after the opening eight minutes and held a 24-20 advantage at the intermission. Sonoraville grabbed a 41-39 lead by the end of the third period and advanced with a 13-point win.

Beaty Terrett led the Phoenix with 20 points. Clay Worley and Owen Shipley contributed 12 and eight points, respectively.

Elijah Pearson paced the Tigers with 18 points. Brooks Rutledge scored 10 and Barrett Fuller added seven points.

Sonoraville (4-7) will play Calhoun in the semifinals on Monday at 8:30 p.m.

Adairsville (0-12) will face Cartersville in the consolation semifinals at 2:30 p.m.

McEACHERN 60, ADAIRSVILLE GIRLS 37

The McEachern Lady Indians led 32-16 by halftime and defeated host Adairsville 60-37 on Saturday night in the first round of the Adairsville Christmas Clash.

Paris Wilson poured in 20 points, and Ava Couzens added 10 in the McEachern victory.

Lily Roberts scored eight points for the Lady Tigers. Samantha Gough and Rihanna Crittenden each added seven.

McEachern (6-3) will play Sonoraville (8-3) in the tournament semifinals on Monday at 7 p.m. Adairsville (3-9) will square off with East Paulding (3-6) in a consolation semifinal on Monday at 1 p.m.

OTHER CHRISTMAS CLASH RESULTS

Sonoraville girls 50, East Paulding 37

Callhoun girls 70, Paulding County 27

Blessed Trinity girls 62, Ringgold 45

Paulding County boys 60, East Paulding 59

Ringgold boys 53, Allatoona 49

MONDAY’S TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

GIRLS

10 a.m. — Ringgold v. Paulding County

1 p.m. — Adairsville v. East Paulding

4 p.m. — Blessed Trinity v. Calhoun

7 p.m. — Sonoraville v. McEachern