Canes, Tigers drop first round state tournament games

All three of the local teams that qualified for the state playoffs this season were eliminated from their respective state tournaments in the first round after the Cartersville boys and Adairsville boys both lost games Wednesday night.

The Cass girls dropped their opening round game at home Tuesday night to St. Pius X, 55-52.

Wednesday, Cartersville lost at 6th-ranked Lithonia 67-61 and Adairsville fell at home to Hart County, 59-49.

LITHONIA 67, CARTERSVILLE BOYS 61

The Purple Hurricanes stood toe-to-toe with host Lithonia Wednesday night and led in the fourth quarter before falling to the 6th-ranked Bulldogs, 67-61, in a Class 5A State Tournament first round game.

The two teams were tied 14-14 after one quarter; Lithonia led 33-28 at halftime; and the Hurricanes took a 48-46 lead heading into the final eight minutes.

Lithonia outscored the Canes 19-13 in the final period.

Caleb Taylor and Josh Daniels led Lithonia with 26 and 21 points, respectively.

Romo Pace knocked down 24 points for Cartersville. Luke Gambill followed with 13. Jamauri Brice, Jaeden Scott, and Kam Callahan scored six points each while Kaden Scott added four for the Hurricanes.

Lithonia advances to the second round Saturday where the Bulldogs (21-8) will play at 3rd-ranked Tri-Cities.

Cartersville has its season end with a 12-14 record.

HART COUNTY 59, ADAIRSVILLE BOYS 49

The Adairsville Tigers’ exciting post-season run came to an end Wednesday night in the Class 3A State Tournament’s first round with a 59-49 home loss to Hart County. Adairsville started strong, holding a 21-16 lead at the end of the first quarter. The visiting Bulldogs battled back in the second period by clamping down defensively to lead 29-28 at the intermission. Hart led 37-34 at the end of the third quarter and held on down the stretch of the fourth quarter to escape with a 10-point win.

Senior shooting guard JC Curry scored a game-high 30 points to pace the Bulldogs. Sean Teasley, also a senior, added 12 points for Hart County.

Tre Mitchell led Adairsville with 14 points. T.J. Printup, Jr. finished with 12. Tre Winters scored 11. Jordan Carson contributed six points. Hayden Poarch had four and Kavi Harris added two points for the Tigers.

Hart County (20-8) advances to the second round Saturday where they will play at Thomson. Adairsville has its season end with a 16-12 record.