Canes win basketball opener

November 21, 2025

The Cartersville boys basketball team opened the 2025-26 season Thursday night at New Manchester in Douglasville with a 62-49 victory. 

The Canes led 14-11 at the end of the first quarter, but trailed 25-22 at the intermission before regaining a 44-41 advantage by the end of the third quarter.

Nas Bennett led the Cartersville scoring attack with 24 points. Wyatt Thomason followed with 13. Shakai Taylor and Brayden King added seven points. Bennett had six rebounds. Thomason added 13 rebounds, nine assists, and four blocked shots. Taylor contributed 12 rebounds.

Kayden Baxter and Touren Thurston led New Manchester with 14 and 12 points, respectively.

The Lady Canes suffered their first loss of the season at New Manchester, 47-39.

KK Arnold scored 14 points with eight rebounds and four assists. Zoe McCurry produced eight points with nine rebounds and three assists. Akira Leonard added seven points.

The Cartersville boys (1-0) host Hillgrove on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. The Cartersville girls (2-1) will return to action on December 9 at home against Dalton at 6 p.m.