Cass girls advance to title game with win over Cartersville; Adairsville teams fall in semifinals

The Cass Lady Colonels built a 14-point lead in the first half Saturday and eventually won by 15 as they defeated rival Cartersville in the semifinals of the Adairsville Ace Hardware Christmas Clash at Adairsville High School. The Cass girls will face Trion Monday night at 7 p.m. for the tournament championship. The two other local teams in Saturday night’s semifinal action — the Adairsville girls and boys teams — both dropped their contests and will play for third place Monday.

Londaisha Smith (photo) poured in 21 points and Claire Davis added 13 as the Cass Lady Colonels defeated Cartersville 63-48 in the Adairsville Ace Hardware Christmas Clash championship semifinals Saturday night. Cass led 16-8 after the opening eight minutes and pushed their lead to 31-17 by halftime. The Lady Colonels led 43-32 after three quarters. Also adding to the Cass scoring were Ariana Hames with eight points; Taryn Callahan with seven; Haley Johnson six; Amaya Ford five; and Keara McDaniel three points. Lehla Thomas scored nine points with eight rebounds and two assists for the Lady Canes. Naijah Evans also finished with nine points. Jada Cunningham scored eight. Jimaya Moore followed with seven points. Campbell Rogers, Cio Seigler, and Jakayah Draughn had three points apiece. Alexia Henderson, Ariana Cochran, and Zoe Casey added two points each for Cartersville. Cartersville (6-5) will play in Monday’s third place game at 4 p.m. against Adairsville. Cass (11-4) advances to the tournament championship game to face Trion at 7 p.m. Monday night. TRION 63, ADAIRSVILLE GIRLS 54 Chloe Murdock scored 20 points and Shelby Carlock added 14 as Trion outlasted the Adairsville girls Saturday night in the championship semifinals of the Adairsville Ace Hardware Christmas Clash. The visiting Lady Bulldogs led 16-5 after one quarter, 24-20 at halftime, and 46-37 after three quarters on their way to a nine-point win. Lexie Childers and Haley Stiles led Adairsville with 12 and 11 points, respectively. Makayla Wade scored nine for the Lady Tigers while Yatorrean Hale and Alexa Varner added six points each. Adairsville (4-9) will play Cartersville Monday at 4 p.m. for third place in the tournament. Trion (8-4) advances to the 7 p.m. tournament championship game Monday night against Cass. LAFAYETTE 57, ADAIRSVILLE BOYS 45 The LaFayette boys extended a two-point halftime lead to nine in the third quarter and then held off host Adairsville down the stretch for a 57-45 championship semifinal win Saturday night in the Adairsville Ace Hardware Christmas Clash. The Ramblers trailed the Tigers 14-13 after one quarter but took a 28-26 lead to the locker room at the intermission. In the third quarter, LaFayette outscored Adairsville 14-7 to carry a 42-33 lead into the game’s final eight minutes. LaFayette (14-0) had four players reach double figures in scoring led by Decameron Porter’s 16. Aidan Hadaway followed with 14 points. Asa Deal scored 11 and Junior Barber finished with 10 points for the Ramblers. Jaxon Welchel led Adairsville with a game-high 17 points. Savaun Henderson followed with seven for the Tigers. Gaven Crunkleton scored five. Conner Crunkleton and Johnathan Jarrett contributed four apiece. William Longmore and Malachi Gardner had three points and T.J. Printup added two. Adairsville (6-6) will play in the tournament’s third place game Monday at 5:30 p.m. against Cornerstone Prep Academy. LaFayette will meet Walker for the tournament championship Monday night at 8:30 p.m. WALKER BOYS 77, CORNERSTONE PREP ACADEMY 59

The Class A-Private third-ranked Walker Wolverines advanced to the championship game of the Adairsville Ace Hardware Christmas Clash with Saturday night’s 77-59 win over Cornerstone Prep Academy. Omar Cooper led Walker with 18 points. Chris Newell and Chandler Baxter followed with 16 and 12, respectively for the Wolverines. Cornerstone Prep (15-3) was led by Joshua Greene with 17 points. Austin Redd added 12. The Eagles will play in the tournament’s third place game Monday at 5:30 p.m. against Adairsville. Walker advances to the tournament championship game Monday night at 8:30 p.m. against LaFayette.