Colonels reach Region 7AAAAA semifinals, secure state tourney berth
The Cass Colonels turned up the scoring power in the second and third quarters of Tuesday night’s Region 7-AAAAA quarterfinal game with Villa Rica at Kell High School and the result was a 62-57 win and a berth in the state tournament.
Villa Rica led 18-12 after the opening eight minutes, but the Colonels outscored the Wildcats 22-11 in the second quarter and 14-8 in the third period to lead 48-37 heading into the fourth quarter.
Zaylon Chaney scored 15 of his game-high 25 points in the first half to get the Cass offense rolling. Jordan Ford followed for the Colonels with 11 points. Jaquan Heard and C.J. Pipkin finished with nine each. Braxton Benham, who secured the win with game-sealing free throws with 4.5 seconds remaining, tossed in seven points and Zay Jackson added one point.
Xavion Sparks paced Villa Rica with 23 points. Phillip Zachery was next for the Wildcats with 13.
Villa Rica, who had beaten Cass twice during the regular season in close results, has its season come to a close with an 18-8 record.
The Colonels (15-11) advance to Thursday’s region tournament semifinals at Carrollton High School where they will play the league’s top-seed and 4th-ranked Kell Longhorns (22-4) at 8:30 p.m.
Kell eliminated Rome Tuesday night, 91-62.
Tuesday’s win for Cass ensures the Colonels will qualify for the Class AAAAA state tournament regardless of their outcome in games Thursday and Friday. Those games will, however, determine seeding for Cass in the state playoffs.
LADY COLONELS FALL TO VILLA RICA The Cass girls struggled offensively Tuesday night and fell to Villa Rica for the third time this season to have their season end at Kell High School in the Region 7-AAAAA quarterfinals. Villa Rica, who improved to 21-5 on the season, took a 15-10 lead after one quarter, led 31-17 at halftime, and extended their advantage to 41-23 after three quarters. The loss ends the Lady Colonels’ season with a 17-9 mark. “I’m very proud of the girls. We really grew as a team this year,” said a disappointed Cass head coach Burt Jackson following the game. “We just struggled with our shot tonight. Villa Rica hurt us on the boards and we turned the ball over too much tonight.”
WOODLAND GIRLS FALL TO UNBEATEN KELL The Woodland Lady Cats had their season come to a close Tuesday night in a 59-32 Region 7-AAAAA quarterfinal game at Kell. The win by 2nd-ranked Kell keeps the Lady Longhorns unbeaten this season at 26-0. Jamiah Gregors, Crystal Henderson, and Jada Green led Kell with 16, 12, and 11 points, respectively. Kell led 11-6 after one quarter, 35-13 at the intermission, and 55-19 through three quarters. Jordan Thompson scored 12 to lead Woodland. Carli Clymer followed with 10 points. Gracie Styles chipped in four points. Ansley Evans, Abigail Taylor, and Callie Jones added two each. The Lady Cats finished the season with a 5-21 mark.
