Five wins for local basketball squads on Thursday

December 18, 2025

In Thursday night's basketball games, five local high school teams secured victories, with three teams avenging early-season losses.

The Cartersville boys triumphed in their first-round game at the SMI Carrollton Holiday tournament. The Excel Christian boys powered past the LaFayette Ramblers. The Woodland boys defeated Unity Christian School, and both Cass teams topped Sonoraville.

EXCEL CHRISTIAN BOYS 83, LAFAYETTE 47

The Excel Christian Academy boys avenged an early-season one-point loss to LaFayette on Thursday night with a resounding 83-47 win on the Ramblers' home floor.

The Eagles raced to a 25-8 lead in the first quarter and led 49-19 by halftime.

Jamari Gatson led five ECA scorers in double digits with 20 points. Damir McBride and Mason McKinney scored 12. Mier Bell and Clay Poe each added 11 points.

Layton Overby and Da’Jon Careathers each scored 10 points for the Ramblers (7-4).

Excel Christian (10-3) hosts Trion on Saturday at 2 p.m.

CARTERSVILLE BOYS 68, VILLA RICA 60

The Canes trailed by two points at halftime Thursday night but gained control in the second half for a 68-60 first-round win over host Villa Rica at the SMI Carrollton Holiday Tournament.

Cartersville led 51-45 leading into the fourth quarter and held off the Wildcats over the final eight minutes.

Nas Bennett poured in 24 points for the Hurricanes. Xavier Lowe produced 15. Kyron McClendon scored 14 and Wyatt Thomason added 10 points.

Josiah Nolan and Jordan Beveree led Villa Rica (3-7) with 11 points. Avion McDaniel chipped in 10.

Cartersville (6-0) returns to Villa Rica High School on Friday to play Bowdon in the tournament semifinals at 5:30 p.m.

CASS GIRLS 49, SONORAVILLE 48

Nakayla Evans scored 25 points, and Anizah Taylor produced 10 points on Thursday night as the Lady Colonels rallied in the fourth quarter to edge visiting Sonoraville 49-48. Yvonne Ellison and Cadie Paez added eight and six points, respectively, for Cass.

The Lady Phoenix led 26-19 at halftime and held a 43-37 advantage leading into the final period. Cass outscored Sonoraville 12-5 in the fourth quarter to pull out a one-point win.

The win for Cass marked a massive turnaround from the meeting between the two teams. Sonoraville (7-3) won 71-35 on November 18. The victory also gave the Lady Colonels three wins in their last four games, leading into their holiday break in the schedule.

Lakelin Hall led Sonoraville (7-3) with 12 points. Lilli Lovingood followed with 10.

The Lady Colonels (3-7) return to action on Saturday, January 3, at Adairsville at 6 p.m.

CASS BOYS 61, SONORAVILLE 56

The Colonels outscored visiting Sonoraville 20-13 in the second quarter on Thursday and carried a 29-26 lead to the break in an eventual 61-56 victory over the Phoenix. The Cass victory earned a season split with the Phoenix, who won 68-56 in the first matchup on November 18.

Isaiah Moreno paced Cass with 19 points. Jahill Abdulah Kortey scored 11, and Derrick Sams added eight points.

Clay Worley led Sonoraville with 19 points. Beaty Terrette added 14 for the Phoenix (3-7).

Cass (3-7) plays at Adairsville on Saturday, January 3 at 7:30 p.m.

UNITY CHRISTIAN 47, WOODLAND GIRLS 37

The visiting Lady Lions grabbed a 22-4 lead in the first quarter and held off a rally by Woodland in the second half on Thursday for a 47-37 win.

Anna Grace Wells led Unity Christian (2-4) with 17 points. Brinzlee Painter scored eight for the Lions.

Destiny Jackson poured in 20 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in the Lady Cats’ loss.“It was a great team effort tonight,” stated Woodland coach Whitney Wissing. “I’m proud of the effort.”

Woodland (3-8) plays Haralson County on Friday at 2:30 at North Murray, and faces the host Mountaineers on Saturday at 3 p.m.

WOODLAND BOYS 72, UNITY CHRISTIAN 57

The host Wildcats trailed early but utilized a strong second-quarter run on Thursday night to defeat Unity Christian 72-57.

Woodland outscored the Lions 18-6 in the second period to lead 29-20 at the break. The Wildcats extended that lead to 21 points by the end of the third quarter.

Canden Davis led four Wildcats in double-digit scoring with 17 points. Jonathan Hart followed with 12 points, while Amir Heath and Caiden Moore each added 11.

Ondreo Sawyer led all scorers with 27 for Unity Christian (1-2). Sam James scored 12 for the Lions.

Woodland (6-5) faces McMinn Central (TN) at 4 p.m. on Friday at North Murray, and plays Haralson County on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.