Lady Colonels fall in region title game; Cass boys defeat Hiram to earn 3-seed

The Cass Lady Colonels' lost for the first time this season Friday night in the Region 7-AAAAA championship game, but will still host an opening round state tournament game next week. The Cass boys finished third in the region tournament by defeating Hiram for a fourth time this season and the Cartersville girls will enter the state playoffs as a 4-seed following a consolation game loss to Calhoun.

CASS BOYS 65, HIRAM 62

Braxton Benham scored 20 points Friday night and Zaylan Chaney scored nine of his 13 points in the fourth quarter as the Cass boys defeated Hiram 65-62 to earn the Region 7-AAAAA No. 3-seed in next week’s state tournament.

Jackson Hale, who scored six points on a pair of three-pointers, knocked down a go-ahead trey with only 16 seconds remaining to lift the Colonels to a one point lead late. Hiram had a shot at the end but the Hornets missed and Benham sealed the win with a rebound and a pair of free throws after being fouled with less than one second remaining.

In a back-and-forth battle, the Hornets led 19-15 after the opening eight minutes. Cass held a 29-28 edge at halftime, but Hiram came back to lead 46-44 at the end of the third quarter.

The Hornets led by as many as six in the final period before the Colonels rallied for the victory. The win for Cass was the team’s fourth over Hiram this season. Cass also defeated Hiram in the Campbell Holiday Tournament and twice during the region regular season.

In addition to the scoring by Benham, Chaney, and Hale, C.J. Pipkin scored 12 points for the Colonels. Andrew Glaze and Ethan McIntyre finished with five points each. Zay Jackson added four points for Cass.

Hiram (12-11) was led by Jayden Clark’s 21 points. Keyon Boyd posted 11 and Jackson Prince added 10 points.

Cass (19-7) will open the Class 5A State Tournament Wednesday at Region 6-AAAAA’s No. 2-seed Villa Rica (13-10) at 6 p.m.

HIRAM 55, CASS GIRLS 50

The third time was the charm for the 8th-ranked Hiram Lady Hornets as they defeated previously unbeaten Cass for the Region 7-AAAAA championship, 55-50.

Hiram (17-4), who will host Lithia Springs next week in the first round of the state playoffs, had previously lost twice to the Lady Colonels in the regular season. Cass won 55-48 on January 15 and 50-46 on February 2, but Friday night belonged to the Lady Hornets. Claire Davis scored 19 points and Londaisha Smith added 18 in the Lady Colonels' loss.

Cass (24-1) will host Region 6-AAAAA’s No. 3-seed Grady (9-10) in the opening round of the state tournament either Tuesday or Wednesday.

CALHOUN 57, CARTERSVILLE GIRLS 44

The Cartersville girls fell to Calhoun Friday afternoon 57-44 and open next week’s Class 5A State Tournament as a No. 4-seed. Calhoun will be the region’s No. 3-seed.

The Lady Jackets built a 14-8 lead in the first quarter and led 32-16 by halftime. Calhoun continued to lead 40-29 after three quarters.

Britiya Curtis led Calhoun with 27 points. Lyndi Rae Davis scored 14 of her 16 points in the first half.

Lehla Thomas led Cartersville with 16 points. Jamiya Moore and Kiera Milline added eight points each for the Lady Canes.

Cartersville will play at New Manchester Tuesday night at 6 p.m. in the first round of the state tournament.