Lady Colonels reach region championship game; Cass boys, Adairsville girls fall in tourney games

Cass' Londaisha Smith (2) powers in a basket as Cartersville's Lehla Thomas (15) defends Wednesday night in the Region 7-AAAAA semifinals.

The Cass girls took care of business Wednesday night in the Region 7-AAAAA semifinals, defeating tournament host Cartersville, 68-46.

The win keeps the 2nd-ranked Lady Colonels unbeaten for the season and sends Cass to the region championship game Friday night at 7 p.m. against 8th-ranked Hiram.

The Lady Hornets defeated Calhoun 40-25 in Wednesday’s other girls semifinal.

Cass led Cartersville 15-6 after one quarter; 24-18 at halftime; and 40-21 through three quarters on their way to a 21-point victory. Londaisha Smith led Cass with 19 points. Gracie Elkins scored 16. Ariana Hames contributed nine points and Amaya Ford added five for the Lady Colonels.

Lehla Thomas and Zoe Casey scored eight points each for the Lady Canes. Thomas added nine rebounds.

Cartersville (6-14) will play in the region third place game Friday at 4 p.m. against Calhoun. Cass (24-0) secured a home state playoff game next week by reaching the region tournament finals. The Lady Colonels will tip at 7 p.m. Friday night with Hiram.

BLESSED TRINITY 50, CASS BOYS 44

Zaylan Chaney dunks home two of his 19 points, but his Colonels fell to Blessed Trinity in the Region 7-AAAAA semifinals.

It is difficult to beat any team in basketball a third time in a season. Well that’s the old adage that showed its form Wednesday night for the Cass Colonels.

Although both regular season games between Cass and Blessed Trinity went to the wire, the Colonels had a double-overtime 83-78 win over the Titans January 5 and a 53-48 win at Blessed Trinity on January 22. The Titans turned the tables Wednesday with a 50-44 win in the Region 7-AAAAA semifinals.

Jax Bouknight led Blessed Trinity with 23 points.

Zaylan Chaney had 19 points and 10 rebounds to pace Cass. C.J. Pipkin scored nine points and collected five rebounds for the Colonels.

C.J. Pipkins scores two of his nine points in Wednesday's loss to Blessed Trinity.

Blessed Trinity (18-7) advances to Friday night’s region championship game against Calhoun at 8:30 p.m. at Cartersville. Calhoun knocked off Hiram 60-58 in Wednesday’s early semifinal.

The win also secured a first round state playoff game at home for the Titans. Cass (18-7) will play Hiram Friday at 5:30 p.m. for the region’s No. 3-seed in the Class AAAAA state tournament.

ROCKMART 68, ADAIRSVILLE GIRLS 46

The Adairsville girls were eliminated at the Region 6-AAA Tournament at Sonoraville Wednesday night with a 68-46 loss to 3rd-seed Rockmart.

Rockmart, coming off a two-point loss at Adairsville last Friday, led throughout in Wednesday’s tournament game. The Lady Jackets led 14-12 at the end of the first quarter; 32-16 at halftime; and 52-27 through three quarters.

Keyarah Berry of Rockmart led all scorers in the game with 31 points. Analee Morris added 15.

Lexie Childers scored 22 points to lead Adairsville. Makayla Wade added nine for the Lady Tigers.

Rockmart (16-7) advances to play Coahulla Creek Friday in the semifinals.

Adairsville’s season comes to a close with a 7-19 record.