Thursday hoops: Lady Canes top Titans; Excel boys defeat Atlanta Jewish Academy

The Cartersville girls earned an important Region 7-AAAAA win Thursday night at The Storm Center defeating Blessed Trinity, 38-35.

The win earns the Lady Canes the No. 5-seed in next week’s region tournament where Cartersville will now rematch with the Lady Titans Monday night in the opening round.

Thursday night, Cartersville led 12-6 after one quarter and 20 -14 at halftime, but Blessed Trinity took the lead 29-26 heading into a back-and-forth fourth quarter.

Ansley Griffin had a game-high 17 points to lead the Lady Canes. Ari Olotu scored six points. Zoe Casey contributed five and Jamiya Moore had four points for Cartersville.

Christa Lair led Blessed Trinity with 14 points. Julia Geis finished with six point for the Lady Titans.

The loss drops Blessed Trinity to 5-15 overall and 3-6 in region play. The Lady Titans still have a regular season region game remaining Friday night at 8th-ranked Hiram.

Cartersville (6-13, 2-8) opens region tournament play at home Monday night at 7 p.m. against Blessed Trinity.

BLESSED TRINITY 63, CARTERSVILLE BOYS 50

The visiting Titans outscored Cartersville 24-5 in the second quarter Thursday night and held off the Hurricanes in the second half for a 63-50 Region 7-AAAAA win at the Storm Center.

Blessed Trinity led 14-12 after one quarter; 38-17 at halftime; and 53-37 through three quarters.

Jax Bouknight led the scoring for the Titans with 27 points. Ben Hamacher contributed 11 for Blessed Trinity.

Kam Callahan led Cartersville with 17 points. Robert Novak scored eight. Kolbe Benham and Jynerieus Stanley had seven each. Amarai Orr added six points for the Canes.

Blessed Trinity improved to 16-7 on the season and finished 6-4 in region play.

Cartersville (8-11, 3-7) has lost three straight and will open the Region 7-AAAAA tournament Monday night at home as the No. 5-seed.

EXCEL CHRISTIAN BOYS 70, ATLANTA JEWISH ACADEMY 46

The Excel Christian boys defeated Atlanta Jewish Academy Thursday night in non-region action, 70-46, in a game played at the Church at Liberty Square.

Elijah Payne led Excel with 19 points. Rashard Doyal followed with 13. Blake Bailey and Jakaden Barkley scored 12 points each. Kalil Holley and Trippe Anderson added seven points apiece.

LAKEVIEW-FT. OGLETHORPE 73, ADAIRSVILLE BOYS 72

Another fourth quarter rally came up just short for the Tigers Thursday night in a one-point loss at Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe, 73-72.

Adairsville led 27-22 after one quarter, but trailed 48-36 at the intermission. LFO extended their lead to 66-53 heading into the fourth quarter, but the Tigers charged back only to come up one point shy.

Cameron Gregg led LFO with 29 points. Jamichael Davis scored 23 for the Warriors.

T.J. Printup, Jr. scored 39 points for Adairsville. Tucker Deams finished with 20 for the Tigers.

Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe improved to 12-6 on the season and 10-5 in Region 6-AAA.

Adairsville (10-12, 4-11) closes out the regular season at home Friday night against Rockmart.