Thursday's hoops roundup: Tigers reach Christmas Clash title game
- Staff
- Dec 30, 2022
- 5 min read
The Adairsville Tigers started strong Thursday night in their Christmas Clash semifinal against Murray County but had to hold off a furious charge by the Indians down the stretch for a 51-46 win.
The Tigers led 27-11 at halftime and had built a 21-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, 45-24.
Murray County wasn’t finished, however, and narrowed the margin to just three points late in the fourth quarter before Adairsville sealed the win.
“We started well with some great ball movement and a nice defensive effort,” said Tigers head coach Alex Disbrow following the victory. “We got into foul trouble in the fourth quarter due to some bad decision-making. Give them credit for a nice comeback but Jamarion Pullum made a pair of late free throws to seal a good team win.”
Xavious Nalls and Zach Postell led Adairsville with 15 and 14 points, respectively. Tay Jackson followed with nine. Ben Abernathy finished with six points. Jamarion Pullum chipped in with five and Austin White added two points for the Tigers.
Braxton Vineyard, Landon Bennett, and Avery Jones shared scoring honors for Murray County with nine points each.
Murray County (5-6) will play in the third place game Friday at 5:30 p.m. against Calhoun (5-6).
Adairsville (9-4) advances to the Christmas Clash championship game Friday night at 8:30 p.m. against South Paulding. The Spartans (9-3) beat Calhoun Thursday 63-44 in the other semifinal.
The complete Adairsville Christmas Clash schedule for Friday: 10 a.m. — Girls — Blessed Trinity v. Woodland 11:30 a.m. — Boys — Excel Christian v. Woodland
1 p.m. — Girls — Calhoun v. Adairsville
2:30 p.m. — Boys — Long County v. Chattooga
4 p.m. — Girls 3rd Place — Sonoraville v. Chattooga
5:30 p.m. — Boys 3rd Place — Calhoun v. Murray County
7 p.m. — Girls Championship — North Laurel (KY) v. Murray County
8:30 p.m. — Boys Championship — Adairsville v. South Paulding
In other action Thursday:
CASS GIRLS 64, WALKER VALLEY (TN) 61
The Lady Colonels trailed Walker Valley (Tenn.) 33-26 at halftime and 50-42 heading into the fourth quarter before rallying over the final eight minutes for a 64-61 consolation semifinal win Thursday. The victory came at the Chick-Fil-A Classic at Dalton’s Riverbend Park.
The victory margin could have been greater for Cass. The Lady Colonels made only 11 of 20 free throws in the second half.
Kiana McDaniel finished with a double-double to lead Cass. She finished with 23 points and 11 rebounds.
Mikaela Jackson scored 15 points and grabbed five boards. Nevaeh Woods tossed in 14 points. Olivia Woods contributed 10 and KK Evans added two points for Cass.
Chloe Poe and Emilee Worden scored 11 points each for the Lady Jaguars.
The Lady Colonels (10-2) will play Coahuila Creek Friday at 2:30 p.m. at Riverbend Park in the tournament consolation finals.
ADAIRSVILLE GIRLS 43, WOODLAND 25
The Lady Tigers bounced back from Wednesday night’s loss to North Laurel (KY) and beat Woodland Thursday afternoon 43-25 in a consolation semifinal at the Adairsville Christmas Clash.
Adairsville had nine players in the scoring column in the victory led by Naxyria Roberts with nine points. Analee Morris followed with eight. Darby Adams scored seven. Ziyah Hicks tossed in six points. Aliya McBryde and Zariyah Hicks contributed four each. Megan Gentry and Alyssa Jarrett finished with two points each and Addie Pearson added one for the Lady Tigers.
Kasidee Wall led Woodland with nine points. Megan Schultz scored six. Libby Morgan had four points. Reign West finished with three. Abby George chipped in with two points and Bailee Motes added one for the Lady Cats.
Adairsville (8-3) advances to Friday’s consolation finals and will face Calhoun at 1 p.m.
Woodland (2-11) will play Blessed Trinity Friday at 10 a.m. in another consolation game.
CARTERSVILLE BOYS 74, GILMER 61
The Canes trailed Gilmer 20-16 at the end of the first quarter before taking command in an eventual 74-61 win Thursday afternoon at the Pickens Holiday Classic in Jasper.
Cartersville led 39-33 at halftime and 54-49 after three quarters on their way to a 13-point win.
Romo Pace led the Hurricanes with 23 points. DJ Cain scored 19. Parnel Gamble finished with 13 points. Jamauri Brice chipped in with six. Collin Fletcher posted five points. Tyren Milner tossed in four. Kaden Baldwin and Monte Tolbert added three and one, respectively.
Jackson McVey led Gilmer (8-5) with 18 points.
Cartersville (3-5) returns to Jasper again Friday for a 5:30 p.m. matchup with Sonoraville.
CHATTOOGA 70, WOODLAND BOYS 55
The Wildcats led 18-11 at the end of the opening period but trailed 33-27 by the intermission in a 70-55 loss to Chattooga Thursday afternoon in the consolation bracket of the Adairsville Christmas Clash.
The Indians (7-5) were led by 21 points from Tequanus Gibson and 19 by Dan Meyer.
Brelace Williams scored 27 for the Wildcats. Zyon Heath followed with 12 points. Bryson Van Tonder contributed six points. Parker Collins had four and Amir Heath added one point for Woodland.
The Wildcats (2-11) play Excel Christian Academy Friday at 11:30 a.m. in another consolation game.
NORTH PAULDING 65, CASS BOYS 39
The Colonels, playing without part of their roster involved in football all-star games, lost to North Paulding Thursday, 65-39.
The Chick-Fil-A Classic consolation semifinal was played at Dalton’s Riverbend Park.
Cass led 17-10 after one quarter but fell behind 28-23 by halftime and never recovered.
Ryan Williams led the Wolfpack with 23 points.
“We couldn’t execute on offense,” said Cass head coach Kevin Cunningham. “They were really tough on us the entire second half. We missed a lot of free throws and layups too. You aren’t going to beat many teams doing that.”
Jelani Hames led Cass with 12 points. Jayden Foster scored eight. Tom Brennan followed with seven points. KJ Rogers and Jake Baldwin contributed four each. Isaiah Ford finished with three points and DJ Sams added one in the losing cause.
North Paulding improved to 6-7 on the season.
Cass (5-7) will face Johnson-Gainesville Friday at 1 p.m. in another consolation game at Riverbend Park in Dalton.
LONG COUNTY 78, EXCEL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY BOYS 40
Christian Glenn scored 17 points, Jamal Brimlett finished with 14 and Keshawn Smith added 13 points as the Long County Blue Tide built a 45-22 lead by halftime Thursday and cruised to a 78-40 win over Excel Christian in an Adairsville Christmas Clash consolation semifinal.
Kyron McClendon led ECA with 16 points. Jakaden Barkley scored 10. Jacob Taylor finished with eight points. Kamarion Profit pitched in four and Comari Nettles added two points for the Eagles.
Long County (7-5) will play Chattooga Friday at 2:30 p.m. in the consolation finals.
Excel (5-7) will square off with Woodland Friday morning at 11:30 p.m. in a consolation game.
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