Calhoun can’t stay with Rome in 2nd half
Lady Jackets fall after tough final two quarters on road
A week separated their two meetings with the Rome Lady Wolves, and while Calhoun showed progress from the first to the second, they still came up a little short on Wednesday.
The Lady Jackets visited Rome for a tough non-region test just a week after falling to the Lady Wolves in the semifinals of the Rome News-Tribune Christmas Tournament and looked more competitive, but a dominant second half from the home team sent Calhoun to an 85-64 loss.
Calhoun (4-5) remained right in the game in the first half on Wednesday, trailing 22-18 after the first quarter and then rallying to within one at 38-37 as the teams headed into the locker room following the second quarter.
Rome, who won the RN-T Christmas Tournament last Friday, hit their stride in the third quarter, outscoring Calhoun 33-12 in the period to take control of the game and never look back.
The Lady Jackets were led by Erin Davis who had a big night with 18 points in the loss. Ashlyn Brzozoski added 13, and Railey Greeson was the third Calhoun layer in double figures with 10.
Lyndi Rae Davis contributed nine points, and Maggie McBrayer scored seven.
The Lady Wolves had four players in double figures in scoring with Tamiya Griffin leading the charge with a game-high 19. Tarrah Gibson scored 14, and Retavia Floyd and Tayah Gibson each scored 11.
Each team made three 3-pointers apiece, and both struggled from the free throw line, each shooting under 50 percent.
The Lady Jackets will have exactly a week off before getting back on the court on Wednesday when they visit Dalton for another non-region test. They open Region 6-AAA South subregion play next Friday when they make the short trip down 41 to Adairsville for a 7 p.m. game.
In other recent prep basketball action:
Cass boys 65, Calhoun 28
The early-season struggles continued on Wednesday for the Jackets as they had a very tough second half in a loss to Cass in the first round of the Chattooga Christmas Tournament.
Calhoun (1-5) stayed within striking distance through the first two quarters, trailing just 29-20 at the half. But they couldn’t find any consistent rhythm offensively in the final two quarters as they were outscored 19-5 in the third and 17-3 in the fourth as Cass pulled away for the convincing victory.
Gage Maffetone led the Jackets in scoring with eight points as no Calhoun scorer reached double figures. Xaxton Goodson added seven, and Chase Goble and Conner McDonald each scored four.
Calhoun was without starters Davis Allen and Bralin Barton, who were each competing in football all-star games this week.
The Jackets fell into the loser’s bracket at the tournament with the loss and were scheduled to take on Darlington on Thursday. (For details on that game, see Wednesday’s Calhoun Times.) They will be on the road again this coming Wednesday’s when they visit Dalton for a non-region test at 7:30 p.m.
Calhoun will open subregion play next Friday when they visit Adairsville at 8:30 p.m. The Jackets, who have now lost five in a row since winning their season opener, will try to get back on track as they begin their quest for a sixth straight region title.