Leading off the region right
Bulldog boys, girls teams win at home over Cartersville in 5-4A openers
Cedartown’s basketball teams got back to work after the holiday break and busted out with a win for the boys and girls at home as region play got underway.
It gave both teams a big boost heading into what promises to be another busy week ahead, and another showdown with Rockmart coming up on Thursday night.
Here’s a rundown of how the two teams did in their first time back out on the court last week:
Frazier Leads Bulldogs to Win Over Canes
When his team needed him the most, Zah Frazier came through. The senior forward for Cedartown had the game of his life in their region-opening win over Cartersville at home.
For the Bulldogs, the win over the Canes snapped a 6-game losing streak over their region foe that dated back 7 years ago. Coming into Jan. 4, the last time Cedartown’s boys had defeated Cartersville was in 2012.
The Canes led 13-12 after one period before the Bulldogs would battle back to control a 27-24 lead at the half.
Thanks to an impressive 10-point third period by Zah Frazier and multiple three-pointers made by Jeremiah Johnson and Elijah Pace, Cedartown opened a 46-35 lead heading into the final period. In the fourth, Cartersville threatened but it was too little, too late, as the Bulldogs claimed a 62-54 win.
As mentioned earlier, Zah Frazier had his best varsity game in a Bulldogs uniform, scoring 27 points and grabbing 15 rebounds, recording another doubledouble in what has been an unbelievable senior season for the 6’5 forward. Fellow senior Elijah Pace scored 11 points and Jeremiah Johnson recorded 11 points and 7 rebounds.
Jayden Johnson had a great night crashing the boards, tallying 12 rebounds and finishing with 6 points.
Cedartown’s win improved them to 7-5 on the season, but most importantly the win made them 1-0 in region play.
Cedartown girls fend off Cartersville in region-opening victory
The Cedartown Lady Bulldogs opened their region schedule last Friday night with a big 49-36 win over the Cartersville Lady Canes.
For Cedartown, the story of the game was defense.
Despite the offense’s inabilities to score at times, the Lady Bulldogs defenders swarmed to the ball and forced tough shots all night long, assisting in the 13-point victory.
Cartersville trailed 11-6 after the first period and 24-18 at halftime. The Lady Canes were able to create a short-lived comeback in the third before the Lady Bulldogs once again extended their lead to 6, leading 33-27 heading into the final interval.
The Cedartown girls were able to withstand a tough attack from Cartersville in the opening minutes of the fourth period. Initially, the Lady Bulldog offense stalled, but Keke Turner proved to be a catalyst to start the scoring for Cedartown. The sophomore scored a dozen in the fourth, helping put the win on ice, 49-36.
Keke Turner led all scorers with 14 points and 7 rebounds. Her sophomore counterpart, Qiana Watson, added 12 points as well. Additionally, Marycille Brumby scored 8 points, hitting 2 three-pointers and grabbing 7 boards. Kam Frazier scored 5 points, and Tamera Beeman netted 11 rebounds and added 5 points. Ava Allred connected from long-range and Zoe Diamond Paisley made a layup in the win.
The triumph moves Cedartown’s record to 7-3 on the season and 1-0 in region play.
Coming up for Cedartown
The Cedartown teams were on the road after press time on Saturday, facing down the LaGrange Grangers, followed up by a trip to Carrollton on Tuesday and the forthcoming showdown with rival Rockmart on the road as well. They’ll be back home for a Saturday game against Troup County.