Considering the Kell High boys basketball team is 8-0 in Region 7-AAAAA and in first place, Cass’ 50-45 road loss to the Longhorns Tuesday night would seem to be a solid result.

However, Cass head coach Sean Glaze said his team missed several close-range shots late that could have helped the Colonels pull off the upset.

It was nearly an impressive comeback as it was, with Cass trailing 18-6 after one quarter against the top team in the region. The Colonels were able to outscore Kell 16-9 in the second quarter to get back in the game and trailed by eight points after the third quarter.

Jacquez Fountain paced the Colonels with 22 points and 18 rebounds. No other Cass player reached double figures, but Ethan Carter did hit two 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and finished with nine points for the game.

With the loss, Cass is now 8-9 overall and 3-5 in region play, putting the team in sixth in the standings. Cass will have a chance to make up ground when it faces third-place Paulding County at home on Friday.

Gordon Lee 51, Excel boys 23

The Excel Christian Academy boys basketball team held tight with Gordon Lee for a half, but the Eagles went through a scoring drought over the final two quarters to eventually fall by a final score of 51-23 on the road Tuesday.

Gordon Lee only led 16-15 after two periods of play. However, the Eagles scored just six points in the third quarter and were held without a field goal in a two-point fourth.

Gordon Lee, meanwhile, scored 15 points in the third quarter and 20 in the fourth to remove any doubt over the outcome of the game.

The Eagles were led by Evan Lee’s three 3-pointers in the first quarter to hold a 9-8 lead after one period. Lee hit another 3 in the second quarter, accounting for his team-high 12 points for the game, but it was Gordon Lee’s 3-point shooting that did in Excel. Gordon Lee hit five 3s in the second half, while Lee was the only Excel player to hit one in the game.

The Eagles also only shot four free throws in the game. Excel’s Josiah Mosley made two of those free throws and scored eight points in the second half and in the game, accounting for all of his team’s scoring in the half.

Excel, now 3-11 overall and 0-6 in region play, will next take on Mount Zion at home Friday.

East Paulding 65, Woodland boys 63

Just a couple of games removed from upsetting second-place Carrollton last week, the Woodland High boys basketball team nearly pulled off another upset Tuesday night at East Paulding.

Instead, the Wildcats settled for a 65-63 loss when a fourth-quarter comeback fell short.

Woodland entered the final period trailing 48-42, but scored 21 points in the fourth to narrow the deficit late. The rally would come up short, however, as East Paulding made 12 of its 15 free throw attempts in the fourth quarter to hold off the Wildcats. East Paulding was 0 for 5 from the free throw line through the first three quarters.

Jaylen Ballard scored seven points in the fourth, while Hunter Johnson made two 3-pointers in the period and Dawson Wilkins scored four of his team-high 18. Ballard finished with 14 points and Johnson 13.

The game was close throughout, with East Paulding taking a 19-13 lead after one period of play, but Woodland narrowing that advantage to 29-28 at halftime.

Woodland is now 4-12 overall and 1-7 in region play and will next take on Rome Friday at home.