Fulton Co. Pilots on 7-0 roll

The Fulton County Pilots continued their best start in at least the last 25 years, defeating the South Fulton Red Devils of Dec. 13, the Cairo, Ill. Pilots Dec. 15, and the Caldwell County Tigers to improve their record to 7-0.

With their victory over Caldwell Co., the Pilots advanced to the second round of the St. Mary Christmas Classic, where they were set to face off with the Ballard Memorial Bombers Dec. 19.

FCHS 70, Caldwell Co. 63

In the first round of the St. Mary Christmas Classic, the Pilots and Tigers competed in their first-ever match-up, with the Pilots in control throughout but could never quite get enough of a lead to even feel comfortable. After one quarter of action, the Pilots led 15-12.

They would double their lead in the second quarter by outscoring the Tigers 16-13 in route to a 31-25 halftime lead.

In the third quarter, they would outscore their opponents 16-15 to take a seven point lead into the final quarter.

The two teams battled even in the fourth quarter, each scoring 23 points, with the Pilots picking up their seventh victory on the season.

The Pilots made 23 of their 44 field goal attempts, including 6-of-13 from behind the three-point line, and went 18-of-28 from the free-throw line.

Jayden Smith led the Pilots with 20 points, followed by Pierce with 17, Campbell and Jones 14 each, Christian Smith with three, and Kinney with two.

Pierce had a team-high 13 rebounds, followed by Kinney with eight, Campbell with two and Jadairian Smith with one.

FCHS. 80, Cairo 50

Balanced scoring from the Pilots led to a dominating effort against the Pilots of Cairo, Ill., as four different Pilots scored in double figures.

Jayden Smith led the team with 18, followed by Pierce with 17, Campbell with 15, Jones with 11, Tristan Kinney and Jadairian Smith with seven points each, Christian Smith with three, and Hendrix with two points.

Pierce had a team-high 15 rebounds, followed by Kinney with seven, Jones with five, Jayden Smith and Campbell with three rebounds a piece, Christian Smith with two, and Jadairian Smith and Hendrix with one rebound.

FCHS 66, SF 44

The Pilots jumped out early on the Red Devils, leading 21-10 after the first eight minutes of action. Both teams played even in the second quarter, each scoring 13 points as the Pilots led 34-23 at halftime.

Coming out of the locker room, the Pilots added to their lead, outscoring the Red Devils 18-8 in the third quarter, taking a 52-31 into the fourth quarter.

The Pilots were able to add a point to their lead in the final quarter, outscoring the home team 14-13 in the final eight minutes.

Pierce led the Pilots with 21 points and 16 rebounds, followed by Jadairian Smith with 13 points, Jayden Smith with nine points, Campbell, Jones and Kinney with seven points each, and Hendrix with two points.

Also tallying rebounds for the Pilots were Kinney with five, Jones with three, Campbell with two, Jadairian Smith, Jayden Smith, and Christian Smith with one rebound each.

Red Devil Brady McFarland had 15 points against the Pilots, with two successes from three-point range, three two-point baskets and connecting on three of four trips to the line.

Conner Allen had eight points for South Fulton, and Charles Michael Mulcahy had seven.

Heath Harris and Dane Cirkles had three each, and Logan Cromika, Connor O’Neal, Jackson Barnes and Sam Angelos had two points.