By Kevin Eckleberry

kevin.eckleberry@lagrangenews.com

The Callaway Cavaliers are hoping the new year brings better fortunes.

Callaway finished out 2017 with a 77-59 loss to Hardaway, and it will bring an 0-6 record into today’s Region 5-AA opener against Heard County.

Freshman Demetrius Coleman, part of an inexperienced Callaway lineup, led the Cavaliers with 17 points, while Antinez Blount added 14 points

Senior Kedrick Ramsey, one of the few veteran players for the Cavaliers, added eight points, and freshman Ja’Vontay Boddie scored six points.

Ahman Maddox led Hardaway with 25 points, with 11 of those points coming in the second quarter.

Leading 12-9 after the opening quarter, the Hawks opened things up in the second period and outscored the Cavaliers 24-14 to take a 36-23 lead at the half.

The Cavaliers put together their best stretch of the game early in the second half when they went on an 11-4 run to get within six.

A Coleman three-point play got the Cavaliers within 10.

With Boddie scoring five straight points, the Cavaliers got as close as six midway through the quarter.

The Hawks regained control, and they led 55-45 heading to the fourth quarter.

An Antinez Blount 3-pointer cut the Hawks’ lead to 57-48 with 6:25 to play, but that’s as close as they came.

Hardaway scored 22 points in the fourth quarter to win going away.

Coleman and Blount combined to score all of Callaway’s fourth-quarter points.