By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

CARTERSVILLE – After winning their first two region games of the season, the LaGrange Grangers met their match on Tuesday.

Facing Cartersville on its home floor, LaGrange kept it close the whole way, only to lose 73-66 in a hard-fought game.

LaGrange (10-6 overall), which had won seven consecutive games overall, fell to 2-1 in Region 5-AAAA.

LaGrange opened its region schedule with wins over Central-Carroll and Cedartown.

“We had a good effort,” LaGrange head coach Mark Veal said of Tuesday’s game. “There were some times where we could have done better, been more aggressive, but hopefully that’ll come. It’s still early in region play, but every game is important.”

Vondez Taylor, who scored 19 points in Saturday’s region win over Cedartown, led the way with 18 points in Tuesday’s game.

Guards Jakobe Jones and DJ Burks added 14 points apiece, and Jordan Ogletree notched 10 points.

The Purple Hurricanes led 18-16 after the first quarter, and they hit a half-court shot at the halftime buzzer to extend their lead to 35-25.

The Grangers trailed 52-44 through three quarters, and they kept it close in the final period before coming up seven points short.

LaGrange will play two more region games before the week is over, beginning with Friday’s home game against rival Troup.

LaGrange finishes the week with Saturday’s game at Sandy Creek, which won the region title last season.