MOULTRIE — Cason Harden scored 25 points to lead the Colquitt County boys basketball team to a 54-45 victory over McIntosh High on Monday in the first game of the Carrollton Holiday Classic in Carrollton.

The victory was the first of the season for the Packers, who opened with five straight losses.

Colquitt played Lithia Springs on Tuesday and came up just short, falling 57-55.

The Packers trailed McIntosh 13-9 after the first quarter on Monday, but led 26-18 at the half and hung on for the victory.

Harden had eight 3-pointers — including four in each half — and first-quarter free throw to account for his strong offensive performance.

Quan Kinsey added seven points; Jakari Byrd had six; Jae Lamar, four; Zay Williams, three; NaRyan Sumlin and Markese Wilson each had two; and Zy Alridge added a free throw.

On Tuesday, Colquitt led Lithia Springs 20-15 at the half, but the Lions from Douglas County exploded for 28 points in the third quarter and held on for the two-point win.

Byrd led the Packers with 14 points and Sumlin had 13.

Lamar had 10 and Alridge added eight.

Harden scored all seven of his points in the fourth quarter, but the Packers rally came up short.

Williams added a basket and Kinsey converted a free throw.

The Colquitt County boys will take a 1-6 record into Vereen Sports Medicine Christmas Shoot-out, which will be held Thursday-Saturday, Dec. 28-30, on the William Bryant Court at the high school.

The Packers will meet Pike High School of Brundidge, Ala., on Thursday; Handley High School of Roanoke, Ala., on Friday; and Early County on Saturday.

All three games are scheduled to tip off at 8:30 p.m.

The Colquitt County girls will take a 6-0 record into their Thursday, Dec. 21, game against 5-3 Macon County in the Girl Power Classic at Lee County High School.

The Lady Packers will play again on Friday against either Dougherty or Veterans.

The Lady Packers are coming off a 63-35 victory over Worth County on Dec. 14.

Colquitt had three girls in double-digits, with Amira Walters-Smith getting 18 and Amareyia Knighton and D’Zeriyah Polite each chipping in 13.

Nyleigha Knighton and Nacardia Robinson each had six; Caylnn Singletary and Jamya Moore each had three; and Ameris Johnson had a free throw.

Polite, Johnson and Nyleigha Knighton each had six rebounds against the Lady Rams.

Walters-Smith leads the Lady Packers in scoring, averaging 15.7 points a game.

Amareyia Knighton averages 11.8.

Johnson leads Colquitt on the boards with 5.8 rebounds a game.

In the Vereen Sports Medicine Christmas Shoot-out, the Lady Packers will face Fitzgerald on Thursday, Ware County on Friday and Thomas County Central on Saturday.

Each game is scheduled begin at 7 p.m.