Lady Panthers outlast Lady ‘Cats in Blairsville

Despite cutting the Lady Panthers’ lead to just one point twice in the final 90 seconds Saturday night, Dec. 21, the Gilmer girls basketball team couldn’t overcome a rough shooting night from the free-throw line and fell to Union Co. 54-52 in Blairsville.

While Union Co. (9-1, 3-0 Region 8-2A) had three players score in double figures, it was a pressure defense in the second half that allowed the team to build off a six-point lead at half and take a 39-30 lead into the fourth.

Freshman Ellie Cook led the way for the Lady Panthers with a team-high 14 points, including three made 3-pointers. Senior Andelin Hill scored 12 and sophomore Ava Hunter added 11 for Union Co.

The Lady ‘Cats (8-3, 5-0 Region 6-4A) stormed back in the final frame led by strong guard play and a trapping, full-court defense that forced the home team into multiple turnovers.

Gilmer’s fourth-quarter surge was led by junior Emma Callihan and sophomore Elly Callihan. The pair scored 11 points combined in the period and, along with senior Bailey Teague, anchored a defense that put Gilmer right back in the game mid-way through the period.

Trailing by 10, 42-32, with 6:17 to go, junior Jasmine Staley hit a big 3-pointer from the wing, then follow on the next possession with a driving lay-up to close the gap to five with five minutes left.

Union Co. senior Kait McCarter stopped the run for a moment with a made shot, but a free-throw from Teague and made baskets from both Emma Callihan and Elly Callihan drew the Lady ‘Cats within two, 44-42, with 2:47 to go.

Hunter and Hill hit back-to-back shots for the Lady Panthers during the next 30 seconds to push the lead back to six at 48-42.

A 5-0 run from Gilmer closed the gap to one, 48-47, with 57 seconds to go, before Hill made a pair of free throws for Union Co.

Emma Callihan scored against with 22 seconds left to close back to one point at 50-49, but senior Brooke Dockery made four-straight free throws to put the lead back to five at 55-49.

A late 3-pointer from Teague cut the lead to two, but time ran out for the Lady ‘Cats as Union Co. collected the two-point win.

Teague finished the night with a game-high 15 points for Gilmer, followed by 12 points each from Emma Callihan and Elly Callihan. Despite the strong effort, the Lady ‘Cats just couldn’t overcome going 6-of-21 as a team from the free-throw line.

Gilmer’s next regular-season game is Saturday, Jan. 4, against Fannin Co. at 4 p.m. in Ellijay.

Dockery scored nine points for Union Co., which begins play in the Towns Co. Battle of the States tournament Thursday, Dec. 26, against Walhalla at 1 p.m. in Hiawassee.

The Lady Panthers’ next regular-season game is against Rabun Co. (11-0, 3-0) on Friday, Jan. 3, in Blairsville.

Union Co. and Rabun Co. sit tied atop the Region 8-2A standings.