Panthers sweep the week, move into third in Region 8-AA

The Union Co. boys basketball team went 3-0 in region games last week to move into third place in Region 8-AA with a chance to move even higher during the coming week.

Senior Sawyer Drake bodies up a Monticello defender Friday, Jan. 17. Morlock scored 10 points in the Panthers’ win.

The Panthers (11-8, 6-3) started the week with a very important win on the road at Elbert Co. (7-13, 4-5) by a 64-52 margin. The Blue Devils currently sit in fourth place in the region.

Senior Sawyer Brey looks for options against Monticello on Friday, Jan. 17. Brey finished with seven points in the win.

Senior Pierson Allison led all scorers with 17 for the Panthers, followed by fellow senior Sawyer Brey with 12, and Sawyer Drake, also a senior, with 11.

Cayden Rich, another senior, scored nine, while junior Kaston Hemphill put up six.

Senior Kyle Morlock chipped in four points, sophomore Landon Kight scored three, and sophomore Landon Cox rounded out the scoring with two.

The Panthers continued their winnings ways Friday, Jan. 17, at home against Monticello (5-14, 3-6). Union Co. fell behind early in the first quarter, 8-2, but put together separate runs of 9-0 and 15-0 to take a 29-17 lead into halftime. The Panthers continued to push in the third quarter to go up by more than 20 before closing the game for a 19-point victory, 67-48.

Drake finished as the game’s high scorer with 19 points, followed by Allison with 12, and Morlock with 10. Brey scored seven, sophomore Lake Hughes added five, Hemphill and Cox each scored four, Kight scored three, Rich put up two, and Lariscy added one in the victory.

Sophomore Landon Cox works on defense against Monticello on Friday. Cox scored four points in Union Co.’s victory.

The Panthers closed the week by putting away Putnam Co. (4-15, 3-6) by eight points, 46-38, on Saturday, Jan. 18, in Eatonton.

Heading into this coming week, Union Co. has a chance to make a big move in the region with three important conference games.

On Tuesday, Jan. 21, the Panthers have a chance to avenge a 45-40 loss to region-leading Social Circle (15-5, 8-1) that occurred on the road Dec. 17. That games is in Blairsville.

Union Co. then travels to Tiger on Friday, Jan. 24, to take on Rabun Co. (6-13, 4-5), which the Panthers defeated Jan. 3, 63-48, in Blairsville.

The team ends the week with a rematch at home against Putnam Co. on Saturday, Jan. 25.

James Wolfe