Union Co. runs away from Putnam Co. to earn Region 8-AA win
TeamFYNSports, Union County Panthers January 26, 2020Led by 21 points from senior Sawyer Drake, the Union Co. boys basketball team won their second-straight Region 8-AA game by taking down Putnam Co. 59-44 on Saturday, Jan. 25, in Blairsville.
While the game was tight in both the first and third quarters, big runs from the Panthers (13-9, 8-4) kept the visit War Eagles at bay.
The game was dominated in the first quarter by Union Co. senior Pierson Allison, who scored eight of his 11 points in the frame as the Panthers took a narrow, 19-17 lead into the second.
In the second quarter, Putnam Co. (6-16, 5-7) had no answer for a smothering Union Co. defense that held the visitors to just six points in the frame.
The Panthers held a 34-23 lead at the break, but the War Eagles came on strong in the third.
Putnam Co. managed to close the gap to just five points with less than two minutes left in the third before Drake took the game over on offense.
The Panthers ended the third quarter on an 8-1 run to take a 44-32 lead into the fourth quarter.
Starting with 1:09 left in the third, Drake went on a personal 11-3 run that spanned into the fourth to push the lead out of reach for Putnam Co.
Senior Kyle Morlock put an exclamation point on the lead with a big, two-handed dunk late in the fourth to put the game away.
Morlock finished with 11 points, as did Allison.
Junior Kaston Hemphill (5), senior Sawyer Brey (4), senior Cadyen Rich (4), sophomore Logan Helcher (2), and senior Bryson Lariscy (1) rounded out the scoring for Union Co.
With the win, Union Co. takes firm control of the third seed in Region 8-AA. The current region rankings are Social Circle (11-1), Banks Co. (8-2), Union Co. (8-4), Rabun Co. (6-6), Putnam Co. (5-7), Elbert Co. (4-7), Monticello (3-9), and Oglethorpe Co. (1-10).
The Panthers play their last regular-season home game Tuesday, Jan. 28, against Banks Co. (17-4, 8-2) at 7:30 p.m., before traveling to take on Oglethorpe Co. (4-18, 1-10) on Friday, Jan. 31, for the last regular-season game, also beginning at 7:30 p.m.
Union Co. lost 79-44 against Banks Co. earlier in the season, Jan. 7, in Homer.
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