Panthers lose battle of cats to Leopards in Blairsville

Trailing by as many as 12 in the first half, the Union Co. boys basketball team closed the gap to one point in the third quarter but couldn’t come all the way back in a 49-39 loss to Banks Co. on Tuesday, Jan. 28, in Blairsville.

After the Panthers (13-10, 8-5 Region 8-AA) started the game on a 6-2 run, the Leopards (20-4, 11-2) responded with a 12-2 run of their own to take an 18-8 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Led by senior Pierson Allison’s 11 points in the period, including three-straight made shots from beyond the arc, the Panthers closed the gap to seven to end the first half, 29-22.

The injury bug bit Union Co. toward the end of the second, as senior Cayden Rich injured his ankle and senior Sawyer Brey left with an apparent neck injury.

While Brey returned to play in the fourth, Rich remained out the remainder of the game.

A 6-1 run to start the third quarter drew the Panthers within one at 31-30, before the teams traded baskets to end the frame with Banks Co. leading 36-32.

Junior Kaston Hemphill scored five straight for the Panthers in the fourth, and sophomore Landon Kight added a basket, but Banks Co. went 6-of-6 from the free-throw line in period on the way to the win.

Allison finished with a team-high 14 points, while Hemphill added seven in the loss.

Senior Kyle Morlock and Kight both finished with four, while seniors Sawyer Drake, Brey, and Rich each scored two.

Sophomore Landon Cox added a made free throw to round out the scoring for Union Co.

Despite the loss, the Panthers will remain the No. 3 seed headed into the Region 8-AA tournament. They will host the first round on Tuesday, Feb. 4.

Union Co. plays the final game of the regular season beginning at 7:30 p.m., Friday, against Oglethorpe Co. (4-19, 1-11) in Lexington.