Lady Panthers end drought, punch ticket back to state

Lady Panthers, TeamFYNSports
Lady Panthers

The Union Co. Lady Panthers basketball squad is back in the state playoffs.

Lady Panthers Ellie Cook

Freshman Ellie Cook goes up for two of her eight points Tuesday night.

Lady Panthers

Sophomore Riley Allison goes up for two Tuesday night in Blairsville.

After reaching the playoffs for six straight years, the Lady Panthers last saw state competition in the second round of the 2016 postseason.

That all changed last night, Tuesday, Feb. 4, as Union Co. (19-6) defeated Social Circle (3-12), 55-23, in the quarterfinals of the Region 8-AA region tournament in Blairsville.

“Obviously, it’s a huge accomplishment,” head coach Crystal Beach said of getting the team back to the state playoffs in her first year at helm of the program. “I’ve always said, teams dream of the opportunity to play for a state title, and I’m just so proud of the hard work, day-in and day-out, that these young women have poured into this program.”

The third-seeded Lady Panthers started the game on a 13-0 run and never trailed in a victory that was dominated by their overpowering full-court defense.

The Lady Panthers will now face second-seeded Putnam Co. (21-3) on Thursday, at 4 p.m., at Rabun Co. High in Tiger.

The Lady War Eagles, currently ranked fourth in Class AA, defeated Union Co. twice this season. On Jan. 18 in Eatonton, Putnam Co. won 61-45. In Blairsville on Jan. 25, Union Co. fell 58-47.

Beach said her squad must play a complete game to take down Putnam Co. and earn a home playoff game.

“They are a tough squad, and we have to play a solid four quarters,” Beach said. “I know that we are capable of beating them, but we have to be dependable for four quarters to do that.”

Lady Panthers

Senior Brooke Dockrey scored two of her 10 points Tuesday night in Blairsville.

The defense of Union Co. was the story of the game Tuesday in the quarterfinals.

The Lady Panthers held the Lady Redskins scoreless until less than 18 seconds remained in the first quarter when Social Circle finally got on the board with a pair of free throws.

That period ended with a 15-2 Union Co. advantage, and the home team continued to press. The Lady Panthers took a 41-6 lead into halftime and never looked back in the win.

Sophomore Ava Hunter scored a team-high 11 points.

Seniors Andelin Hill and Brooke Dockrey each scored 10. Freshman Ellie Cook scored eight, sophomore Riley Allison scored five, and sophomore Rebekah Chambers scored four.

Senior Kait McCarter scored three, and junior Kyla Locklear and freshman Corinne Hill each added two to round out the scoring for the Lady Panthers.

Hunter, Hill, Dockrey, Cook, and McCarter, the team’s starters, did not play in the fourth. Nor did Allison, who has played herself into being the first player off the bench for the Lady Panthers late in the season.

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