After late 3 pointer by Bears, Panthers fall to Cherokee Bluff 75-72

Flowery Branch, Georgia- The Union County Panthers basketball team traveled to Cherokee Bluff high school to take on the Bears in a non region matchup.

First Quarter

The Bears scored the first point of the game after making 1/2 free throws. The Panthers quickly responded as Daniel Snow made an easy layup to give the Panthers a 2-1 lead. The Bears responded with 5 quick points to lead 6-2. Jude Ellis responded with an impressive euro step layup to cut the deficit to 6-4. The Bears made both free throws after a foul by the Panthers to take a 8-4 lead. Following a Panthers turnover, the Bears scored again after being fouled to take a 10-4 lead. The Bears made the following free throw to take an 11-4 lead. Ellis responded with a 3 pointer to cut the deficit to 11-7 but the Bears moved quickly up the court to take a 13-7 lead. Following turnovers by both teams, Ellis scored again as he made another impressive layup to cut the deficit to 13-9. Following a foul by John, the Bears made both free throws to extend their lead to 15-9. The Bears would score again after another Panther turnover and extend their lead to 17-9. Lake Hughes made a 3 pointer to slow down the momentum the Bears had and cut the lead to 17-12. A technical foul was called on one of the Bears players and the Panthers made the free throw to make the score 17-13. The Bears made 1/2 free throws and made the score 18-13. The Panthers were down 18-13 to end the first quarter.

Second Quarter

Houston Henry got the Panthers on the board first in the second quarter after making 1/2 free throws to make the score 18-14. The Bears extended their lead to 23-14 after a 3 pointer and a midrange jumper after a Panther turnover. Eli Underwood was fouled and made both free throws to cut the lead to 23-16. John was fouled and also made both free throws to cut the lead to 23-18. The Bears made 1/2 free throws to extend their lead to 24-18 after another foul was called on John. Ellis was fouled on a fast break and made 1/2 free throws to make the score 24-19. Ellis was fouled again and made both free throws to cut the lead to 24-21. The Bears responded with a 3 pointer to extend their lead to 27-21. Ellis was fouled again and again made both free throws to make the score 27-23. The Bears extended their lead to 29-23 after getting the rebound and making the layup and made a fast break layup after a missed 3 by Hughes to extend their lead to 31-23. Hughes made a 3 to end the run by the Bears to make the score 31-26. After Hughes was fouled, he made both free throws to make the score 31-28. The Panthers trailed 31-28 at halftime.

Third Quarter

The Bears went on a 4-0 run to begin the quarter and led 35-28. Underwood responded with a made layup while being fouled. Underwood made the following free throw to make the score 35-31. Ellis made a very contested layup to make the score 35-33. Hughes was fouled after getting the rebound off of a missed 3 and attempting a layup. Hughes made both free throws to tie the game at 35. After a Panther turnover, the Bears retook the lead 37-35 but Hughes responded with a 3 to give the Panthers a 38-37 lead. Both teams took turns taking the lead as scoring went back and forth. The Bears went on a run but the Panthers responded well. The Bears led 50-44. John scored to cut the lead to 50-46. After making 1/2 free throws the Bears extended their lead to 51-46. John made both free throws to cut the lead to 51-48 but the Bears quickly responded to make it 53-48. John made 1/2 free throws to make the score 53-49 to end the quarter.

Fourth Quarter

The Bears made a layup to get on the board first to lead 55-49. John was fouled and made both free throws to cut the lead to 55-51 but the Bears responded and extended their lead to 57-51. Hughes was fouled on a 3 and made all 3 free throws to make the score 57-54. After a foul, the Bears made both free throws to extend their lead to 59-54. John was fouled and made 1/2 free throws to cut the lead to 59-55. Both teams scored to make the score 61-57. The Bears were fouled on a 3 and made 2/3 free throws to make the score 63-57. The Bears were fouled again and made 1/2 free throws to extend their lead to 64-57. Ellis made a lead to cut the deficit to 64-60 and Braelyn Rader made a 3 to cut the deficit to 64-63. Underwood made a layup and was fouled to give the Panthers a 65-64 lead. Underwood missed the free throw but Rader got the rebound and was fouled. Rader made 1/2 free throws to make the score 66-64. The Bears would tie the game at 66. Rader would make both free throws to give the Panthers a 68-66 lead. Rader would get the steal and make a midrange shot and get fouled to give the Panthers a 70-66 lead. The Bears were fouled twice and made their free throws to cut the lead to 70-69. The Bears would take a lead on a late 3 pointer to make the score 72-70. The Panthers would fail to score and fall to the Bears 72-70. The Panthers fall to 1-2 on the season.