Blairsville, Georgia- The Union County Lady Panthers basketball team hosted the Rabun County Lady Wildcats in the first region matchup of the season.

First Quarter

Lara Turner got the Lady Panthers on the board first to begin the game and gave the Panthers a 2-0 lead. The Lady Wildcats responded quickly with a 3 pointer and took a 3-2 lead. Turner took the ball all the way to the basket after the Wildcats attempted a trap on Corinne Hill and picked up a foul. Turner missed both free throws and the Wildcats made another 3 pointer to extend their lead to 6-2. The Panthers quickly broke the press and Rebekah Chambers scored to cut the deficit to 6-4. The Wildcats were fouled and made 1/2 free throws to extend their lead to 7-4. Ava Hunter was fouled on a fast break and made both free throws to cut the deficit to 7-6. Both teams missed 2 quick shots and then the Wildcats scored to extend their lead to 9-6. The Panthers pushed the ball up the court quickly and Hunter scored to cut the deficit to 9-8. The Wildcats also quickly responded and extended their lead to 11-8. Chambers scored after the Panthers broke the press easily and cut the deficit to 11-10 but the Wildcats made a 3 to extend their lead to 14-10. Both teams weren’t playing much defense and were pushing the ball up the court quickly each offensive possession. The Wildcats went on an 18-8 run to extend their lead to 32-18. The Panthers trailed 32-21 to end the very fast paced 1st quarter.

Second Quarter

After a missed shot by the Wildcats, Hunter scored to cut the deficit to 32-23. Following 2 missed free throws by the Wildcats, Sofia McNabb scored to cut the deficit to 32-25. The Wildcats responded and extended their lead to 34-25 and after a turnover by the Panthers they scored again to take a 36-25 lead. Hunter scored to cut the deficit to 36-27. After a blocked shot by Turner, Ariel McCarter scored to cut the deficit to 36-29. The Wildcats responded and extended their lead to 38-29. The Wildcats got fouled and made both of their free throws and extended their lead to 40-29. Hunter scored after McCarter threw the pass the full length of the court. The Panthers cut the deficit to 40-31. After a missed shot by the Wildcats, Hill pushed the ball up quick and assisted to McNabb as she scored to make the score 40-33. Following a turnover by the Wildcats, Hunter scored to cut the deficit to 40-35. Hill stole the ball and scored to cut the deficit to 40-37. The Wildcats ended the Panthers scoring run with a made 3 to extend their lead to 43-37. Hunter scored to cut the deficit to 43-39 and after a missed shot by the Wildcats, Chambers scored to cut the deficit to 43-41. After turnovers by both teams, the Wildcats scored to extend their lead to 45-41. McNabb was fouled and made both free throws to cut the deficit to 45-43 but the Wildcats responded and extended their lead to 47-43. The Wildcats scored to extend their lead to 49-43 but Turner quickly responded and cut the deficit to 49-45. The Panthers trailed 49-45 at halftime.

Third Quarter

Following a turnover by the Panthers, the Wildcats scored to extend their lead to 51-45 to begin the second half. Hunter responded with a 3 pointer to cut the deficit to 51-48 and after a missed shot by the Wildcats, Chambers scored to cut the deficit to 51-50. The Wildcats responded and extended their lead back to 3, 53-50. Following a turnover by the Panthers, the Wildcats scored again to extend their lead to 55-50. The Wildcats turned the ball over and Hunter scored to make the score 55-52. The Wildcats responded with a 3 pointer and extended their lead to 58-52 but Hunter responded and picked up the foul. Hunter made the following free throw and made the score 58-55. After the Wildcats turned the ball over, the Panthers also turned the ball over and the Wildcats scored to extend their lead to 60-55. Both teams turned the ball over and McNabb was fouled. McNabb made both free throws and cut the lead to 60-57. Hill stole the ball and Hunter scored to cut the deficit to 60-59. The Wildcats scored to extend their lead to 62-59 after getting 3 offensive rebounds. The Wildcats made a buzzer beater 3 to end the third quarter and the Panthers trailed 65-59 at the end of the 3rd quarter.

Fourth Quarter

To begin the 4th quarter, the Wildcats picked up a foul and made both free throws to extend their lead to 67-59. Hunter was fouled and made both free throws to cut the deficit to 67-61. McNabb got the rebound after a missed shot by the Wildcats but the ball was stolen and the Wildcats scored to extend their lead to 69-61. After a missed layup, the Wildcats made a 3 to extend their lead to 72-61. McCarter pushed the ball up the court quickly and got fouled. McCarter made 1/2 free throws and after Turner got the rebound, the Wildcats knocked it out of bounds. Turner scored to cut the deficit to 72-64 and Turner stole the ball at half court and scored to cut the deficit to 72-66. After another steal by the Panthers, Hunter scored to cut the deficit to 72-68. The Wildcats responded and extended their lead to 74-68. The Wildcats picked up a foul but missed both free throws. Hunter went down and scored to make the score 74-70 and Hunter stole the ball away on the next possession. Hunter was called for traveling and the Panthers had to start fouling to force the Wildcats to make their free throws and give the Panthers a chance for extra possessions. The Wildcats missed the free throw and Turner scored to cut the deficit to 74-72. The Wildcats were forced to shoot a free throw again and missed the free throw. Hunter was fouled while shooting with 0.4 seconds left. Hunter missed the first free throw and made the second one. The Panthers fall to the Wildcats 74-73.