Flowery Branch, Georgia- The Union County Lady Panthers basketball team traveled to Flowery Branch to face the Cherokee Bluff Bears in a non region matchup.

First Quarter

The Bears started the game red hot going up 4-0 right out of the gate. Hunter was fouled on an attempted layup but missed both free throws. Lara Turner stole the ball on the inbound pass and was fouled trying to score. Turner also missed both free throws. The Bears scored 4 more quick points after 2 Lady Panther turnovers to extend their lead to 8-0. Ava Hunter got the Lady Panthers on the board on a fast break layup but the Bears immediately responded with a mid range jumper to put the Bears back up 10-2. Hunter was fouled as she made the layup and made the following free throw to cut the deficit to 5, 10-5. After a Bears turnover, Hunter scored again to cut the deficit to 3, 10-7. The Bears responded after a quick 5-0 run by the Panthers. The Bears led 12-7. After a Panthers turnover, the Bears scored again to extend their lead to 14-7. The Panthers responded as Rebekah Chambers got the rebound and scored as the Bears called timeout leading 14-9. Both teams took turns turning the ball over multiple times. Hunter stopped the scoring drought as she made a nice post move and scored to cut the deficit to 14-11. Turner scored after a Bears turnover to cut the deficit to 1, 14-13. The Bears quickly responded and put their lead back to 3, 16-13. Chambers got fouled and made 1/2 free throws to make the score 16-14. The Panthers trailed 16-14 at the end of the first quarter.

Second Quarter

Sofia McNabb was fouled on the first shot of the quarter and made both free throws to tie the game at 16 and the Panthers took the lead 18-16 after Chambers scored off a Bears turnover. The Bears responded and tied it at 18. Corinne Hill made a nice baseline floater to put the Panthers back up 20-18. Chambers was fouled after attempting a layup after 2 missed layups. Chambers made 1/2 free throws to put the Panthers up 21-18. After another run of turnovers by both teams, Hunter was fouled and made both free throws to extend the lead to 23-18. Arielle McCarter was fouled attempting a fast break layup and made 1/2 free throws to extend the lead to 24-18. Turner stole the ball at half court and scored to extend the lead to 26-18. The Panthers were on a 8-0 run. The Bears ended the 8-0 run with a made layup but still trailed 26-20. Chambers was fouled again and made both free throws to extend the Panther lead to 28-20. After Chambers was called for a blocking foul, the Bears made 1/2 free throws to cut the deficit to 28-21. After a blocked shot by Hill, McCarter made a deep 2 to put the Panthers up 30-21. Hill made a layup after another Bears turnover to extend the lead to 32-21. The Bears made both free throws to cut the Panther lead to 32-23. After a Panthers turnover, the Bears made a 3, missed the following free throw but got the rebound and made the layup to cut the Panther lead to 32-28. Turner made a buzzer beater tap in to end the half with the Panthers in the lead 34-28.

Third Quarter

The Bears got on the board first to begin the half but still trailed the Panthers 34-30. Chambers responded with a layup to extend the Panthers lead back to 6, 36-30. The Panthers stole the ball and Hunter took it all the way to the basket and made the layup to extend the lead to 38-30. The Bears quickly responded with 4 quick points  but still trailed 38-34. Turner responded with a baseline jumper and extended the lead back to 6, 40-34. The Panthers stole the ball and Hunter was fouled on the attempted layup. Hunter made both free throws to extend the lead to 42-34. After a Panthers turnover, the Bears scored to cut the deficit to 42-36. McCarter stole the ball at mid court and got fouled trying to score. McCarter made both free throws to give the Panthers a 44-36 lead. The Bears turned the ball over again and Chambers was fouled on the fast break layup attempt. Chambers made 1/2 free throws to make the score 45-36. The Panthers were on a 11-6 run since the beginning of the quarter. The Bears responded with a 3 pointer to cut the deficit to 45-39 but Hunter responded with a 3 to extend the lead to 48-39. Both teams traded points for a few possessions and the Panthers led 52-44 at the end of the 3rd quarter.

Fourth Quarter

To begin the quarter, Hunter stole the ball and passed it up to Turner who made the layup to extend the lead to 54-44. The Bears responded but still trailed 54-46. Hunter got the rebound and made the layup to extend the Panthers lead to 56-46. Hunter made another layup to extend the lead to 58-46. McCarter scored off of a missed shot by the Bears to extend the lead to 60-46. Turner scored 4 straight points as she made a deep 2 and scored after the Bears missed a layup and Chambers passed it full court to her to extend the lead to 64-46. The Panthers went on a 18-8 run in the 4th quarter and went on to win the game 72-57. The Panthers are 3-1 on the season and will travel back to Cherokee Bluff on Friday to play in the North Georgia High School Basketball Showcase.