Union Co. baseball falls to Gilmer in Blairsville
Sports, TeamFYNSports, UCHS Baseball March 12, 2020
The Gilmer baseball team took the lead in the top of the fifth and held on late in a 3-2 win against Union Co. on Wednesday, March 11, in Blairsville.
Gilmer junior Gabe Wolfson smacks a double. Wolfson finished the game 2-for-4 with three RBIs.
The Bobcats (3-10, 0-3 Region 6-4A) were led by Gabe Wolfson at the plate. The junior went 2-for-4 on the day and drove in all three runs for Gilmer.
Five different players had hits for the Panthers (4-8, 1-3 Region 8-AA), with senior Carter Wright and junior JJ Littles driving in a run each.
Gilmer was the first to get on the board, scoring a run in the top of the first inning.
Sophomore Blake Zabala singled to second base to start the inning for the Bobcats. He advanced to second base after a sacrifice from Jess Buckner and then scored on a line-drive double to centerfield from Wolfson to put the score at 1-0.
Union Co. junior shortstop Isaak Mullinack got the Panthers out of the inning with an unassisted double play on a line drive from Gilmer junior Jake Rhodes.
The Panthers tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the second inning.
After back-to-back one-out singles from junior Damien Chitwood and senior Alec Youngblood, Little managed to hit a ground ball to short stop. The Bobcats turned the double play to end the inning, but not before Chitwood crossed home plate to tie the game.
Gilmer took the lead for good in the top of the fifth thanks to another double from Wolfson.
Union Co. senior Carter Wright sets up on defense.
Junior Ashton White drew a walk to start the inning. After an infield pop-out from senior Sam Davis, Zabala followed with the second Gilmer walk of the inning.
A sacrifice from Buckner moved the runners to second and third just in time for Wolfson to step to the plate.
Facing a 1-1 count, Wolfson smacked a line drive into center field, scoring both White and Zabala.
Rhodes drew another walk and sophomore Spencer Merritt reached on an error to give the Bobcats bases loaded with two outs, but Littles managed to get Gilmer senior Tyler Wright to ground out to first base to end the inning.
Trailing 3-1, the Panthers managed to score once in the bottom of the sixth.
Mullinack drew a five-pitch walk to start the inning. He advanced to second base on a wild pitch and then scored on a line-drive single to left field from Wright to put the Panthers within one at 3-2. But that was as close as Union Co. managed to get as the final inning was scoreless from both sides.
Up next for the Panthers is a doubleheader at region foe Monticello beginning at 5 p.m., Friday, March 13.
Gilmer’s next game is also a region contest against Pickens beginning at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 17, in Jasper.
Panthers soccer team earns narrow win against Banks.
Sports, TeamFYNSports, UCHS Soccer March 10, 2020
A single goal from senior David Van Pelt proved to be the difference Monday, March 9, as the Union Co. Panthers soccer team earned a narrow, 1-0, victory against region foe Banks Co. in Blairsville.
Senior David Van Pelt handles the ball in recent action for the Panthers.
The Panthers (6-1, 3-0 Region 8-AA) had multiple opportunities to score early as junior Zach Jackson narrowly missed a pair of shots and sophomore Kyler Robbins missed a long shot and slipped a header just slightly over the crossbar.
Junior Malachi Patrick also narrowly missed a header early for the Panthers.
Union Co. next visits non-region foe Murray Co. at 7 p.m., today, Tuesday, March 10, before taking on region opponent Elbert Co. at 7:30 p.m., Friday, March 13, in Blairsville.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FBBRJTi8I0
Union Co. baseball drops pair to Social Circle
Sports, TeamFYNSports, UCHS Baseball March 10, 2020
The Union Co. baseball team had a tough time Monday, March 9, in a doubleheader against region-foe Social Circle in Blairsville.
The Panthers (4-7, 1-3 Region 8-AA) lost game one 8-2 before dropping the nightcap 10-5 to the Redskins (3-6, 2-2).
Matthew Kelley smacks a ball into the outfield for Union Co.
Social Circle scored early and often against the Panthers in the first baseball game. The Redskins plated five in the first, one in the second, and two in the third and held a 8-0 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth.
Union Co. finally got on the board in the bottom half of the sixth, thanks to a pair of RBIs from Carter Wright and Cayden Rich.
Wright, a senior, put Union Co. on the board with a sacrifice fly to center field with one out that scored fellow senior John Mancuso.
Rich, also a senior, drove in the Panthers’ second run of the day with an 0-1 count and two outs. He smacked a line drive to right field that scored junior Isaak Mullinack, but that was all the damage the Panthers could do in the inning to leave the tally at the final score of 8-2.
Mancuso finished the game 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored, while Rich finished 2-for-3 with an RBI.
Junior Damien Chitwood and senior Alec Youngblood each added a hit in the loss for the Panthers.
John Mancuso sets to swing for the Panthers.
Game two was much the same as the first, as the Redskins scored eight unanswered runs through the first four-and-a-half innings before the Panthers could answer in the bottom of the fifth.
Trialing 8-0, Union Co. managed to cut the lead in half with four runs in the bottom of the frame.
After Youngblood doubled to left field to start the inning, senior Matthew Kelley drew a one-out walk to put two on base.
Mancuso hit a ground ball to third with a full count, and an error by the Social Circle third baseman allowed him to reach and Youngblood to score from second base for the Panthers first run of the game.
After an infield pop-out to second base by Mullinack, Wright singled with a line drive to center field that scored Kelley.
Junior Hunter Loyd smacked a ground ball to third and reached base on an error to give the Panthers bases loaded with two outs.
On the next at-bat, junior Zeke Swartz drove the first baseball he saw into left field. The single scored Mancuso and Wright and cut the lead to 8-4.
Alec Youngblood waits on a pitch for Union Co.
After holding Social Circle scoreless in the top of the sixth, Union Co. managed to score another run in the bottom of the frame thanks to an RBI ground out from Mullinack that scored Kelley with two outs that cut the lead to 8-5.
The Redskins scored twice in the top of the seventh to put them up 10-5 and the Panthers couldn’t rally in the bottom of the inning to end the game.
Wright went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in game two, while Youngblood went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored.
Mullinack added a hit and an RBI, Swartz had a hit and two RBIs, while Chitwood and junior JJ Little each tallied a hit in the loss.
The Panthers are set to take on Gilmer at. 5 p.m. today, Tuesday, March 10, before heading to Monticello for a doubleheader beginning at 5 p.m., Friday, March 13.
The Union Co. boys track team placed second at Murphy
Sports, TeamFYNSports, UCHS Track March 5, 2020
The Union County boys track team placed second in the second meet of the season Wednesday, March 4, at Murphy.
The Panthers scored a team total of 93 points, good enough for second behind Murphy’s 151.5 points, and ahead of Andrews’ 47.5 points and Tri-County Early College’s five points.
In the 400-meter dash, Thomas Mellendorf took first place with a time of 54.2, while Hunter Hartzog was second at 54.5.
In the 300-meter hurdles, Elliot Stepps was first in 46.9 seconds, while Trevor Guild placed second.
Zion Ross took first place in the 200-meter dash with a time of 23.8 seconds.
Ross, Mellendorf, Hartzog, and Jonah Green took the top spot in the 4X400 meter relay with a time of 3 minutes, 46.5 seconds.
The team of Nathan Cobb, Brady Guild, Luke Gambrell, and Guild placed third in the event at 4:03.4.
In the 4X800 meter relay, the team of Gambrell, Mellendorf, Hartzog, and Lawson Harkins placed second with a school-record time of 8:51.5.
Kyle Smith, in the 110-meter hurdles, placed third with a time of 21.3 seconds.
In the 4X200 relay, the team of Sloan Sutton, Stepps, Smith, and Kyle Morlock placed second with a time of 1:39.
Morlock, Sutton, Ross, and Riley Thomas placed third in the 4X100 relay with a time of 47.5 seconds.
Gambrell placed third in the 800-meter with a time of 2:16.4.
In the 3,200, Devin Gasaway with third with a time of 13:31.8.
Morlock also placed second in the discuss with a throw of 104 feet, 8 inches.
In the high jump, Green placed third with a leap of 5-foot-6.
The Panthers will next compete in a meet at Riverside Military Academy beginning at 4:15 p.m., Tuesday, March 10.
Panthers soccer team beats Rabun; moves to 4-1
Sports, TeamFYNSports, UCHS Soccer March 4, 2020
The Union Co. Panthers soccer team earned their fourth win of the young season Tuesday, March 3, with a 3-1 win against region-foe Banks Co. in Blairsville.
The Panthers (4-1, 1-0 Region 8-AA) scored all three of their goals in the first half thanks to the Robbins brothers.
Senior Kobi Robbins scored his ninth goal of the season in just the second minute off an assist from his brother, sophomore Kyler Robbins.
Kyler followed suit a minute later with a goal of his own, his second of the season, before striking again in the 26th minute for his third of 2020.
Rabun Co. finally got on the board with a goal in the 27th minute.
Despite multiple threats from both sides during the remainder of the first and the entirety of the second half, the score stayed at 3-1 for the final 53 minutes of the match.
Sophomore Dalton Allen added an assist for Union Co., which next visits Monticello (3-3-1, 0-0) for another region match beginning at 7:30 p.m., Friday, March 6.
Panthers baseball earns strong win at Commerce
Sports, TeamFYNSports, UCHS Baseball March 4, 2020
A first-inning single to right field from senior Carter Wright drove in fellow senior John Mancuso to give Union Co. a 1-0 lead on the road at Commerce on Tuesday, March 3, and the Panthers never looked back on the way to a 7-3 victory.
Isaak Mullinack smacks the ball into the outfield. The junior went 4-for-4 against Commerce on Tuesday.
In total, the Panthers (4-5, 1-1 Region 8-AA) plated four runs in the first inning, added another in the second, and tacked on two more in the sixth against the Tigers (5-3), who have yet to begin play in Region 8-A this season after reaching the state quarterfinals a year ago.
At the plate, Union Co. was led by junior Isaak Mullinack, who went 4-for-4 with three runs scored and an RBI. Mullinack, who is batting .385, currently leads the team with 10 runs scored and is second in hits, also with 10.
Senior Carter Wright steps into a pitch. Wright drove in three runs Tuesday.
Wright finished the game 2-for-3 with three RBIs, two runs scored, and a double, while junior Damien Chitwood and senior Cayden Rich each went 2-for-4. Chitwood added two RBIs and a run scored in the win. Chitwood is batting .353 and leads the team with eight RBIs this season.
Senior Alec Youngblood added a hit, an RBI, and drew two walks, while Mancuso finished with two runs scored, a stolen base, and two walks. Mancuso is currently batting .423, leads the team in hits with 11, and is third in RBIs with six.
On the mound, Chitwood started the game and threw four innings, surrendering five hits, two earned runs, and two walks, while striking out two.
Mullinack threw two innings of middle relief, giving up one hit and walking one, while striking out three. He leads the team in strikeouts with 17 so far this season.
Rich pitched the seventh, giving up one run and walking three, while striking out three to close the game.
Union Co. next welcomes region-foe Social Circle (1-6, 0-2) to Blairsville for a doubleheader beginning at 5 p.m., Friday, March 6. This is the first time the Panthers and Redskins have played this season. Last season, Union Co. lost both ends of a doubleheader at Social Circle by a combined score of 4-1.
For the Panthers current season statistics, click here.
Union Co. boys track takes first place in first meet of the season
TeamFYNSports, UCHS Track March 2, 2020
With a score of 103, the Union Co. boys track team took first place at the team’s first tri-meet of the season at Gilmer on Thursday, Feb. 27. Gilmer placed second with 51 points, while Southeast Whitfield came in third with 13 points.
For Union Co., Zion Ross took first place in the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.14 seconds, while Sloan Sutton placed second at 12.42, and Noah Underwood placed third at 12.74.
Sloan Sutton competes for Union Co. at Gilmer on Thursday, Feb. 27.
In the 200-meter dash, the Panthers swept the top three spots with Elliott Stepp running a 25.62 for first, Sutton was second at 25.74, and Kyle Smith was third at 25.99.
In the 400-meter, Union Co.’s Thomas Mellendorf was first at 54.91, Gilmer’s Carson Purvis was second at 57.09, and Union Co.’s Jonah Green with third at 57.75.
Hunter Hartzog took first place in the 800-meter for Union Co. with a time of 2 minutes, 6.31 seconds, with Gilmer’s Purvis in second place at 2:08.02, and Union Co. Mellendorf in third at 2:18.80.
In the 1,600-meter, Hartzog placed first for Union Co. with a time of 4:48.58, while Gilmer’s Dylan Byrd was second at 5:18.65 and Nate Mooney was third at 5:24.49.
From left, Sloan Sutton, Zion Ross, and Kyle Morlock all placed for Union Co. on Thursday, Feb. 27.
Gilmer took second and third in the 110-meter hurdles, with AJ Miller in first at 18.68 and Landon Pike in second at 19.38.
Trevor Guild placed first in the 300-meter hurdles for Union CO. with a time of 47.27, while Gilmer’s Landon Pike was second at 47.62.
Union Co.’s Underwood took first in the shot put with a distance of 36 feet, 7.5 inches, while Gilmer’s Logan Ellis was third at 31 feet, 4 inches.
Kyle Morlock took first in the discuss for Union Co. with a throw of 110 feet, 2 inches, while Underwood was second with a distance of 91 feet. Gilmer’s Luke Byrant was third with a distance of 88 feet, 8 inches.
Union Co.’s Jonah Green placed first in the high jump with a leap of 5-feet-4, while Gilmer’s Ayden Fountain was second at 5-feet-2, and Union Co.’s Cale Winkler was third at 5-feet.
Will Kiker won the pole vault for Gilmer at 10-feet-6, while teammate Sebastian Lopez-Garcia was second at 8 feet.
Union Co.’s Ross won the long jump with a distance of 18 feet, 7.75 inches, while teammate Trace Wright was second at 17-feet-5. Gilmer’s Drew Little was third at 16-feet-10.
Union Co.’s Kyle Smith was first in the triple jump with a distance of 40 feet, 1.5 inches. Gilmer placed second and third, with Landon Pike in second at 39 feet, 1.5 inches, and Braden Jenkins in the third at 36 feet.
Union Co. baseball team splits doubleheader with Banks Co.
TeamFYNSports, UCHS Baseball March 2, 2020
After dropping the first game 14-1 on Saturday, Feb. 29, the Union Co. baseball squad rallied to earn a 3-2 win against Banks Co. and split the doubleheader in Blairsville.
Union Co. senior John Mancuso moves on defense in recent action for the Panthers.
The Panthers (3-5, 1-1 Region 8-AA) were led by senior John Mancuso at the plate and junior Isaak Mullinack on the mound in game two.
Mancuso went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a double. The double came with the game tied at two in the bottom of the sixth inning.
With senior Matthew Kelley standing on first base after a line-drive single with two outs, Mancuso hit the first pitch he saw deep into centerfield, driving in Kelley and putting the Panthers into the lead for good.
Union Co. was losing 2-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth. Senior Cayden Rich earned a walk to start the inning before a sacrifice from senior Alec Youngblood pushed Rich to third base.
Rich then scored on a sacrifice to second base by junior Hunter Loyd to tie the game at 2-2 and set up the go-ahead run.
Rich finished with two walks and a run scored, Loyd added the RBI, and Kelley went 2-for-3 with a run scored.
Union Co. junior Isaak Mullinack fires a pitch in recent action for the Panthers.
Mullinack threw four innings on the mound, giving up six hits, one earned run, and striking out two.
Junior Zeke Swartz threw two innings of middle relief for the Panthers, giving up two hits, one run, and striking out one.
Rich got the save, throwing the top of the seventh and surrendering just one hit, while striking out two.
The win was much needed for the Panthers after getting hammered in game one. Banks Co. (6-4, 1-1 Region 8-AA) scored four in the first and never looked back in the route of Union Co.
In that game, senior Carter Wright went 2-for-3 as the only Panthers player with a multi-hit game. Junior Austin Garrison and Youngblood each added a hit, with Youngblood accounting for the team’s only RBI in the game.
Sophomore Thomas Dyer added a run scored and a stolen base in the loss for Union Co.
The Panthers hit the road for their next game, a 6 p.m. visit to Commerce on Tuesday, March 3. Union Co. wraps up the week with a home doubleheader against Social Circle on Friday, March 6, beginning at 5 p.m. in Blairsville.
Panthers see season end in first round of playoffs
Sports, TeamFYNSports, Union County Panthers February 17, 2020
Despite outscoring Douglass in the second half 31-23, the Union Co. Panthers basketball squad couldn’t overcome being outscored 26-3 in the second as they fell, 63-50 in the first round of the Class AA state tournament in Atlanta.
Senior Sawyer Drake drives to the basket in recent action for the Panthers.
Coming in as the No. 3 seed from Region 8-AA, the Panthers (15-12) narrowly missed being either of the top two seeds after falling to Social Circle by just four points, 62-58, in the semifinals of the region tournament. The loss proved important as Douglass (20-8) is one of the stronger two seeds in the tournament. The Astros hail from Region 6-AA.
Senior Kyle Morlock lines up a free throw in recent action for the Panthers.
The game was close early as the Panthers, led by seniors Pierson Allison, Sawyer Drake, Sawyer Brey, Kyle Morlock, and Cayden Rich, managed to keep step with the Astros to trail by just four, 14-10, after the first quarter.
But the second frame was all Astros. Union Co. managed just three points in the period as the home team put up 26 to take a 40-13 lead into halftime.
The Panthers did not go quietly, however. Led by the same superior guard play that led them to a strong showing after starting the season 3-6, Union Co. came storming back to cut the lead to 49-34 at the end of the third by outscoring Douglass 21-9 in the period.
The Panthers managed just cut the lead to 12 at 53-41 with a little less than four minutes to go, but the Astros would not be denied as they closed on a 10-9 run to preserve the first round victory.
While the loss is disappointing for the Panthers, this is the second-straight season the team has reached the state playoffs. This was also the first season with coach Corey Garrett at the helm.
The starting five will be completely different next year as Union Co. loses six seniors to graduation: Allison, Drake, Brey, Morlock, Rich, and Bryson Lariscy.
Union Co. boys defeat Putnam Co. to earn third playoff seed
TeamFYNSports, Union County Panthers February 11, 2020
Led by 22 points from senior Sawyer Drake, the Union Co. boys basketball team defeated Putnam Co. 69-49 in the Region 8-AA third-place game Monday,
Senior Sawyer Drake throws down the dunk Monday, Feb. 10.
Feb. 10, at Rabun Co. High in Tiger.
Senior Sawyer Brey goes up for two of his 11 points Monday, Feb. 10.
With the win, the Panthers (15-11) secured the No. 3 seed in the Class AA state playoffs. They will face the No. 2 seed from Region 6-AA, Douglass, Atlanta (19-8) in the first round.
While Union Co. started Monday’s game against Putnam Co. on a 12-0 run, the War Eagles (9-19) battled back with a 14-5 run of their own to cut the Panthers’ lead to 17-14 at the end of the first.
Union Co. blew the game open in the second, sparked by a dunk from Drake and five made free throw from sophomore Logan Helcher. Drake was fouled on his dunk and made the free throw. The senior hit another shot with 7.2 seconds left in the first half to put Union CO. up 36-27 at the break.
The Panthers got into the bonus early in both halves and ended the night going 27-37 from the free-throw line in the win.
The third quarter was all Union Co. as the Panthers went on a 15-5 run in the frame to put the lead at 51-32.
The fourth quarter was much the same as Drake score seven points before exiting the game with a little less than four minutes left.
Senior Sawyer Brey finished with 11 points, fellow senior Kyle Morlock scored eight, and Pierson Allison, also a senior, scored seven.
Senior Cayden Rich and Helcher scored five each, sophomore Landon Kight scored four, junior Kaston Hemphill added three, and both senior Bryson Lariscy and sophomore Landon Cox added two to round out the scoring for Union Co.
The day and time of the Panthers first-round matchup with Douglass has yet to be determined, but the game will take place in Atlanta.
Panthers earn second-straight state playoff berth
TeamFYNSports, Union County Panthers February 5, 2020
For the second consecutive year and the fifth time in seven years, the Union Co. Panthers are headed to the Class AA state basketball playoffs.
Senior Sawyer Brey goes up for two points Tuesday night.
Sophomore Logan Helcher drives into the lane for the Panthers.
Union Co. (14-10) defeated Elbert Co. (9-18) on Tuesday, Feb. 4, in the quarterfinals of the Region 8-AA tournament in Blairsville, 66-49.
The win earns the third-seeded Panthers a back-to-back visit to the state playoffs and a date with the second seed, Social Circle (19-6), on Thursday, at 5:30 p.m., at Rabun Co. High in Tiger.
While the game was close early, senior Pierson Allison made shot inside with 2:24 left in the first quarter gave the Panthers a 12-11 lead and they never trailed again on the way to the win.
Allison finished with game-high 23 points to lead the way for the Panthers.
While Allison was dominant early, fellow senior Sawyer Drake took over late.
Drake scored 10 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter as the Panthers ran away with the big win.
Union Co. dominated in the paint, with Allison and Drake getting to the glass at will, and senior Kyle Morlock scoring nine points from the post.
After trailing 11-10 with 2:36 left in the first quarter, the Panthers ended the first half on a 23-9 run to take a 33-20 lead into the break.
The Blue Devils never threatened in the second half as Union Co. ran away with the victory.
Sophomore Logan Helcher scored five points, sophomore Landon Kight scored four, senior Sawyer Brey scored three, and junior Kaston Hemphill added two to round out the scoring for the Panthers.
Now Union Co. will play for the opportunity to host a state playoff game.
Union Co. has lost twice this season to Social Circle, but both losses were by a combined 10 points. The Panthers fell 45-40 on Dec. 17 in Social Circle, before losing 54-49 on Jan. 21 in Blairsville.
Pierson Allison is the TeamFYNSports Player of the Week for the Panthers!
Player of the Week, TeamFYNSports, Union County Panthers February 2, 2020
Pierson Allison is the TeamFYNSports Player of the Week for the Union Co. Panthers!
Allison, a 6-foot-2 senior guard, helped lead the comeback for Union Co. (13-10, 8-5 Region 8-AA) against Banks Co. (21-4, 12-2) last week.
Trailing by double-digits in the first half, Allison his three straight 3-pointers to end the first half and bring the Panthers back within seven. Allison finished with 14 points as Union Co. fell, 49-39 in Blairsville on Tuesday, Jan. 28.
Union Co. is the third seed in the Region 8-AA tournament. They will host the winner of Elbert Co./Monticello in the second round Tuesday, Feb. 4, in Blairsville.
For his efforts, Allison is the TeamFYNSports Player of the Week for the Panthers!
Panthers lose battle of cats to Leopards in Blairsville
TeamFYNSports, Union County Panthers January 29, 2020
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.
Senior Pierson Allison goes up a shot Tuesday, Jan. 28, in Blairsville. He finished with a team-high 17 points.
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.
Senior Cayden Rich looks to pass Tuesday, Jan. 28, in Blairsville.
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.
Kyle Morlock is the TeamFYNSports Player of the Week for the Panthers!
Player of the Week, TeamFYNSports, Union County Panthers January 26, 2020
Kyle Morlock is the TeamFYNSports Player of the Week for the Union Co. Panthers!
Morlock, a 6-foot-6 senior forward, had three standout performances on both ends of the floor in Region 8-AA games for Union Co. (13-9, 8-4) during the last week as the Panthers went 2-1.
Morlock started the week with nine points, including going 5-of-6 from the free-throw line, in a tough, 54-49 loss to Social Circle (18-5, 11-1) on Tuesday, Jan. 21, in Blairsville.
On Friday, Jan. 24, in Tiger, Morlock scored 13 points and played stellar defense as the Panthers ran away from Rabun Co. (8-14, 6-6) by a score of 74-47.
Morlock ended the week playing dominating defense and scoring 11 points, including a big dunk in the fourth quarter, as the Panthers took down Putnam Co. (6-16, 5-7) on Saturday, Jan. 25, in Blairsville.
For his efforts, Morlock is the TeamFYNSports Player of the Week for the Panthers!
Union Co. runs away from Putnam Co. to earn Region 8-AA win
TeamFYNSports, Union County Panthers January 26, 2020
Led by 21 points from senior Sawyer Drake, the Union Co. boys basketball team won their second-straight Region 8-AA game by taking down Putnam Co. 59-44 on Saturday, Jan. 25, in Blairsville.
Senior Pierson Allison goes up for two of his 11 points against Putnam Co. on Saturday, Jan. 25, in Blairsville.
While the game was tight in both the first and third quarters, big runs from the Panthers (13-9, 8-4) kept the visit War Eagles at bay.
The game was dominated in the first quarter by Union Co. senior Pierson Allison, who scored eight of his 11 points in the frame as the Panthers took a narrow, 19-17 lead into the second.
In the second quarter, Putnam Co. (6-16, 5-7) had no answer for a smothering Union Co. defense that held the visitors to just six points in the frame.
Senior Kyle Morlock shoots a jumpsuit against Putnam Co. on Saturday, Jan. 25, in Blairsville. Morlock finished with 11 points in the win.
The Panthers held a 34-23 lead at the break, but the War Eagles came on strong in the third.
Putnam Co. managed to close the gap to just five points with less than two minutes left in the third before Drake took the game over on offense.
The Panthers ended the third quarter on an 8-1 run to take a 44-32 lead into the fourth quarter.
Starting with 1:09 left in the third, Drake went on a personal 11-3 run that spanned into the fourth to push the lead out of reach for Putnam Co.
Senior Kyle Morlock put an exclamation point on the lead with a big, two-handed dunk late in the fourth to put the game away.
Morlock finished with 11 points, as did Allison.
Senior Sawyer Drake sets on defense against Putnam Co. on Saturday, Jan. 25, in Blairsville. Drake finished with a game-high 21 points.
Junior Kaston Hemphill (5), senior Sawyer Brey (4), senior Cadyen Rich (4), sophomore Logan Helcher (2), and senior Bryson Lariscy (1) rounded out the scoring for Union Co.
With the win, Union Co. takes firm control of the third seed in Region 8-AA. The current region rankings are Social Circle (11-1), Banks Co. (8-2), Union Co. (8-4), Rabun Co. (6-6), Putnam Co. (5-7), Elbert Co. (4-7), Monticello (3-9), and Oglethorpe Co. (1-10).
The Panthers play their last regular-season home game Tuesday, Jan. 28, against Banks Co. (17-4, 8-2) at 7:30 p.m., before traveling to take on Oglethorpe Co. (4-18, 1-10) on Friday, Jan. 31, for the last regular-season game, also beginning at 7:30 p.m.
Union Co. lost 79-44 against Banks Co. earlier in the season, Jan. 7, in Homer.
Panthers earn big win against Wildcats in Tiger
TeamFYNSports, Union County Panthers January 25, 2020
After leading by just one point at the end of the first quarter, the Union Co. Panthers blew open the game in the second quarter, outscoring Rabun Co. 22-7 in the period on the way to a 74-47 Region 8-AA victory Friday, Jan. 24, in Tiger.
Union Co. senior Kyle Morlock goes up for a shot against Rabun Co. senior Sam Adams on Friday, Jan. 24, in Tiger.
Seniors Sawyer Drake and Pierson Allison each had a game-high 17 points with neither playing in the fourth quarter for Union Co. (12-9, 7-4).
From left, Rabun Co. senior Phillip Roberson, Union Co. senior Sawyer Drake, and Rabun Co. senior Sam Adams battle for position Friday, Jan. 24, in Tiger.
Rabun Co. (7-14, 5-6) was led by sophomore Connor McKay’s 16 points. He was the only player in double figures for the Wildcats.
The game was close early as the home crowd helped fuel Rabun Co.’s energy to keep pace with the high-scoring Panthers. The Wildcats trailed by just one point, 18-17, at the end of the period.
That was as close as Rabun Co. would get as the Panthers exploded for 22 points in the second quarter while holding the Wildcats to just seven.
Allison led the way in the second for Union Co. with eight points, while Drake scored seven, and junior Kaston Hemphill added five. Hemphill finished with seven points on the night.
Coming out of halftime, the Panthers held a commanding 40-24 lead before senior Kyle Morlock look over in the paint.
Morlock scored eight of his 13 points in the third and the Panthers began to truly pull away and take a 57-36 lead into the fourth.
Rabun Co. sophomore Connor McKay goes up against Union Co. junior Kaston Hemphill on Friday, Jan. 24, in Tiger.
The big lead allowed Union Co. head coach Corey Garrett to rest several of his starters and give his bench players a lot of floor experience.
Rabun Co. senior Sam Adams goes up for a shot as Union Co. senior Sawyer Brey tries for the block Friday, Jan. 24, in Tiger.
Sophomore Landon Kight (5), senior Sawyer Brey (4), senior Bryson Lariscy (3), sophomore Austin Taylor (3), sophomore Logan Helcher (2), sophomore Daniel Snow (2), and sophomore Landon Cox (1) rounded out the scoring for Union Co.
The Panthers won’t have much time to celebrate the win, however. They are set to take on Putnam Co. (6-15, 5-6) at 4:30 p.m. today, Jan. 25, in an important region game.
For the Wildcats, sophomore Clayton Dixon scored eight, while senior Phillip Roberson, junior Nick Bradley, and sophomore Grayson Carver each scored five. Sophomore Gus Hood and freshman Jayton Henry both scored three for Rabun Co.
The Wildcats will need to move on from the loss quickly as they visit Monticello (5-17, 3-8) at 5:30 p.m. today, Jan. 25.
The Region 8-AA standing are Social Circle (10-1), Banks Co. (8-2), Union Co. (7-4), Rabun Co. (5-6), Putnam Co. (5-6), Elbert Co. (4-6), Monticello (3-8), and Oglethorpe Co. (1-10).