Dominating defense leads Lady Panthers to playoff win
Lady Panthers, Sports, TeamFYNSports February 14, 2020
Led by a dominating defense, the Union Co. girls basketball team controlled every phase of the game Thursday night, Feb. 13, in a 69-40 win against Therrell in the first round of the Class AA state playoffs in Blairsville.
Freshman Ellie Cook goes up for a shot Thursday, Feb. 13. Cook finished with seven points in the win.
Union Co. (22-6) forced turnovers on the first four Therrell (10-11) possessions while putting together an 8-0 run on offense. They led 16-7 at the end of the first quarter and never looked back.
Sophomore Ava Hunter, who is averaging 16.6 points per game this season, scored 27 in the win, which tied for her second-highest point total in 2019-20.
Despite the entire Union Co. squad having no state playoff experience, head coach Crystal Beach said the Lady Panthers came prepared.
“They were very focused going in,” Beach said. “Emotions and energy levels are always high, but they handled it well and stepped to the floor ready to play Lady Panther basketball.”
Even though Union Co. held visiting Therrell to just seven points in the first quarter, and built a 17-point lead, 36-19, heading into halftime, Beach said the defense still has some work to do.
“There are some things we need to improve a bit (on defense),” Beach said. “The press worked for us, but we need to execute more tightly with some of the things we saw out there. We definitely did what we had to do. Therrell is a great ball-handling team, with several kids who can take it all the way, so for us to put a stop to that shows how strong and capable our defense can be.”
Along with Hunter’s 27 points, senior Kait McCarter scored 12, while dominating on the offensive and defensive glass.
Senior Andelin Hill scored nine points, including knocking down two 3-pointers in the second half to keep the game out of reach for Union Co.
Senior Brooke Dockrey, left, drives into the lane Thursday, Feb. 13, in the first round of the Class AA state playoffs.
Point guard Brooke Dockrey, also a senior, scored eight points, while controlling the game’s tempo and keeping the Lady Panthers in a constant attacking mode on offense.
Those four players – Hunter, McCarter, Hill, and Dockrey – have been the core of success for the Lady Panthers this season, and Beach said she wasn’t surprised they showed up big when it mattered the most.
“That’s what you expect of them in this moment. That’s what we’ve practiced and preached all season, and that’s what you expect: stepping up when it matters most,” Beach said.
Freshman Ellie Cook, who scored the first two points of the game with a layup off the opening tip, finished the night with seven points.
Sophomore Rebekah Chambers scored six points, all in the second half, to round out the scoring for Union Co.
With the win, the Lady Panthers advanced to the second round of the Class AA state playoffs. As the No. 1 seed from Region 8-AA, they will host the winner of Bryan Co. and Butler.
Bryan Co. (22-5) is the second seed from Region 2, while Butler (18-9) is the third seed from Region 4.
Four Lady Panthers named to Region 8-AA All-Region Team
Lady Panthers, TeamFYNSports February 12, 2020
Four members of the Union Co. Lady Panthers basketball squad have been named to the Region 8-AA All-Region Team for the 2019-20 season.
Two of the four, senior Andelin Hill and sophomore Ava Hunter, were named to the All-Region First Team for the Region 8-AA Champion Lady Panthers.
Hill averaged 9 pointers, 5.8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game through the first 26 games of the season for the Lady Panthers (21-6).
Hunter led the team with 16.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game through the team’s first 26 games.
Two of the four players were named All-Region Honorable Mention: senior Brooke Dockrey and senior Kait McCarter.
Dockrey, the team’s point guard, averaged 6.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.2 steals per game through 26 games this season.
McCarter, a starting post player, averaged 5.6 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1 steal per game through 26 games this season.
As the top seed from Region 8-AA, the Lady Panthers are set to host Therrell (10-10), the No. 4 seed from Region 6, at 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 13, in the first round of the Class AA state playoffs in Blairsville.
From left, sophomore Ava Hunter and senior Andelin Hill were named to the Region 8-AA All-Region First Team, while seniors Brooke Dockrey and Kait McCarter were named All-Region Honorable Mention.
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.
Champions! The Lady Panthers win the Region 8-AA title
Lady Panthers, TeamFYNSports February 11, 2020
For the first time since 2009, the Union Co. Lady Panthers are Region 8-AA champions after defeating Banks Co. 37-33 on Monday, Feb. 10, at Rabun Co. High in Tiger.
From left, senior Brooke Dockrey, sophomore Rebekah Chambers, sophomore Ansley Collins, and junior Kyla Locklear celebrate after winning the region title.
The Lady Panthers (21-6) were led in scoring by sophomore Ava Hunter’s 11 points, but the highlight of the game came in the final minute as senior Brooke Dockrey answered the bell on defense and sank 3-of-4 clutch free throws to seal the win for Union Co.
Dockrey came up with two steals in the game’s final minute, got fouled on each, and managed to lock up the win.
Head coach Crystal Beach, in her first season at the helm, said she wasn’t surprised by the standout performance of her senior point guard.
“You expect that of your senior commander on the court,” Beach said. “She went out and led the team with her play.”
Dockrey’s final two made free throws, which sealed the win for Union Co., can be seen below.
Things didn’t look like they would go Union Co.’s way heading into the final quarter.
After scoring a season-low 16 points in the first half, the Lady Panthers trailed by five, 31-26, heading into the fourth.
But then the defense took over.
From left, Banks Co. senior Pollie Simpson, Union Co. sophomore Ava Hunter, junior Kyla Locker, and freshman Ellie Cook, Banks Co. senior Heather Vaughn, and Union Co. senior Brooke Dockrey all take position after a shot.
With senior Andelin Hill running the top of a zone full-court press, the Lady Panthers managed to shake the Lady Leopards (14-15) and hold them to just two points in the final frame.
Hill scored twice, senior Kait McCarter once, and Hunter managed to score her final two points of the game as part of an 8-2 run to start the period.
“We’ve talked all season about focus, about paying attention to the small details, and that’s what you have to do to beat a great program like Banks Co.,” Beach said. “We knew they would go on a run at some point, and they did, but we can’t control that. We can only control ourselves.”
During the fourth-quarter run by the Lady Panthers, Hill managed to use her height and athletic ability to slap several passes back where they came from at the top of the zone press.
Beach said she expected nothing less from another senior leader on the team.
Sophomore Ava Hunter takes a jump shot Monday, Feb. 10. Hunter finished with a team-high 11 points.
“She’s a senior, and they’ve been in tough situations before, so she and the rest of the team didn’t get rattled,” Beach said of Hill and the rest of her champions.
As to what it means to be region champions in her first year as head coach, Beach said, “I’m just so proud of my girls and the way they battled. This has been a special season with the whole community behind us.”
Dockrey, McCarter, and Hill each finished with eight points, while freshman Ellie Cook added a pair of made free throws to round out the scoring for Union Co.
The Lady Panthers will face the No. 4 seed from Region 6-AA, Therrell (10-10), in the first round of the state playoffs.
Beach said she has requested that game by held at 7 p.m., Friday, Feb. 14, but hasn’t received confirmation.
No matter what day or time the game occurs, it will happen in Blairsville. As region champions, they are the No. 1 seed and will host the first round.
The 21 wins by the Lady Panthers this season are the most since the school’s state runner-up team in 2001 managed 23 wins.
Union Co. has never won a state championship in girls basketball.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RCoLIBUWXM
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.
Lady Panthers end drought, punch ticket back to state
Lady Panthers, TeamFYNSports February 5, 2020
The Union Co. Lady Panthers basketball squad is back in the state playoffs.
Freshman Ellie Cook goes up for two of her eight points Tuesday night.
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.”
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.
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!
Ava Hunter is the TeamFYNSports Player of the Week for the Lady Panthers!
Lady Panthers, Player of the Week, TeamFYNSports February 2, 2020
Ava Hunter is the TeamFYNSports Player of the Week for the Union Co. Lady Panthers!
Hunter, a sophomore post player, had a standout performance for Union Co. (18-6, 9-4 Region 8-AA) on Tuesday, Jan. 28, against Banks Co. (11-14, 7-7).
Hunter scored 20 points as the Lady Panther ran away with a 55-47 win in the final game of the regular season in Blairsville. Union Co. will host the second round of the Region 8-AA tournament Tuesday, Feb. 4. They will play the winner of Social Circle/Monticello.
For her efforts, Hunter is the TeamFYNSports Player of the Week for the Lady 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.
Lady Panthers bounce back, earn win against Banks Co.
Lady Panthers, TeamFYNSports January 29, 2020
With seven minutes to go in the first half Tuesday, Jan. 28, senior Brooke Dockrey hit a pair of free throws to give Union Co. a one-point lead and the Lady Panthers never trailed again during a 55-47 region win against Banks Co. in Blairsville.
Sophomore Ava Hunter puts up a shot against Banks Co. Hunter finished with a team-high 20 points in the win.
Senior Brooke Dockrey takes a jumpshot. She finished with four points in the win.
The win put the brakes on a two-game losing streak and got Union Co. back in the win column.
The Lady Panthers (18-6, 9-4 Region 8-AA) were led by sophomore Ava Hunter’s 20 points in the final regular-season home game.
Freshman Ellie Cook had one of her strongest games of the season, finishing with 11 points, including hitting a shot from beyond the arc right after Dockrey’s free throws to give Union Co. a 19-15 advantage on the Lady Leopards (10-14, 6-7).
Cook’s shot was part of a 12-1 run that blew the game open in the second quarter and led to a 26-16 Union Co. advantage at the half.
The third quarter was much the same as Union Co. opened on a 14-7 run before five-straight points from senior Andelin Hill gave the Lady Panthers a 45-23 lead.
Banks Co. managed to close the gap with eight straight points to end the third and start the fourth before senior Kait McCarter’s inside shot managed to stop the run and put the score at 47-31.
After six-straight points from Hunter, the Lady Panthers led 55-41 with 1:40 to go and head coach Crystal Beach sent in her reserve players.
The Lady Leopards continued to press in the fourth, outscoring Union Co. 11-0 during the final 3:48 to close the gap to eight before time expired.
Hill finished the night with 10 points, including two made 3-pointers. McCarter and junior Kyla Locklear each scored five points, and Dockrey finished with four to round out the scoring for Union Co.
The Lady Panthers will play the last game of the regular season Friday, Jan. 31, against Oglethorpe Co. (2-17, 0-12) in Lexington. That game is set to tip-off at 6 p.m.Banks Co.
Despite the loss to Banks Co., the Lady Panthers will remain the No. 3 seed in the Region 8-AA tournament. They will host the first round Tuesday, Feb. 4.
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.
Andelin Hill is the TeamFYNSports Player of the Week for the Lady Panthers!
Lady Panthers, Player of the Week, TeamFYNSports January 26, 2020
Andelin Hill is the TeamFYNSports Player of the Week for the Union Co. Lady Panthers!
Hill, a senior guard, had three standout performances during the last week for No. 7 Union Co. (17-6, 8-4 Region 8-AA).
On Tuesday, Jan. 21, Hill scored six points, all in the first half, as the Lady Panthers dominated Social Circle (6-15, 3-9) by a score of 54-23 in Blairsville.
Against No. 3 Rabun Co. (21-1, 11-1) on Friday, Jan. 24, in Tiger, Hill scored 10 points, including going 5-of-6 from the free-throw line, as Union Co. lost a tough game, 72-39.
Hill finished up the week as the primary catalyst in a furious comeback effort against No. 4 Putnam Co. (20-2, 11-1) on Saturday, Jan. 25, in Blairsville. Trailing by 22 at the half, Hill scored 10 points in the third quarter as the Lady Panthers managed to cut the lead to seven before finally falling 58-47. Hill finished the game with 15 points, including going 4-of-5 from the free-throw line and draining a 3-pointer during the comeback.
For her efforts, Hill is the TeamFYNSports Player of the Week for the Lady Panthers!
No. 7 Union Co. comeback falls short against No. 4 Putnam Co.
Lady Panthers, TeamFYNSports January 26, 2020
Despite a furious second-half comeback effort, the seventh-ranked Union Co. girls basketball team fell 58-47 to No. 4 Putnam Co. on Saturday, Jan. 25, in Blairsville.
After trailing by 22 at the half, the Lady Panthers (17-6, 8-4 Region 8-AA) opened the third quarter on a 12-4 run spurred by eight points from Andelin Hill.
Union Co. managed to close the gap to seven points early in the fourth quarter but was unable to get any closer as Putnam Co. senior Jashanti Simmons scored 10 of her game-high 31 points in the period to help prevent the comeback.
Hill finished with 15 points for the Lady Panthers, including going 4-of-5 from the free-throw line, while sophomore Ava Hunter scored a team-high 16.
Free throws were a problem for the Lady Panthers on Saturday, as they went just 12-of-22 from the line in the 11-point loss.
Freshman Ellie Cook scored eight points, including two made 3-pointers, before fouling out in the fourth, while senior Kait McCarter scored six and fellow senior Brooke Dockrey added two for the Lady Panthers.
The game was tight early as Union Co. ended the first quarter trailing 20-12 to Putnam Co. (20-2, 11-1).
But the Lady War Eagles opened the second quarter on a 15-0 run and held Union Co. to just five points in the frame to take the big lead into halftime and force the Lady Panthers into the comeback effort.
Despite the loss, Union Co. remains in third place in Region 8-AA, three games back of Putnam Co. and Rabun Co., which are both 11-1, and a game up on Banks Co. (6-6).
The Lady Panthers have two games left in the regular season, and both are region games.
Union Co. hosts Banks Co. on Tuesday, Jan. 28 in the last home game of the season, before traveling to take on Oglethorpe Co. (2-17, 0-12) on Friday, Jan. 31.
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).
Lady Wildcats use suffocating defense to defeat Lady Panthers
Lady Panthers, Team FYN Sports January 25, 2020
Using a stifling pressure defense and a hot hand off the bench, the third-ranked Rabun Co. Lady Wildcats took down seventh-ranked Union Co. on Friday, Jan. 24, in Tiger to earn a fourth-straight Region 8-AA win.
From left, Rabun Co. senior Destiny Deetz, Union Co. sophomore Ava Hunter, and Rabun Co. sophomore Loren Stiles battle for a rebound Friday, Jan. 24, in Tiger.
The Lady Wildcats (20-1, 10-1) started the game on a 6-0 run and never trailed the visiting Lady Panthers (17-5, 8-3) in the 72-39 victory.
After missing last season with an ACL injury, sophomore Carley Haban returned in November and has her best game of the season off the bench against Union Co., scoring a game-high 22 points.
But it was the Lady Wildcats defense that stole the show, forcing turnovers early and often.
“Honestly, that’s the best game we’ve played all year, and it was against a really good Union Co. team,” Rabun Co. coach DeeDee Dillard said. “Our defense really provided a lot of opportunities for us tonight.”
The Lady Wildcats normally play a full-court, pressure defense intent on trapping opponents and forcing turnovers, and Dillard said how the defense plays really determines how the offense plays.
“When we play aggressive on defense, we seem to play really aggressive on offense, and that was the case tonight,” Dillard said.”
Rabun Co. sophomore Carley Habanero’s drives into the lane against Union Co. sophomore Ava Hunter, left, and senior Kait McCarter on Friday, Jan. 24, in Tiger. Habanero’s finished with a game-high 22 points off the bench.
As for the Lady Panthers, coach Crystal Beach said the team fell into a pattern of trying to dribble too much to beat the Rabun Co. press.
“We just have to focus on passing more effectively,” Beach said. “We actually managed to break the press several times by passing the ball well, which is how we scored most of our points. But (Rabun Co.) did a really great job putting pressure on us all night and we let that pressure affect us.”
Sophomore Ava Hunter led Union Co. with 14 points, while senior Andelin Hill scored 10 in the loss.
The Lady Panthers won’t have much time to get over the big loss, as they welcome fourth-ranked Putnam Co. (19-2, 10-1) to Blairsville at 3 p.m. today, Jan. 25. In the first meeting between the two teams this season Jan. 18, the Lady War Eagles came away with a 61-45 victory in Eatonton.
Beach said she isn’t worried about the quick turn around after the loss.
From left, Rabun Co. junior Beth Payne, Union Co. senior Andelin Hill, and Rabun Co. senior Hanna Cannon look for a rebound Friday, Jan. 24, in Tiger.
“I’m very lucky in that I have a great group of seniors who are phenomenal young women and leaders, and I have no doubt that they will have the younger players set to come out ready to go,” Beach said.
For Rabun Co., sophomore Gracie Deetz scored 11, and senior Laken Stiles added 10 in the win.
Much like Union Co., the Lady Wildcats won’t have much time to dwell on Friday’s game. They are set to take the drive south and take on region-foe Monticello (3-17, 2-9) at 4 p.m. today, Jan. 25.
In the first meeting between the two this season, Rabun Co. earned a 72-23 victory in Tiger.
The Region 8-AA standings are currently Putnam Co. (10-1), Rabun Co. (10-1), Union Co. (8-3), Elbert Co. (6-5), Banks Co. (5-6), Social Circle (2-8), Monticello (2-9), and Oglethorpe Co. (0-10).
Putnam Co. and Rabun Co. are set to meet in the final game of the regular season Friday, Jan. 31, in Tiger.