HOMER, Ga. — In a showdown of Region 8-2A unbeatens, Addison Hoard made sure it was her fifth-ranked Banks County girls that stayed that way Tuesday night.
The senior guard scored nine straight points in the third quarter to counter a Union County run to help propel the Lady Leopards to a 71-58 win at Kandy Parks Court.
The win was the 10th straight for Banks County (17-4, 6-0 Region 8-2A) and gave the Lady Leopards a two-game lead over the Lady Panthers (10-9, 3-1 Region 8-2A). The two teams will meet again next Tuesday in Blairsville.
“This was a big win for us, but we really try to just take every game as the next one,” Banks County coach Steve Shedd said. “I thought the girls played really well defensively, even after we got in foul trouble.”
Hoard finished with 15 points, mainly from the outside, but two of her baskets in that 9-point spurt came on steals and layups. It was a solid complement of 19 points from center Carley Segars. Hoard’s spurt helped turn a 37-29 lead into a 46-32 advantage.
“Addison is our leader out there, and she can change a game at any time, especially with her defense. She may be the best defensive player I’ve ever coached,” Shedd said.
Banks County needed everything it could get from both Hoard and Segars as Union County senior Ella Akins poured in 19 of her game-high 23 points in the second half.
Akins scored the final 10 points for Union County in the fourth, twice getting the Lady Leopards within 8 points, the last time at 56-38. But they got no closer as Banks County answered with a 7-0 run, capped by a Ryleigh Murphy 3-pointer for a 63-48 lead.
Banks County never trailed and was tied just once, 2-2, in the opening minute of the game. A 3-pointer by Emmie Chitwood gave the Lady Leopards a lead they would never relinquish.
But the Lady Panthers hung tough, especially in the first quarter. Despite a half-dozen turnovers, Union County trailed just 8-7 after a basket by McKenna Hood and then just 11-10 following two free throws from Paula Robertson with just 6 seconds left in the period.
But a 3-pointer at the buzzer by Ella Kate Shedd triggered a 19-5 run for Banks County into the second quarter, also fueled by more than a half-dozen turnovers. Segars's three-point play with 2:33 left in the half gave the Lady Leopards a 30-15 lead.
But Union County fought back to within 31-21 by halftime on a 6-1 run, sparked by a 3-pointer from Robertson.
Robertson finished with 14 points for Union County. Lara Turner added 13 points for the Lady Panthers.
Reese Murphy had 12 points, and Ryleigh Murphy chipped in with 9 points for Banks County.
CHESTATEE 74,
EAST FORSYTH 49
Riley Black had another huge game for the Lady War Eagles, who stayed unbeaten in Region 8-4A North with the win.
Black poured in 21 points, pulled down 13 rebounds, and dished out 5 assists to lead Chestatee (17-4, 8-0 Region 8-4A North) to its eighth straight win.
Caroline Bull had 20 points, including five 3-pointers and 4 assists for the Lady War Eagles. Addison Boyd added 17 points and hit five 3-pointers as well to go with 4 assists.
Nora Swafford paced East Forysth (11-10, 3-5 Region 8-4A North) with 18 points. Ayla Heard had 14 points for the Lady Broncos.
Chestatee next will play host to Madison County on Friday. East Forsyth will play host to Walnut Grove on Friday.
RABUN COUNTY 74,
TALLULAH FALLS 52
Lucy Hood poured in 34 points, dished out 8 assists, and added 5 steals in leading the Class A D1 fourth-ranked Lady Wildcats to a region win on the road Tuesday night.
It was the second straight win for Rabun County (16-5, 3-1 Region 8-A Division 1), which travels to Commerce on Friday for another crucial region tilt. It was the fifth straight loss for Tallulah Falls (6-10, 0-3 Region 8-A Division 1).
Ellie Southards had a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds while also swiping 3 steals. Addy Beth Owens added 8 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists for Rabun County.
BUFORD 72,
MOUNTAIN VIEW 20
Ava Grace Watson scored all 22 of her points in the first quarter to lead the Class 7A third-ranked Lady Wolves to a blowout win in Region 8-7A.
Buford (17-2, 6-0 Region 8-2A) led 32-4 after the first quarter and took a 44-11 into halftime. The Lady Wolves led 58-15 heading into the fourth quarter.
Lydia Ledford added 12 points, and E'miah Fields had 9 for Buford.
LANIER CHRISTIAN 50,
YOUNG AMERICANS CHRISTIAN 36
The Lady Lightning took a GAPPS road region win on Tuesday.
The win improved LCA to 15-7 overall and 5-0 in GAPPS. The Lady Lightning's defense was the difference, forcing multiple YACS turnovers
LCA was led by Emma Flowers with 20 points. Jia Thapar added 19 points. LCA will hit the road again on Thursday, taking on The Kings Academy.
SCOREBOARD FOR Tuesday, Jan. 23
Athens Christian 44, Commerce 39*
Banks County 71, Union County 58*
Buford 72, Mountain View 20*
Cherokee Bluff 55, East Hall 27*
Chestatee 74, East Forsyth 49*
Dawson County 61, Gilmer 38*
Jackson County 45, Apalachee 44*
Lake Oconee 59, Towns County 44*
Lakeview Academy 61, Rabun Gap-Nacoochee 59
Lanier Christian Academy 50, Young Americans Christian 36*
Lumpkin County 69, West Hall 8*
North Forsyth 63, Lanier 18*
North Hall 65, Johnson 15*
Rabun County 74, Tallulah Falls 52*
Wesleyan 80, White County 43*
(* -- denotes region contest)
