HOMER, Ga. — Union County coach Corey Garrett knew they couldn’t let the plethora of Banks County shooters get going in the two teams' battle for first place in Region 8-2A.
Early on, his worst fears were being realized as the Class 2A 10th-ranked Leopards stormed out to a 24-10 lead after the first quarter. But some defensive adjustments by his ninth-ranked Panthers, and then getting their offense going in the second quarter, turned that huge deficit into an eventual 85-71 win at Kandy Parks Court on Tuesday.
The win for the Panthers (16-3, 3-1 Region 8-2A) moved them within one game of Banks County (14-7, 5-1 Region 8-2A), with the two teams set to meet again next Tuesday in Blairsville. It also snapped the Leopards' eight-game win streak.
“We let them get some good looks, and they jumped on us pretty quick,” Garrett said about the hot Banks County start.”But we went to a zone and a press in the second quarter and that seemed to get our energy up and got us back in the game. This was a huge win for us, especially after we gave away that game against East Jackson.”
Junior Houston Henry scored eight points in a two-minute span to spark a 26-12 run, capped by a 3-pointer from Hayden Huges to tie the game at 36 late in the first half. Banks County took a 38-37 lead into the break and then extended it to 40-37 on a Kolby Watson basket moments into the third.
From there, however, it was all Union County. Freshman Jaxon Totherow and Henry combined for 14 points as the Panthers exploded for a 21-7 run in the third quarter for a 58-47 lead as the Leopards went cold from the field. Caden Watson ended the cold spell for Banks County with a 3-pointer to end the third, and Watson hit a basket to open the fourth as the Leopards got back to 58-52. A Luke Dale trey pulled them within 61-57 with 6:23 left.
But Totherow and Henry ignited a 10-0 run, and Banks County went scoreless for over four minutes in the fourth as Union built a 72-59 lead. The Panthers put the game away hitting 9-of-10 free throws in the final minute.
“We talked coming into this game that if we have an advantage anywhere, it might be inside,” Garrett said. “We didn't play like it early but I thought Jaxson and Hayden did a great job after the first quarter.”
Henry finished with 27 points, and Totherow had 22 to pace Union County. Cade Dockery added 17 points, and Hughes had 13 for the Panthers.
Watson finished with a game-high 28 points to lead Banks County before fouling out. Hunter Youngblood added 14 points, and Aaron Scott had 12 before fouling out as well for the Leopards.
Union County stays on the road traveling to Athens Academy on Friday. Banks County heads to Fellowship Christian on Friday in a pair of crucial region contests.
