Defense propels Panthers past Lumpkin 60-47
Union looking for third Tip-Off Tourny title in four years
By TODD FORREST Sentinel Writer

The Union County Panthers (1-0) were ahead by five with 3:30 remaining in the 3rd quarter when the defense sparked a 9-2 Panther run that gave Union a 45-33 lead after three quarters. Then a Cody Adams basket in the fourth quarter put the Panthers ahead 53-39 with 4:55 left in the game put the game out of reach. Union was led by Michael Ross' game high 20 points, ten rebounds, six blocks, five assists, and six steals. Austin Collins scored 13 points and grabbed three boards, Cody Adams had 11 points six rebounds, and eight steals, and Blake Gowder added 9 points and eight rebounds off the bench with six of those points coming in the fourth quarter. The win gives the Panthers two straight wins over Lumpkin and a win in three of the last four meetings. Union has also won 16 of the last 20 meetings with Lumpkin County.

Union jumped on the Indians of Lumpkin County (0- 1) to the tune of an 8-0 lead just over two minutes into the game and held a 10-3 lead with 2:51 left in the quarter. Unfortunately Collins picked up his second foul with 1:32 to play in the opening frame. After Collins went to the bench, Lumpkin would outscore the Panthers 7-3 and get within four at 14-10 after one quarter of play. Ross led Union with six points in the quarter and Adams, Burks, Collins, and Gowder each scoring two points.

Ross hit his first of two three pointers to give the Panthers a 17-12 lead with 6:25 left in the first half. However, Ross would also pick up his second foul and Lumpkin went on a 6-0 run to take their first and only lead of the game at 18-17 at the 2:35 mark of the second quarter. After falling behind, the Panthers closed out the half with a 10-2 run that included Ross hitting a 15-footer at the buzzer that gave Union a 27-20 lead. Despite being plagued by foul trouble and spending some time on the bench, Ross and Collins led Union with five points each in the quarter. Adams added three points to round out the Panthers' second quarter scoring.

The Panthers struck first in the third quarter and took their largest lead at 29-20 but Lumpkin refused to go away. The Indians scored five unanswered to get within four at 29- 25 with 5:46 remaining in the third when Ross scored five straight Panther points, including a three pointer to give the Panthers a 34-29 lead. It was 36-31 at the 3:23 mark when the Panther defense tightened up and sparked a 9-2 run that gave Union a 12-point lead and some breathing room after the Panthers scored five points in less than a minute and four points in less than 30 seconds. Ross' 9 and Adams' 4 points led the Panthers in the third quarter. Collins and McCombs had two points each, and Gowder scored 1 points. The Panthers switching to a full-court press late in third caused the flood gates to open. "We got into foul trouble early and that's why I didn't press in the first half," said Coach Hunter. "I didn't want someone getting a foul sixty feet from the basket. Adams, Beise, and McCombs started making hustle plays and getting steals and that's when we started making our run. When we got aggressive on defense, their offense panicked."

Union maintained it's double digit lead for the entire fourth quarter and had their largest lead of the game when Adams scored with 4:55 remaining to put the Panthers ahead 53-39 and Josh Colwell would hit a late three and Union cruised to it's first victory of the season. Gowder lead Union with 6 fourth quarter points, Collins had four, Colwell scored 3, and Adams added 2. The Panthers extended their Tip-Off Tournament winning streak to four games and win number five would mean three Tip-Off Tournament titles in four years. "I think we are a better defensive team this year than we have been in years past," said Coach Hunter. "When I took over we were way behind on defensive fundamentals. Now I'm spending more time fine tuning than I am teaching. They've got the grasp of it so now we are advancing further along. This team really has to focus on technique and boxing out, since we are not as big."
SCORING SUMMARY
UC 14 - 13 - 18 - 15 - 60
LC 10 - 10 - 13 - 14 - 47
SCORING (2pters-3ptersfree
throws-total points)
Ross 7-2-0-20, Collins 3-1-
4-13, Adams 4-1-0-11, Gowder
4-0-1-9, Colwell 0-1-0-3,
Burks 1-0-0-2, McCombs 0-0-
2-2, , Beise 0-0-0-0, McCarter
0-0-0-0, McConnell 0-0-0-0,
Owenby 0-0-0-0, Gooch - DNP
(Coaches decision), Merritt -
DNP (Coaches decision),
Tanner - DNP (Coaches decision)