Union County boys clinch 12th straight winning season
By TODD FORREST Sentinel Writer

The Union County Panthers (14-7) guaranteed themselves their 12th consecutive winning season with a 94- 61 win over Banks County (8- 9) on Friday. Michael Ross set the boys single game scoring record with 49 points. Blake Gowder scored 12, Austin Collins and Ryan Burks each had 10. The win over Banks County was Union's eighth straight win against the Leopards.

Michael Ross led Union with 17 points in a 67-49 loss to the White County Warriors

9-11). Union County still won the season series with White County, taking two of the three meetings this season. The win for White County was just the second win over Union in the last nine meetings. It was also White's first win over the Panthers in Blairsville since the 1990-91 season.

White led 18-10 after one quarter when Union answered with an 11-3 run to tie the game at 21-21. The game was tied at 26-26 with 1:42 left before halftime but White closed the half with a 7-0 run. The Panthers were only able to score eight points in the third as White stretched it's lead to 10 at 45-35. The Warriors outscored Union 22-14 in the final frame.

Fannin County improved to 20-1 with a 66-45 win over Union County. Ross led Union with 12, Austin Collins had 11, and freshman Seth Merritt finished with 10. Fannin jumped out to a 12-4 lead when Ross hit a three-pointer to get Union within five at 12-7 but that's as close as Union would get because Fannin closed the first quarter with an 11-0 run. Fannin held a 24-9 lead early in quarter number two when Ross, Merritt, and Kolt Owenby scored to get Union within 10 at 26-16. The Rebels put the game away in the third when they outscored Union 27-13. Collins scored nine of Union's 13 third quarter points. Merritt hit two threes in the fourth quarter to lead Union with six points in the quarter.

Union will look to get back on track on Friday at Dawson County and then at Rabun on Saturday. With two wins the Panthers can get back to .500 in the sub-region. The Panthers still have an outside shot at finishing in second in 8AA North but they must win the rest of their games. With two wins this weekend, Union County will be tied for third place in the sub-region. Currently Union is in tied for fourth with Rabun County. Fannin, East Jackson, and Dawson are currently the top three.