Lady Panthers defeat Fannin for second time this season
By TODD FORREST Sentinel Writer

The Union County Lady Panthers improved their record to 6-0 in the sub-region and 17- 4 overall with sub-region wins over Banks County and Fannin County and a non-region win over White County. The Lady Panthers are currently riding a six-game winning streak and can guarantee themselves their first sub-region title and state playoff berth since 2001 with wins at Dawson Co. (9-11 / 2- 5) and Rabun Co. (14-4 / 4-1) this Friday and Saturday.

On Friday Union County defeated Banks County (6-11 0-6) 47-29 for their third consecutive win over Banks. Union County jumped out to a commanding 29-9 lead at halftime. Banks County cut the Lady Panther lead to singledigits before Union pulled away late in the game.

The Lady Panthers knocked off the Class AAA White County Lady Warriors (7-13) for the third time this season on Saturday, by the score of 57-44. Just one week earlier, White County upset the defending AAA state champ East Hall Lady Vikings. Leading the Lady Panthers over White was Candace Williams with 19 points, Sarah Fulghum scored 12 (eight points in the 4th Qtr), and Kayla Gowder had 11. After taking a 16-11 lead after one, White County got within two at halftime 23-21. However the Lady Panthers outscored White 14-10 to take a 37-31 lead into the final frame. Fulghum scored eight fourth quarter points to help Union pull away for a 57-44 win.

The Fannin County Lady Rebels came to Blairsville on Tuesday with first place in 8AA North on the line but the game was somewhat anti-climactic, as Union County dominated Fannin for four quarters, and cruised to a 50-31 victory. After Fannin took a 2-0 lead, Union answered back and would never trail or even allow Fannin to tie for the remainder of the game. Gowder scored the first seven Lady Panther points on her way to a 17 point game. Williams would score 15 in the second half to also finish with 17, Leslie Bittenbinder added 9, and Sarah Fulghum had four points while playing outstanding defense on Fannin's best player. "Sarah played outstanding defense," said Coach West. "We also won the rebound battle which was huge! We were outrebounded against White County."

After taking a 19-8 lead after one, Fannin would never get within seven points of the Lady Panthers. The closest Fannin would get would be a 20-13 Lady Panther lead at halftime. The Lady Panthers began to really put their foot on Fannin's throat early in the third when Union opened the second half on a 7-0 run that was sparked by Gowder and Williams. Union led by as much as 18 during the third period when Williams hit one of two from the stripe to give Union a 33-15 lead with 1:38 remaining in the third.

Fannin managed to get within 13 after three but Union scored the first four points of the fourth quarter to stretch the lead back to 17 with 6:25 to play. The Lady Rebels cut the lead back to 13 one more time at 41-28 with 2:50 left in the game but Union outscored Fannin 9-3 the rest of the way.

This Friday Union County travels to Dawson at 7:00 P.M. looking to complete the season sweep over the Lady Tigers for the second consecutive season. The Lady Panthers could wrap up first place in 8AA North and guarantee themselves a spot in the state tournament with a win at Rabun on Saturday at 6:00 P.M.. Union County will host East Jackson at 6:00 P.M. on Tuesday.