9th ranked Lady Panthers headed to State Playoffs
Wins over E. Jackson and Rabun clinch Sub-Region Title and berth in State
By TODD FORREST Sentinel Writer

The Union County Lady Panthers are Sub-Region Champs and headed to the State Playoffs for the first time since the 2000-01 season. The Lady Panthers were in a must win situation on Tuesday and Friday night and came away with wins both times. On Tuesday, the East Jackson Eagles (7-13) had Union on the ropes for most of the game but the Lady Panthers outscored East Jackson 14-4 in the fourth quarter for a 46-35 win. The Eagles led 12-11 after one and 23-20 at halftime. Gowder and Williams provided all of the Union County offense in the first half, combining for 17 of 20 of Union's points.

Williams' 9 points sparked the Panthers in the 3rd quarter propelling them to a 32-31 lead after three. Sarah Fulghum hit one free-throw and Williams added two from the charity stripe and a lay-up to put Union up 37-31 lead with 5:10 to play. East Jackson answered with four consecutive points to get within two at 37-35 with 3:35 remaining. Williams responded with four straight points, Gowder scored a basket, and Fulghum added another freethrow and Union was in control, 44-35 with 1:34 to play. Gowder added a lay-up in the final seconds to give the Lady Panthers a 46-35 win and the season sweep over East Jackson.

Williams finished with 25 and Gowder scored 16 to combine for 41 of Union's 46 points. Fulghum was the only other Lady Panther to score with five total points.

Williams' 29 points leads Lady Panthers to Senior Night win over Rabun

Junior Candace Williams led Union with 29 points and Senior Kayla Gowder went for 16 points and 10 boards, her fourth double-double in a row. The 60-45 win over Rabun clinched Union's State Playoff berth and Sub-Region Title. "The Rabun game was a must win for us because Rabun held the tie-breaker over us," said Coach West. "I am so proud of these seniors! I wanted very badly for them to go out with a trip to the state tournament."

The win for Union also gave them their first 20 win regular season since the 1993-94 team that went on to win the Region Title. The Panthers season sweep over Rabun County clinched their first sub-region title since 2001. The Lady Panthers finished the season with a 20-5 record and a 9-1 record in the sub-region. The Lady Panthers only loss of the season came last Friday night at Dawson County when the Tigers upset Union County with a 38-35 victory. Union owns wins over the #4 and #9 ranked teams from Class A (Towns & Gordon-Lee) and a 4-1 record over Class AA State Playoff teams from last season (Fannin & Rabun).