Union County boys finish season with 17 wins
Panthers win at least 17 games for the fourth consecutive season
By TODD FORREST Sentinel Writer

Senior Michael Ross scores career points number 996, 997, & 998 on a three-pointer against Polk Co., Tenn.

Second year coach, Tim Hunter and his Union County Panthers Boys basketball team finished the season with a 17- 10 record which marks the 12th winning season in a row for Union's boys. Union County also brought home the White County - United Community Bank Tip-Off Tournament Championship for the second straight year and the third time in four years. They finished in third place in the Battle of the States Christmas Tournament. The Panthers have finished in the top 3 in the Battle of the States for three straight seasons. Union came in second in 2005, first in 2006, and third in 2007. Union also improved their all-time record to 18-9 in the Battle of the States and 8-4 all-time in the White County Tip-Off Tournament.

The Panthers also extended some winning streaks this season. Union extended their winning streak over rival Towns County to 21 games. In the two wins over Towns County, Union outscored them 152-70. In the game at Towns, Senior Cody Adams would score a career high 17 points. Union also extended their winning streaks over Sub-Region opponents Rabun County (18 games) and Banks County (eight games). The Panthers also kept their perfect record intact against Tallulah Falls. Unfortunately, Union's six game winning streak over Fannin County came to an end this season as well as their 11 game winning streak over Lakeview.

Michael Ross and Coach Tim Hunter pose for a picture immediately after Ross scored his 1000th career point.

This was also a record setting year for Senior Michael Ross. Not only did Ross lead the Panthers in scoring for the second time in three years by averaging just under 19 points per game, he scored his 1000th career point against Polk County TN, making him just the second player this decade and the fourth in the past 18 years to accomplish that feat. Ross finished his career with just over 1250 points after scoring 505 points during his senior campaign. Then on January 25th against Banks County, Ross broke Trint Rich's nine year old school record by scoring 49 points in a single game. Rich broke Danny Aaron's school record of 46 points with stood for nearly 30 years when he scored 47 in a home game against Gilmer County in February 1999.

Union began the season with wins over Class AAA Lumpkin County and White County to take the Tip-Off Tournament Title. Michael Ross was named Tournament MVP for the second straight year by scoring 46 points in the two games. Seniors Austin Collins (39 points in two games) and Cody Adams (21 points in two games) were named to the All-Tournament Team.

The first loss of the season was in game number three at Lakeview Academy by the score of 60-59 despite 23 points from Ross and a career-high 16 points from Senior Ryan Burks. Union lost some key players to injury and had three players foul out during that contest. The Panthers responded to their first loss with a nine-game winning streak, including their first Sub- Region victory of the year at Banks County 66-42, and their second win of the season over White County 68-65. Union would enter the Battle of the States with an 11-2 record.

During the Battle of the States Tournament, Union County would be without two senior starters (McCombs and Adams) but were still able to take two out of three games. In game one, Ross led Union with 25 points but it was Junior Brad Beise who would be the hero of the game after scoring the game winning shot on an offensive rebound in the final seconds. Beise's shot gave Union a 60- 59 victory over Weaver AL. The Panthers would drop the second game to Gordon Lee despite Austin Collins' 19 points. Union would rebound with a 94-44 thrashing of Polk County TN in the third and final game. Five Panther players would score in double figures led by Collins' 23 points. Sophomore Blake Gowder scored 16, Freshman Seth Merritt scored a career-high 14 points, Beise also had a careerhigh 10 points, and Ross added 10. Ross' 10th point was also point number 1000 for his career. Ross would go on to be named to the All-Tournament Team for the third year in a row along with Collins.

After a January 5th win at Pickens County, in which Ross scored 20 points, Union had a record of 13-2 and was tied for first in 8AA North. However, Union would fall at Fannin County then drop a heartbreaker at home to Dawson County. After a loss at East Jackson, Union got back on track with a 94-61 win over Banks County, led by Ross' school record 49 points.

Union would drop a road game to Dawson and home games to White and Fannin before sweeping Rabun County, including a 77-56 win over Rabun on Senior Night where Ross would score 25, Collins had 20, and fellow Senior Matthew McCombs scored a career high 10 points.

Last Monday, In the first round of the Region Tournament, Union would knock off Rabun County for the third time by the score of 47- 45. Ross led the Panthers with 24 points. The following night, Union's season would come to an end at the hands of the host team, East Jackson 63-60 in the second round of the Region Tournament. Union led for most of the game and even held a seven-point lead with 7:30 remaining in the game but couldn't hold on. Gowder scored a career-high 18 points to lead Union. Ross would add 15 and Collins chipped in 14.

The Panthers graduate five seniors off this years squad. Seniors Cody Adams, Ryan Burks, Austin Collins, Matthew McCombs, and Michael Ross all started the majority of the games this year when healthy. But don't worry about Union County Boys Basketball next season. The Panthers return a whole lot of young talent that will have another year of experience on their resume. Beise and Josh Colwell will be next year's senior leaders. Gowder, Kolt Owenby, Clay McConnell, Brady McCarter, Caylan Tanner, and Gabe Miller will lead a talented group of Sophomores. Freshman Seth Merritt who saw lots of playing time this past season and was the leading scorer off the bench will be a big-time scoring threat and Freshman Jake Gooch will provide some much needed size and will also have a year of varsity experience under his belt.