Union girls take down Towns in Hiawassee

From the opening tip Tuesday night in Hiawassee, it was clear that the Union Co. girls basketball team was intent on putting the home team Lady Indians away early. The end result was a 70-34 Lady Panthers win in their first game of the season.

Towns Co. (2-1) was led by 5-foot-10 point guard Kennedi Henson with 11 points.

Union Co. (1-0) had four players in double-digits on the night, even though most of the starters began sitting during the second half.

The difference in the game came in the third quarter, when the Lady Panthers defense held Towns Co. to just one point in the period. Heading into the final quarter, Union Co. held a 33-point lead at 62-29.

Union Co. coach Crystal Beach said she was very happy with how her team performed in her first regular-season outing as the team’s head coach.

“It was a total team offensive and defensive win for us,” Beach said, praising the attention to detail the Lady Panthers showed on each end of the court.

Union Co. sophomore Ava Hunter had a game-high 15 points, with 12 of those coming in the first two quarters.

Senior Andelin Hill was second on the team with 14 points, while freshman Ellie Cook began her high-school basketball career with 12 points.

Senior Kait McCarter added 11 points on the night for the Lady Panthers in the win.

Up next for Union Co. is West Hall from Class AAAA. That game is set to start at 3 p.m., Monday, Nov. 25, and will take place at North Forsyth High in Cumming. The Lady Panthers then visit White County for a 6 p.m. game Tuesday, Nov. 26, in Cleveland.

Towns Co. will visit Andrews (N.C.) beginning at 6:15 p.m., Friday, Nov. 22, before hosting Highlands (N.C.) at 6:30 p.m., Monday, Nov. 25, in Hiawassee.

The Lady Panthers and Lady Indians will face off again Tuesday, Dec. 6. That game is set to begin at 7 p.m. in Blairsville.