HIAWASSEE, Ga. — It's almost an all-North Georgia final in the annual Battle of the States tournament at Towns County High School.
The Rabun boys and girls swept their way into the championship game, and the Union County boys outlasted Murphy, NC, in overtime to advance to the finals. They'll play Franklin, NC.
In the title game for the second straight season, the Rabun girls will play Franklin, NC, in the championship game Friday. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.. Meanwhile, the Rabun boys will battle Union County for the crown at 8:30 p.m.
In Thursday's girls semifinals, Franklin, NC, knocked off Union County 57-43. Tori Ensley led Franklin with 22 points in the victory, and Ariel McCarter led Union with 12 points. Franklin led by 12 after the first quarter and was up 15 at the half. The Lady Panthers couldn't cut Franklin's lead to single digits in the second half.
The Towns County girls closed in on Rabun County by halftime, 34-26, but didn't have enough firepower to get past the Lady Wildcats in a 70-57 loss in the semifinals. Ellie Southards led Rabun County with 20 points, while Lucy Hood had 18, and Mili Watts chipped in 10. For Towns County, Sarah Shook led with 17 points, and Kaleigh Beaver and Brelan Sieveking had 10.
In the boys semifinals, Union County, led by Eli Underwood, rallied to tie the game at 60 in regulation, then outscored Murphy, NC, 9-6 in OT to get the win. The Panthers were down as many as eight points in the second half.
Eli Underwood led Union with 22 points. Murphy's Dillian Brown scored a game-high 29 points in the losing effort. Murphy, NC, will play Towns County for third place Friday at 5:30 p.m.
Rabun County edged Towns County, 62-58, in the other boys semifinals to advance to its second straight title game. The Indians led by five points at the half, but Rabun County rushed ahead of the Indians and led by six at the end of the third quarter.
Zane Floyd led the Indians with 25 points, and Tanner Cunningham pitched in 12. Cooper Welch and Jayton Henry each had 19 to lead Rabun County.
Towns county will face Murphy, NC, for third place on Friday.
