TIGER — Class 2A No. 1 Rabun County captured its first Region 8-2A title since 2019 holding off No. 2 Elbert County 47-40 on Friday in the finals at the Rabun County gym.
The Lady Wildcats (20-5) will take the No. 1 seed from 8-2A into next week's state tournament. The Lady Blue Devils (23-4) saw their six-game win streak come to an end and will be the No. 2 seed.
It was a defensive slugfest from the outset as both offenses struggled to find points. Elbert County led just 9-7 after the opening frame. Rabun County rallied to tie the game at 20 by halftime.
It stayed a nip-and-tuck affair until the Lady Wildcats' Gracie Deetz drained a 3-pointer at the buzzer to end the third quarter for a 34-31 lead. Elbert County rallied to tie the game at 38 and then 40 before Rabun County pulled away in the final minutes.
The Lady Wildcats scored the final seven points, including hitting 5-of-6 free throws.
Carley Haban paced Rabun County with 17 points. Lucy Hood added 13 points and Deetz finished with 7 points, all in the second half, for the Lady Wildcats.
Niya Moon led Elbert County with 13 points. Aaniyah Allen had 11 points and Terrace Hester 8 points for the Lady Blue Devils.
RABUN COUNTY BOYS 64,
UNION COUNTY 44
The Rabun County boys snagged their first Region 8-2A title since 2016 with a dominating victory over the rival Panthers on Friday in the finals at the Rabun County gym.
However, the Wildcats (22-5) were locked in a battle early as they led the Panthers (12-13) just 18-14 after the first quarter. But they extended the lead to 32-24 by halftime and outscored Union County 32-20 in the second half to pull away for the big win.
Gus Hood finished with 18 points to lead Rabun County. Clayton Dixon added 15 points and Connor McKay had 12 points for the Wildcats.
Landon Kight led Union County with 15 points. Austin Taylor chipped in 10 points for the Panthers.
BANKS COUNTY GIRLS 49
UNION COUNTY 46
The Lady Leopards (9-17) picked a good time to get their first Region 8-2A win of the season. The win gave Banks County the No. 3 seed in the upcoming Class 2A state tournament. They had gone 0-7 duing the regular season and the first round of the tournament.
Banks County rallied from a 26-23 halftime deficit with a 12-8 third quarter to grab a 35-34 lead and then held on down the stretch.
Union County will be the No. 4 seed.
