HOMER, Ga. — Banks County overcame 11 3-pointers by No. 10 Providence Christian and used a huge second-half rally to pull off an 80-77 upset win on both teams’ Region 8-2A and regular season finales Tuesday night.
The Storm (21-4, 8-2 Region 8-2A) started fast, taking a 22-15 lead after the opening quarter on the strength of four 3-pointers. They led 39-35 at the half.
But the Leopards (17-8, 7-3 Region 8-2A) caught fire in the third quarter. Hunter Youngblood, who would score 18 of his team-high 27 in the second half, drained three 3-pointers to spark a 23-14 run as they grabbed a 58-53 lead.
Youngblood, Mason Adams, and Kolby Watson combined for 19 points in the fourth as Banks County was able to hold off a furious comeback attempt by Providence.
Sam Thacker, who had seven of the Storm’s 11 treys, hit three in the final period and scored 10 of his game-high 30 in the final eight minutes. But Providence could never reclaim the lead.
Adams finished with 20 points, Watson had 13, and Luke Dale 10 for Banks County.
Thomas Malcom had 14 points, and Deion McClain added 10 points for the Storm.
The loss dropped the Storm into a tie for first place with Union County, who beat Fellowship Christian 72-45 on Tuesday. Both Providence Christian and Union County have secured state playoff berths. Banks County has already secured the No. 3 seed.
UNION COUNTY 72,
FELLOWSHIP CHRISTIAN 45
Eli Underwood poured in 19 points and Hayden Hughes 18 to lead the Panthers to a huge Region 8-2A win in both teams’ season finales.
The win moved Union County (17-8, 8-2 Region 8-2A) into tie with Providence Christian (21-4, 8-2 Region 8-2A) for first place. Both teams already have secured state playoff berths, but a coin flip will be held to determine the No. 1 seed in next week’s region tournament.
Union County exploded for 20 second-quarter points behind Underwood and Hughes, who combined for 10 points as the Panthers took a 38-21 lead into the break. Fellowship never recovered.
Maddox Young added 15 points, and Cade Dockery 11 for Union County.
MADISON COUNTY 71,
CHEROKEE BLUFF 66
The Red Raiders outscored Bluff 40-28 in the second and third quarters to build a big lead and held off a furious Bears rally to hold on for the Region 8-4A win in a battle between subregion winners in Danielsville.
Madison County (23-2) led just 19-17 after the first quarter but, after the big run, took a 59-45 lead into the fourth quarter. But the Bears (17-8) stormed back behind Carlos Marlowe and Boston Kersh.
The pair combined for 16 points as they held the Red Raiders to just 12 points over the final 8 minutes to chip away at the lead. But Madison County was able to hang on at the end.
Logan Holmes led Bluff with 18 points. Marlow finished with 16 and Kersh 12 for the Bears.
GAINESVILLE 77,
JACKSON COUNTY 60
The Red Elephants (13-10, 6-5 Region 8-6A) came out strong en route to the 17-point win on the road at Jackson County on Tuesday.
Big Red had 12 players in the scoring column, including three in double figures.
Cade Simmons led Gainesville with 16 points, while Charlie Reisman had 15 and Ellis Pitts with 11.
The Red Elephants were up 20-8 after the first quarter and in charge by halftime, 38-20.
Gainesville remains one game out of the third spot in the region standings with one game remaining. They'll play host to Shiloh on Friday.
NORTH FORSYTH 58,
APALACHEE 58
Cole Kirouac scored 21 points to lead the Raiders past Apalachee on the road Tuesday.
After a cold start in the first quarter, the Raiders led by 10 at the end of the first quarter, 15-5.
The Wildcats, however, outpaced NoFo in the second period, 16-15, to cut the lead to 30-21 by halftime.
North Forsyth outscored Apalachee 28-22 in the second half to get the win.
Kal-El Delgadillo added 13 points, and Brayden Turner had 9.
North has clinched at least the No. 3 seed in next week's Region 8-6A tournament. If Gainesville beats Shiloh on Friday, North Forsyth and Shiloh will be tied for the No. 2 seed, forcing a tiebreaker situation.
