BLAIRSVILLE, Ga. — It’s been over five decades since the Union County boys basketball team advanced to the semifinals.
The year was 1972 and was part of a four-year span that included two quarterfinals, one semifinal, and one state runner-up in Class B under head coach Earl Odum.
Spin the clock forward 53 years, and the Panthers (25-5) are heading back to the semifinals in Class 2A with a 66-59 win over KIPP Atlanta at home on Wednesday.
It's been a slow build for the Panthers the last three seasons. But the group of seniors are finishing strong.
"The difference (this year) is how connected these guys are on and off of the court right now," Union County coach Corey Garrett said. "They have always been a hard working and playing group and they have always been talented but their connection is on another level."
The Panthers used a swarming defense that held KIPP to 13 first-half points.
[TRI-CITIES KNOCKS OFF HABERSHAM CENTRAL IN CLASS 5A QUARTERFINALS)
Union County’s Houston Henry, Maddox Young and Vince Mareuka combined for 27 of the Panthers 30 first-half points en route to a 30-13 lead at halftime.
The first-half output allowed the Panthers to weather a slow start to the third quarter, as KIPP won the period 14-12, but the Panthers still led 42-27.
The fourth quarter was all Panthers, including a 7-of-8 performance from the foul line — 12-of-15 for the game. Henry was a perfect 4-of-4, leading the Panthers with a game-high 22 points.
Young and Mareuka finished with 15 each. Hayden Hughes had nine, Holden Payne netted three and Kaden Combs chipped in two.
"Our seniors have played a lot of basketball together over the last four years so for them to make this run their (final) year is special," Garrettt said. "This whole group is a special group though. They all deserve this and they will tell you that we are not finished."
The sixth-seeded Panthers will battle No. 2 seed Tattnall County on Friday at Georgia Southwestern University. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
ST. ANDREWS BOYS 45,
LAKEVIEW 43
A rocky start for the Lions (23-7) forced them to play from behind the most of the game, falling to St. Andrews in the GIAA Class 3A semifinals at Columbus State on Wednesday.
St. Andrews jumped out to a 14-6 lead after the first eight minutes and held off Lakeview in the second to lead 19-16 at halftime.
The Lions continue chipping away at the lead, outscoring St. Andrews 19-15 in the third period. However, Lakeview couldn’t push ahead in the final eight minutes. St. Andrews outpaced the Lions 11-8 in the fourth.
Tayden Ware led the Lions with 12 points. Eli Mayfield scored 10 points. Kyari Burch, Jude Ellis and Justyce Sadler each scored 7.
GHSA BOYS BASKETBALL 3rd ROUND PLAYOFF SCOREBOARD, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26
CLASS 5A
Tri-Cities 92, Habersham Central 74
CLASS 3A (PSR RANKINGS)
Monroe-Albany 73, Jefferson 43
CLASS 2A (PSR RANKINGS)
Union County 66, KIPP 59
GIAA CLASS 3A SEMIFINALS
St. Andrews 45, Lakeview 43
