Despite cutting the Lady Panthers’ lead to just one point twice in the final 90 seconds Saturday night, Dec. 21, the Gilmer girls basketball team couldn’t overcome a rough shooting night from the free-throw line and fell to Union Co. 54-52 in Blairsville.

While Union Co. (9-1, 3-0 Region 8-2A) had three players score in double figures, it was a pressure defense in the second half that allowed the team to build off a six-point lead at half and take a 39-30 lead into the fourth.

Freshman Ellie Cook led the way for the Lady Panthers with a team-high 14 points, including three made 3-pointers. Senior Andelin Hill scored 12 and sophomore Ava Hunter added 11 for Union Co.

The Lady ‘Cats (8-3, 5-0 Region 6-4A) stormed back in the final frame led by strong guard play and a trapping, full-court defense that forced the home team into multiple turnovers.

Gilmer’s fourth-quarter surge was led by junior Emma Callihan and sophomore Elly Callihan. The pair scored 11 points combined in the period and, along with senior Bailey Teague, anchored a defense that put Gilmer right back in the game mid-way through the period.

Trailing by 10, 42-32, with 6:17 to go, junior Jasmine Staley hit a big 3-pointer from the wing, then follow on the next possession with a driving lay-up to close the gap to five with five minutes left.

Union Co. senior Kait McCarter stopped the run for a moment with a made shot, but a free-throw from Teague and made baskets from both Emma Callihan and Elly Callihan drew the Lady ‘Cats within two, 44-42, with 2:47 to go.

Hunter and Hill hit back-to-back shots for the Lady Panthers during the next 30 seconds to push the lead back to six at 48-42.

A 5-0 run from Gilmer closed the gap to one, 48-47, with 57 seconds to go, before Hill made a pair of free throws for Union Co.

Emma Callihan scored against with 22 seconds left to close back to one point at 50-49, but senior Brooke Dockery made four-straight free throws to put the lead back to five at 55-49.

A late 3-pointer from Teague cut the lead to two, but time ran out for the Lady ‘Cats as Union Co. collected the two-point win.

Teague finished the night with a game-high 15 points for Gilmer, followed by 12 points each from Emma Callihan and Elly Callihan. Despite the strong effort, the Lady ‘Cats just couldn’t overcome going 6-of-21 as a team from the free-throw line.

Gilmer’s next regular-season game is Saturday, Jan. 4, against Fannin Co. at 4 p.m. in Ellijay.

Dockery scored nine points for Union Co., which begins play in the Towns Co. Battle of the States tournament Thursday, Dec. 26, against Walhalla at 1 p.m. in Hiawassee.

The Lady Panthers’ next regular-season game is against Rabun Co. (11-0, 3-0) on Friday, Jan. 3, in Blairsville.

Union Co. and Rabun Co. sit tied atop the Region 8-2A standings.