Banks County’s Lady Leopards are looking to this week to break out of a four game rut, and pick up their first sub-region win of the season.
After falling last weekend to Fannin County and to Rabun County, the Lady Leopards moved to 7-12 overall standing, 0-5 in the sub-region. With six games left, the team still has opportunity to salvage the season.
Banks County hosted Dawson County Tuesday night. Results were unavailable at press time from Tuesday’s game.
Still ahead this week, the Lady Leopards rematch Rabun (3-1, 18-1) 7 p.m. Friday at the mountain. Rabun defeated Banks last week, 58-27, with a lot of defensive pressure, forcing turnovers and shaking up the Lady Leopards mentally in the opening minutes. With some days to practice for what will likely be the same type of offense from the Wildcats, Banks County will look to correct the areas Rabun County took advantage of last Saturday.
Returning to their home court Jan. 29, the Lady Leopards will honor the seniors prior to the 4 p.m. game against Oglethorpe’s Lady Patriots. Oglethorpe (0-6, 0-15) is a cross-region opponent, not counting towards the sub-region record. Banks County has already met the Lady Patriots once this season, ending with a Lady Leopard 56-16 rout back in December. Banks County could use a repeat of that performance to help put some results in the win column.
Next week, the Lady Leopards face East Hall in the home closer Tuesday, Feb. 1. Tip-off is at 6 p.m. as Banks County looks to make up for an earlier loss to the Vikings.
At Fannin County last Friday, the Banks County Lady Leopards faced the undefeated number five team in the state.
It started as a close game, Banks trailing by four points after the first period, but Fannin County went on a run in the second period, sinking 13 points to the Lady Leopards’ six.
Fannin County shot 45 percent all around, from the outside three point line and from the floor.
“It is difficult to win against a team shooting that well,” said coach Jerry King.
Banks County was hoping to get something going in the second half, but were halted once more by Fannin County. Fannin took the win, 56-23.
For Banks County, Deasha Beasley scored seven followed by Taylor Kennedy, six points; Sarah O’Kelley, two; Katlin Parks, two; Morgan Cox, one; McKenna Rylee, one; and Brandy Daniel, one.
Up next was Rabun County, the undefeated number three team in the state as of Saturday. Banks County was hurt by turnovers and were shook up early as Rabun County pulled ahead 23-13.
In the second period, Rabun County held Banks County to five points while adding 16 points, including several shots from the free-throw line.
Across the second half, the Wildcats continued to find the basket adding 19 points over the Lady Leopards’ nine. Banks County did hold Rabun County to just five points in the final minutes.
Madison Franklin and Terri Cregar led the slim scoring for the Lady Leopards. Franklin putting up eight and Cregar seven. Kennedy contributed five followed by Rylee, four; Beasley two and Laura Rose Pickens two.
