The Banks County varsity Lady Leopards have competed and won against three tough opponents this week, Oglethorpe 74-25, Fannin 42-38 and Jackson 58-45.
The varsity Lady Leopards have won the last five games and are 7-1 on the season with the only loss coming from the Habersham Central Raiders on the road. The Lady Leopards beat Fannin County for their first regional contest on the road.
"It's the first time we have beaten Fannin and we did it at Fannin,” said head coach Jerry King. “Not only a historical night for us but we did it the hard way, riding over the mountain and in their gym. They are a scrappy bunch and got in our heads late but we were able to hold on for the win. It's great to start the sub region with a win!"
OGLETHORPE
BCHS outscored Oglethorpe 21-6 in the first period. Deasha Beasley put up eight points and two free throws, Ashley Morris put in a three pointer and two free throws, Kaitlyn Duncan scored two baskets and Taylor Kennedy scored a basket.
During second period, the Lady Leopards scored 19 points to Oglethorpe's three points. Madison Franklin scored three baskets and a three point shot for six points total. Sarah O'Kelly scored two points, Kaitlyn Duncan scored two points, Sabrina Porter scored a three pointer and Kennedy a basket with a free throw.
Oglethorpe gained a little ground by scoring 12 points in the third period but the Lady Leopards scored 21 points to keep a 40-point lead. Morgan Cox put in two points, Beasley scored two, Franklin scored a three Haley Warner scored two points, Katlin Parks scored two points, Kennedy scored two points and two free throws, Lauren Carter scored a three pointer and Casey Turner scored a basket for two points.
The Lady Leopards put the game away in the fourth period as the Patriots could not recover from lead the Lady Leopards had gained in the first three periods. Savannah Blalock scored four points, Porter scored two, Morgan Cox scored a basket for two, Warner made a free throw, Carter scored a three pointer and Turner made a free throw to round out the fourth period scoring.
"The younger girls got a great deal of playing time and did a great job of scoring. Every person on the roster scored," said King.
FANNIN COUNTY
The Lady Leopards jumped out ahead of the Fannin County Rebels and never looked back. The first period lead was 13-4. Taylor Kennedy scored 14 points against the Rebels to lead the Lady Leopards to victory.
The second period the teams were close and the Lady Leopards put nine points on the board to keep the lead 22-11. Duncan scored nine points and Beasley scored eight points for the Lady Leopards.
The third period went to the Rebels as they mounted a comeback outscoring BCHS 8-5 in a tough defensive battle. Parks scores four points, Franklin scores three points, Morris scores two points and O'Kelly scores two as the Lady Leopards hold on to a 27-19 lead.
The battle continued into the fourth period where the Lady Leopards scored 15 points and the Rebels scored 18 points. Taylor Kennedy scored two buckets in the late fourth period to help the Lady Leopards hold on and win the game.
JACKSON COUNTY
BCHS traveled to Jefferson to play Jackson County on Saturday. The Lady Leopards came away with a 58-45 win in the contest.
"It's the first time we have swept Jackson and again we did it the hardest way we could,” King said. “We were recovering from a long trip to Fannin, had the cards stacked for a big win hangover, on the road at Jackson and had just played them seven days prior.”
BCHS took a two-point lead at the end of the first period. Scoring efforts by Franklin with a three pointer and a basket, Morris with two free throws, O'Kelly with a basket and Kennedy scoring a basket.
The Lady Leopards put the heat on in the second period and scored 15 points. The Panthers put up nine points and fell back 26-18 by the half. O'Kelly hit three baskets for six points, Beasley contributed two points, Franklin hit a three, Duncan scored two on a basket and Kennedy put in two points to make the 26 the Lady Leopards went in the locker room with.
The Panthers came out in the third period and pushed to within three points of the lead. Duncan scored four points on baskets drawing the foul and making two points on the line for the Lady Leopards. Kennedy hit a three and scored two from the free throw line.
BCHS regrouped and scored 21 points in the fourth period to push past the Panthers for the win.
"Jackson came out fighting and actually tied it up late,” King said. “I saw the mental toughness I have been preaching in the last two minutes when we went on a 7-0 run and hit some key free throws.”
Duncan continued her scoring spree and drew fouls on the way to the basket. She scored eight points from the floor and two from the line. Franklin hit a three and scored two baskets, Beasley scored two points and Kennedy scored four points to seal the win for the Lady Leopards, she also stepped up and drew a charge, the first one taken by any lady leopard this season. Kennedy shot 12 of 17 from the free throw line during the week.
