Banks County High School’s men team are giving a pause to their opponents.
The Leopards picked up a tournament win last weekend, followed by an exciting game on Tuesday.
The next challenger will be Stephens County in the first round of the Piedmont College Christmas Tournament.
Banks heads to Demorest on Friday for the tournament starting at 3 p.m. with the Lady Leopards’ game with the boys game to follow. Habersham County and White County will also compete in the tourney.
Prince Avenue
In the first round of last week’s tournament, Banks County showed off its new uniforms and took a 62-46 win.
Sporting black and blue jerseys Banks County went up against the Brookstone Cougars.
Banks won the tip-off and took a 16-11 lead by the end of the quarter. Brookstone did not allow the Leopards to pull too far ahead, remaining within catching distance by the half. Heading into the third quarter, the Leopards were up 29-24 when Brookstone made a run to tie and grab the lead.
Banks responded and went neck and neck to end the quarter on a 40 tie. A strong Banks presence from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter and strong defensive plays allowed Banks to outscore Brookstone 22-6 for a 62-46 win.
Kevin Daniel had a good game from the foul line going 6:8, and led the scoring with 16 points. Following closely, Ryan Griffin picked up 14 points including nine off of three-pointers and went 3:5 from the line. Chase Armour picked up 12 while shooting 3:6 free throws. Kasey Hudgins netted 10 points and shot 4:6 on the line.
Facing Oglethorpe for the championship, the Leopards played things close to the vest with their five scorers all breaking into double digits.
Banks led the game, but the Patriots made it close as the Leopards picked up another tournament win 67-63.
The Leopards were up 29-27 at the half and had picked up 20 points by the end of the third quarter. Heading into the final eight minutes, the Leopards led 49-43. Oglethorpe outscored Banks 20-18 in the final quarter, but it was too little too late for the Patriots as the Leopards held onto the advantage for the four-point win.
Rabun County
After the tournament win at Prince Ave., Banks prepared to face Rabun County. The Leopards hosted Rabun on Tuesday and put on a show.
The contest was anyone’s ballgame until the final minutes.
Rabun hit the board hard in the first period taking an early 9-2 lead. Banks County rebounded with a vengeance and tied the game 11-11. For the rest of the quarter the two schools swapped baskets to end the quarter 21-21.
Coming into the second quarter hard and fast, Banks County led 35-31 with three minutes before the half. Rabun caught the Leopards off a foul and a well shot three-pointer. Banks surged to pull ahead 42-40 to end the half.
The Wildcats were the first to score in the third quarter with a field goal to tie 42-42. The Rabun press allowed the Wildcats to start to gain momentum to take the lead about halfway through the quarter. At 2:14 remaining Banks caught up to tie at 52 points. With just under a minute and a half left in the third quarter, the Leopards went up 59-52. Rabun cut the advantage down to four points to end the quarter 59-55.
A number of fouls in the fourth quarter ended the game for Rabun. A holding foul coupled with a technical for unsportsmanlike conduct allowed Banks County to leap ahead 64-55. Approaching the final three minutes the Leopards led by 10, 70-60. The Leopards applied the pressure and were up 80-66 with a minute left in the game. Rabun began fouling and Banks stood on the line to take the 86-70 win.
The Leopards went 25:35 from the line during Tuesday’s contest and the boys played one of the best games in high school basketball.
