Basketball Recap: Banks County Comes Up Short

Banks County lost against Rabun County back in January and unfortunately they wound up with the same result on Friday. The Banks County Leopards fell just short of the Rabun County Wildcats by a score of 63-60. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest loss the Leopards have suffered since January 26, 2024.

When it comes to explaining why Banks County lost, don't look at Kolby Watson. Despite the final result, he went 9 of 17 on his way to 30 points and seven rebounds. Watson is on a roll when it comes to points, as he's now scored 16 or more in the last 13 games he's played. Another player making a difference was Dayden Rogers, who went 7 for 11 en route to 16 points and six boards.

Rabun County's win was the result of several impressive offensive performances. One of the most notable came from Hayes Free, who went 9 of 12 on his way to 21 points along with seven rebounds and four steals. The team also got some help courtesy of Huey Blalock, who dropped a double-double on 15 points and ten assists.

Banks County moved to 12-9 with that defeat, which also ended their three-game winning streak. As for Rabun County, they pushed their record up to 19-4 with the win, which was their eighth straight at home.

Both teams will have to hit the road in their upcoming games. Banks County will head out to square off against Athens Academy at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Banks County knows how to get points on the board -- the squad has finished with 55 points or more in their past six matchups -- so hopefully Athens Academy likes a good challenge. As for Rabun County, they will head out on the road to face off against Providence Christian Academy at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Rabun County is strutting in with some offensive muscle as they've averaged 72.3 points per game this season.