When the Wildcats met up with Stephens County in Toccoa a week ago, it was a blowout 67-51 loss. Rabun County (1-4) was determined to have amnesia, and shocked the Indians (3-6) with a 55-53 win.

The Indians had a handful of opportunities over the final two minutes, but rarely got off a rare shot as the 55-53 score held true til the final buzzer. The Wildcats fell behind 3-0 after a Tyrece Mackie 3-pointer for Stephens, but they responded with an 11-1 run, highlighted by Bear Old’s bully-ball in the paint.

Mackie got a bucket to close within 11-9, capping an 8-0 Indians run, but the Wildcats used Old’s lay-in, followed by an “and-1” play before Connor McKay beat the buzzer with a beautiful shot off the glass. Rabun was up 18-9, and held a 36-24 sizeable halftime lead.

Stephens County pounded its way back into the game, taking a small lead in the fourth quarter before the Wildcats again came up with heroics, this time again a corner triple by McKay. The defense held strong in the closing minutes to secure the first victory of the year.