A 20-3 third quarter propelled Banks County to a 59-43 region win at home on Tuesday against Rabun County. The Lady Leopards (9-5; 3-1) used 33 points by Reese Murphy and hit on nine total 3-pointers to get past the Lady Wildcats (9-6; 1-3).

It was a tightly-contested first frame in which both teams scored 13 points. Reese Murphy had the first five points of the game, and Chloe Erlewine hit a shot from deep to knot the game just before the buzzer.

An Emmie Chitwood triple was followed by the Murphy twins (Reese and Ryleigh) both connecting from long range in the second to create some padding. Reese had 11 points in the opening half, as Banks led 27-20.

A huge Lady Leopards run in the third put the game out of reach, as Reese had 10 points in the quarter and 20 in the second half. Behind Murphy’s 33 points, Ryleigh Murphy had 10, Chitwood six, three each for Maggie Irvin and Callie Whitlock, and two apiece for Ansley Moore and Marleigh Dale.

Rabun County was paced by 18 points from Adelyn Thompson and 11 from Addy Beth Owens. Erlewine closed with nine, Madison Houck three, and Jacie McCall two.