You can never count Rabun County out – even when down by 15 points at the half. The #6-ranked Lady Wildcats (11-3; 2-1 in 8-A DI) rallied in the third and fourth quarters, forcing overtime and winning 52-50 over #10-ranked Commerce (13-2; 1-2) in a key region showdown.

Addy Beth Owens and Millie Southards had Rabun up early with a flurry of 3-pointers. The first 12 points for the Lady Cats came from downtown, three of which were put in by Owens. However, Commerce – who doesn’t use the 3-ball much and had none in this game – did damage in the paint to pull ahead slightly 15-13 after one.

Niya Daniels had a couple of 3-point play opportunities in the second, helping the Lady Tigers go ahead by a dozen points after a 12-0 run. Kenyanna Jackson had a 3-point play late in the quarter. Daniels had a dozen points in the first half, and Commerce led 32-17.

Rabun County upped the tempo on both sides of the ball coming out of the locker room. The Lady Cats started on a quick burst, and Adelyn Thompson had six points in the period as Rabun outscored Commerce 13-7 to get within 39-30 heading into the final frame.

That’s when Rabun truly turned it up, and Southards had a couple of shots from downtown to pull the team to within five points. Owens buried another triple to cut it to one with under four minutes left.

Commerce finally got its first bucket of the fourth with 2:13 remaining, and Thompson hit a clutch 3-pointer with 24 seconds to go to tie the game at 44. Rabun got the ball back with a chance to win, but Thompson’s 3-point try rimmed off, sending the game to overtime.

Madison Houck had a quick layup, and ViTory Williams for Commerce countered with a steal and layup to keep it a 1-point game. Southards iced the game at the free throw line, making a winner out of Rabun.

Southards led Rabun with 19 points, as Owens finished with 17, Thompson nine, Houck six, and Hannah Beers two. Daniels paced Commerce with 18 points, as Jackson recorded 11, six each for Williams and Jayah Vann, four by Ciara Rucker, three for Essence Hester, and two by Mary Waters.

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