An always intense rivalry pitted #5 Rabun County (16-4; 5-2 in 8-A DI) against #7 Banks County (13-8; 6-2) in Homer on Friday night, with the Lady Wildcats securing a 63-48 victory.

A lopsided second quarter put Rabun ahead by a wide margin, as the Lady Leopards weren’t able to rally back despite a good effort in the fourth.

A low-scoring first quarter was evidence of a light practice week for both teams, but Maecee Crumley for Banks had five points in the period while Rabun County connected on three shots from beyond the arc. It was a 14-13 game in favor of the Lady Cats after one.

Rabun outscored Banks 13-2 in the second, going into the half up 27-15. Adelyn Thompson’s third 3-pointer of the game was key to Rabun County pulling ahead, as was Millie Southard’s flurry of buckets.

Thompson added two more triples in the third, and Crumley answered for the Lady Leopards. Rabun was up by as many as 18 points.

Banks County had a great fourth offensively, pulling within single digits a couple of times. Southards had a 3-point play that essentially sealed the game.

Southards had a game-high 20 points, as Thompson added 18 and Madison Houck 10 for Rabun. Addy Beth Owens and Jaydynn Cohee each had seven, and Conley Spivey added two.

For Banks County, Crumley led with 14 points, followed by nine for both Ansley Moore and Adarae Thomas. Janakate Gibson added eight, Kate Grier four, Marleigh Dale three, and two by Callie Whitlock.

---