Union County Varsity Teams Split in Battle of the States Opener

The Union County High School varsity basketball teams opened play in the annual Battle of the States Christmas Tournament on Saturday, Dec. 27, in Hiawassee, Georgia, with mixed results against Rabun County. The Lady Panthers delivered a strong performance, holding off a late push to secure a 63–57 victory, while the Panthers boys’ team ran into a tough Rabun County squad and dropped an 82–47 decision.

The Lady Panthers showed poise and determination in their opening-round win, maintaining control in a competitive matchup to advance to the semifinals. With the victory, Union County remains in championship contention and will face Polk County, Tennessee, on Monday, Dec. 29, at 4 p.m. as they continue their pursuit of the tournament title.

On the boys’ side, Union County struggled to keep pace with a powerful Rabun County team that controlled the game from the opening minutes. Despite the setback, the Panthers will continue tournament play in the consolation bracket, where they are scheduled to take on Polk County on Dec. 29 at 11:30 a.m., looking to bounce back and finish the tournament on a strong note.