#1 Rabun County (27-2) has a gear only the elite teams can get to. After allowing Heard County (17-10) just a little over a quarter to stay in the game, the Wildcats dazzled the crowd with 16 3-pointers and four dunks in a blowout 84-52 win. The Wildcats stormed back into the Elite 8.
The Braves were able to hang tight for several minutes, but Hayes Free, Trace Adcock, and Reed Burrell all had early shots from downtown. Free had the first of his four dunks, and had nine points in the opening frame. Rabun led 17-14 going into the second.
One of the most electric plays you’ll ever see came just before the half. With 1.4 seconds on the clock and the Wildcats inbounding the ball on the side, Huey Blalock threw a perfect dot to a soaring Hayes Free for an alley oop to beat the buzzer. The Cats officially doubled up on the Braves, 32-16.
Free’s clinic continued in the third, as he opened the quarter with a pair of 3-pointers. He then added his third slam of the night on a beautiful pass from Blalock. Rabun was in complete control by then with a 62-35 lead.
Free jammed one more time in the fourth, and the starters came out with under three minutes remaining.
Free finished with 29 points, including 15 in the first half. Adcock dripped in 18 points, all coming off his six 3-pointers. Blalock registered 13 and Burrell 11. Landan Bedingfield had six, Graham Anderson three, and two apiece for Cord Burrell and Colton Crane.
