#6 Union County (26-6) dropped a 57-49 final in the GHSA 2A State Championship Thursday in Macon. #4 Butler (21-8) held a lead for mostly the entire contest.
Despite the Bulldogs pulling ahead at 22-12 at the end of the first, the Panthers would not go away quietly. Houston Henry and Kaden Combs kept Union in the game, as the game was at 33-24 at the half.
A scoring drought transpired for a few minutes to start the second half, and Hayden Hughes connected on three shots from downtown to get Union County within six points. They were down just seven heading into the final period.
Hughes and Henry hit on back-to-back triples to open the fourth and make it a one-point game before Butler picked up some buckets. With 36 seconds to go, Henry made two free throws to get within three, but the Bulldogs would hold on from there.
Hughes had 17 points and Henry 12 in their final games for Union County, with the former notching four and the latter two shots from beyond the arc. Vince Marevka added 10 points, while Combs had five points and eight rebounds. Holden Payne added two.
