Fannin County Sports Hall of Fame

Johnny Farmer was the head coach of the Fannin County Lady Rebels basketball teams for 25 years. During that time, his teams won 509 games and lost 167 times for a winning percentage of 75.3%. His teams won two state championships and appeared in the Final Four six times. Sixteen of the young ladies who played for Farmer have been inducted into the Fannin County Sports Hall of Fame (FCSHOF).

The 1995-1996 team finished their season with a record of 28-1, the best record of any of Farmer’s squads. That team advanced to the Final Four but were handed their only defeat of a great season with a semi-final loss to Dodge County. The 1995-96 ladies were loaded with talent, boasting five players who have been inducted into the FCSHOF. In recognition of their singular accomplishments, this team will be inducted into the FCSHOF as the class of 2025 team selection.

The 95-96 roster included a good mix of experience and youth. Five seniors were on the squad including Hall of Famers Leslie Jabaley Mann and Melissa Holler Patton, along with Sabrina Gibson, Heather Housley and Katie Collins Taylor. Leigh Muse and Kim Jones Ware were juniors, and sophomore team members were 2014 FCSHOF inductee Ashley Herendon Weeks, Tara Dillinger and Jodie Thomas. Two young freshmen, Roxie Reed Travato and Stacy Parris, would go on to be elected as individual members of the FCSHOF and would anchor the 1998-99 state championship team.

The key to the success of the 1995-96 team was balance. Everybody contributed and a different player might be the “star” in each game. In the Sweet Sixteen, 58-40 victory over Lovett the scorecard showed Jabaley with 14 points followed by Collins and Herendon with 13 each and Gibson with eight. Jabaley led the rebounding effort with 10 and Holler led in assists with nine. In the Elite 8 game that propelled the Lady Rebels to the Final Four, Sabrina Gibson had a game that Coach Farmer described as “the best game of her career” when she scored 14 points and pulled down 13 rebounds. In that effort, a 66-55 victory over Dade County, a balanced effort was again the key as Herendon scored 21 points and the irrepressible Jabaley dropped in 14. Holler again led in assists with nine.

There were plenty of honors to go around after the curtain fell on the 1995-96 basketball season. Leslie Jabaley and Melissa Holler were named co-Most Valuable Players on the team. Leslie was named to the Atlanta Journal Constitution Tip-Off Club Class AA All-State second team and Melissa received honorable mention recognition on that team. Leslie led the team in scoring and rebounding while Melissa was the leader in assists. Jabaley played one season at Cleveland State Community College.

Katie Collins was selected as the most improved player on the team. Katie received a scholarship to play basketball at North Georgia College and State University and competed there for four years. She was a member of the 1996-97 Georgia Athletic Conference championship team and the 1998-99 Georgia, Alabama and Carolina Conference championship squad.

Herendon was the recipient of the Offensive Player of the Year award. Herendon was inducted into the FCSHOF in 2014 and is considered in many circles as the best female athlete in the history of Fannin County. In addition to her four years of basketball, Herendon was a track and field standout at Fannin. She was the first Fannin County player to be named to the Atlanta Tip-Off Club All-State first team in 1996-97.

Gibson received the Hustle Award in 1995-96. She had also received that award following her junior year. Very popular with her teammates and fellow students, Sabrina had this to say about her basketball experience: “The best part of basketball is being able to share the victory with my friends.” Sabrina was nearing the end of her freshman basketball season at Cleveland State when she was killed in an automobile accident on February 4, 1997.

The 1995-96 Fannin County High School Lady Rebels basketball team left quite a legacy for young players at the school. They are remembered as outstanding athletes and quality individuals.