The Fannin County High School Lady Rebels are gearing up for another exciting season on the court and Head Coach Ryan Chastain is looking to the future.
The Lady Rebels are coming off last year’s season that saw the team tie a school record with 29 total wins, claim the third State Championship in program history, win the 7-A Region championship and the Piedmont Holiday Classic Championship. The Lady Rebels went undefeated in region play and were undefeated at home during the regular season and the playoffs.
The Lady Rebels return plenty of experience from last year’s team. Coach Chastain said, “We return three seniors who started all 31 games last season; shooting guard Maggie Ledford who lead the team in scoring and was named the GHSA state championship Player of the Game, center Reese Lewis who is the reigning 7-A Region Player of the Year and the teams leading rebounder, and forward Avi Ethington who was an all-region player and the team’s best defender. All three will be team captains this year and are already showing tremendous leadership in practice.”
“We return juniors Izzie Jabaley and Albany Cole. Jabaley was tremendous running the team from the point guard position as a sophomore. She was an all-region player and named the GHSA’s Passer of the Year for our state classification. Her passing is the key to our fast paced transition offense. Forward Albany Cole played a lot last year, and she’s ready to step into the starting lineup. Her combination of size, speed, and athleticism is unique. She looked like an elite defender all summer,” he continued.
The team also has a trio of sophomores who look ready to contribute. “We bring back Toccoa Hampton, Brooklynn Owenby, and Kendall Gaddis in our tenth grade class. Hampton was tremendous scoring the ball during the summer and in Kyle Sandy’s fall league this year. She looks like the immediate impact scorer we want to bring off the bench in that 6th man role. Owenby is a 6-foot post player who has great speed and athleticism for her size, and Gaddis has been very good at defending and rebounding from her wing position. We got those kids a lot of varsity experience in the offseason. They’re ready to step into larger roles,” Chastain said.
The Lady Rebels will add seven freshmen to the program this fall. Guards Braylee Davenport, Ellie Hampton, Aubree Franklin, Lynnex Patterson, and Kylie Breeden, along with forwards Addyson Bradburn and Vera Grace Price. “This is our biggest class of freshmen we have had in years. There’s a lot of talent across the board at multiple positions. They have performed well early, and we have very high expectations for their JV season.”
“We are trying to raise the bar in the way we practice. We want to come in and compete everyday. We know we have a bullseye on our backs after winning it all last year. Our girls have shown no signs of slowing down. They still look hungry to win and compete. This group takes so much pride in wearing the Lady Rebels uniform and representing our community. They know the expectations that come with it,” Chastain said, speaking about the culture of the team coming off a state championship title.
“We also want to welcome former Lady Rebel Abby Ledford to our coaching staff this year. She joins a veteran group that includes Megan Orton, Jenna Young, and Randy Hallmark. Our staff has been together now for almost seven years. I’m so grateful for all they do day in and day out. It’s a special thing for me to be able to have Abby and Jenna coaching with us. I got to coach both of them as players. It means a lot to me that our former players want to come back and be a part of the team again.”
The Lady Rebels will return to Region 7-A for the 2025-26 season. Coach Chastain said, “We are entering year two in the region. You would think we would have more familiarity with the teams, but there’s been a lot of coaching changes on the girls side. Arumuchee and Christian Heritage are both state tournament teams that return a lot of players. They look like two of the better teams in the preseason. I expect Dade County, Gordon Lee, and Coosa to take big steps forward. Chattooga has a new head coach, and they are always athletic. Gordon Central has a new head coach as well. It will be a more competitive region this year.”