Fannin Lady Rebels runners up as Josey comes from behind
Fannin County’s Lady Rebels proved they were the best girls basketball team in Georgia’s Class AA for 24 minutes Thursday at the Macon Centreplex.
For three, eight-minute quarters, the Lady Rebels dominated the boards, blew holes through the opposing defense, and found the bottom of the net on almost every other shot in their state championship game against Josey High School.
But the title game was like every other in girls basketball with 32 minutes on the game clock. And it was the last eight of those 32 that saw the advantage switch teams and the first place trophy slip through the Lady Rebels’ fingers.
Fannin County came home runners up after Josey’s Lady Eagles ripped off a 17-4 fourth period to claim a 47-42 win.
The Lady Rebels struck quickly in the game when the defense forced a turnover and Olivia Sisson came away with the ball. Becca Ledford scored the first two of her 14 points to put Fannin up 2-0.
The defense stopped Josey again, and Reagan York tossed in a hook shot for a 4-0 Fannin County lead.
Josey clawed back with a three-pointer and two free throws to inch ahead 5-4.
York then drove the lane for two points, Josey retaliated with a pair of free throws and Ledford drove in for two.
Courtney Davis put Fannin up 10-9 with a steal and two-pointer.
The next time down the floor, Davis found herself at the charity stripe with 1:02 left in the quarter. She tossed in a pair of free throws to put Fannin up 12-9.
Josey tossed in the final basket of the quarter to pull within one at 12-11.
Fannin County used the next eight minutes to outscore Josey 11-8 and widen their lead to 23-19 at the half.
The Lady Rebels failed to score on their first possession, and Josey struck to lead 13-12.
Then Fannin County took control 15-13 when Abby Ledford drained a three-pointer.
On Josey’s next possession, Becca Ledford grabbed the defensive rebound, drove the length of the court and hit a layup. Fannin was on top 17-13 with 4:41 to go in the half.