Fannin County’s Lady Rebels entered the final eight minutes of their battle against Union County’s Lady Panthers trailing 37-28 Saturday, January 4.
But in those eight minutes, Fannin would outscore the visitors to the Fannin County High School (FCHS) gym for a 48-44 win.
Early fourth quarter scoring saw Maggie Ledford ace a three-pointer and Izzie Jabaley add two points from the floor to close the gap to 39-33.
The Lady Rebel defense had been tightening on the other end of the floor, having held Union County to two points.
Then the tide turned with just over four-and-a-half minutes left when Avi Ethington drained a three-pointer from deep in the corner, pulling Fannin to within three at 39-36.
Less than a minute later, Ethington tossed in two more points, and Fannin trailed 39-38.
Trailing 42-38, Emma Buchanan hit the first of two free throws, closing the gap to 42-39. Reese Lewis scored two points on a put back off the second foul shot to close the gap to 42-41.
Then, with 1:44 left in the game, Ethington took a pass under the basket and hit the layup to put Fannin ahead 43-42.
The rest of the game belonged to Jabaley from the foul line as the Lady Rebel sophomore hit five of six foul shots while the Fannin defense tightened the noose at the other end of the court for the 48-44 win.
The game started as if Fannin would walk away with an easy victory. The Lady Rebels controlled the opening tipoff, and on their third time down the floor, Ledford put in the first two points. In the opening minutes of the quarter, Fannin was up 10-1. But Union County roared back to take an 11-10 lead at the buzzer.
The second quarter saw Albany Cole score on a three-point shot and Ledford toss in six points as Fannin fought for a 19-19 tie at the half.
The third eight minutes belonged to the Lady Panthers as they outscored Fannin 18-9.
The fourth quarter cardiac comeback for Fannin saw a 20-7 Lady Rebel advantage.
Ledford lead Fannin’s scoring with 17 points, the only Lady Rebel to find the bottom of the net in all four quarters.
Ethington was also in double figures with 11. Jabaley scored nine points, seven of those in the fourth quarter comeback, Lewis added five points, Cole had her lone three-pointer, Callie Ensley bit two foul shots in the third quarter, and Buchanan had one free throw.
Lewis had 13 rebounds, followed by Jabaley with five. Jabaley also led in assists with seven.
The win improved the Lady Rebels’ overall season record to 11-2, and avenged the season’s opening Union County.
The Lady Rebels enter this week 5-0 in the region.