The Fannin County Lady Rebels punched their ticket to the Elite Eight, Friday, February 26, as they hosted the Heard County Braves in the Sweet Sixteen round of the GHSA State Basketball Tournament.
The Braves and Lady Rebels battled back and forth throughout the entire game, with both teams changing leads at least five times just in the first half. The Lady Rebels were able to withstand Heard County, however, thanks to their strong second half, and win the game 54-46.
The first quarter was a nail biter for both sides as the Braves drew blood first with a two-point bucket. The two-point Heard County lead was short lived, however, as Becca Ledford drained a three-ball from the corner to lead 3-2. Mackenzie Johnson added to the lead with an and-one, two-point basket. Johnson converted the free-throw to give Fannin a 6-2 lead with 6:39 to go in the first quarter. Becca Ledford hit a two-point floater in the paint, followed by Natalie Thomas sinking a two-point bucket, to give the Lady Rebels a 10-9 lead. Heard County took the lead back 11-10 before Paige Foresman edged out a Braves defender for an offensive rebound and a two-point, second-chance bucket. Foresman’s efforts gave the Lady Rebels a 12-11 lead, but the Braves netted a two-point basket in the closing seconds of the first to lead Fannin 13-12.
Reagan York and Olivia Sisson bullied their way to two, two-point basket in the paint each to start the second quarter, and gave Fannin a 16-13 lead with 6:30 to go in the second. The Braves went on a scoring run, however, scoring eight unanswered points to take a 23-18 lead with 3:42 to go in the second quarter. The Lady Rebels, led by York slowly started chipping away at the lead. York rattled in an acrobatic two-point basket, and converted four free throws to end the first half as the Lady Rebels trailed 25-22.
The Lady Rebels, like they have all season, came out explosive on offense in the third quarter, netting 17 points. Becca Ledford set the tone for Fannin early in the third as she netted a three-ball off of a Sisson screen. Ledford would go on to net two, two-point baskets for seven points in the third. Thomas knocked in a three-ball, as well as a two-point basket and a free throw for five points, followed by York converting four free throws. Fannin outscored Heard County 17-11 in the third to lead 39-36 to start the fourth quarter.
The Lady Rebels netted 15 points in the fourth, with Becca Ledford and Mackenzie Johnson combining for 10 points. Johnson converted five free throws late in the game, while Ledford got a two-point bucket and three free-throws to fall. Courtney Davis and Abby Ledford scored a two-point bucket each, and York converted one free throw to cap the Lady Rebels scoring.
Fannin County’s efforts were able to push past the Braves, out-scoring Heard County 15-11 and win the game 54-46. The Lady Rebels will now travel to Early County Tuesday, March 2, to play the Lady Cats in the Elite Eight round of the state tournament.
FC 12 10 17 15 - 54
HC 13 12 11 10 - 46
Lady Rebels summary:
Points: B. Ledford 17, York 13, Thomas 8, Johnson 8, Davis 2, Foresman 2, A. Ledford 2, Sisson 2.
Free throws: B. Ledford 3-4, York 9-11, Johson 6-8, Thomas 1-2.