The Fannin County Lady Rebels earned their spot in this Saturday’s State Basketball Championship showdown with their 72-63 defeat of the East Laurens Lady Falcons. The victory came Saturday, March 1, in the Final Four matchup at Georgia College and State University.
Reese Lewis led the team as she scored 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, six of those points in a third quarter charge that put the Lady Rebels ahead to stay.
The game was a battle from start to finish with 10 lead changes.
Lewis tossed in nine early points to give the Lady Rebels a 15-12 lead at the end of the first eight minutes. Izzie Jabaley, Maggie Ledford and Avi Ethington each added two points in the quarter.
The Lady Falcons charged back in the second quarter to outscore Fannin 18-10 to take a 30-25 halftime lead. Four points from Lewis, and two each from Jabaley, Ethington and Emma Buchanan recorded Fannin’s scoring.
Fannin made East Lauren’s lead vanish quickly in the third quarter, going on an eight-point run to lead 33-25.
The third quarter was the best offensively for the Lady Rebels as they outscored East Laurens 23-14. Ledford set the pace with seven points, and following Lewis’ six were Ethington with five, Callie Ensley with a three-pointer and Buchanan with two, As a team, the Lady Rebels had six assists in the quarter.
Fannin County used the last eight minutes to add to its lead, outscoring the Lady Falcons 24-19 behind eight points from Jabaley and seven from Ledford.
The Lady Rebels collected 31 rebounds and blocked four shots in the game. The team passed the ball well with 13 assists on 24 made baskets.
Behind the 23-point game setting pace from Lewis were, Ledford adding 16 points including three three-pointers all coming in the all important second half, Izzie Jabaley scoring 12 points, Avi Ethington putting in nine points and Emma Buchanan and Callie Ensley both scoring six points.