Fannin County’s Rebels moved into second place in Region 7AA basketball standings Saturday, January 6, with a lopsided 77-44 win over region for Haralson.
Aided by Rockmart’s defeat of North Murray, Fannin’s 4-1 region record equals those of Model and Rockmart. Second place is secured by the Rebels upset of Rockmart.
But the win over Haralson did not come as easy as the score made it sound.
The two teams battled almost neck and neck in the early going before Fannin took a 34-28 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Jordan Richerson scored eight of his game leading 22 points in the first quarter to pace Fannin County. Ben Bloch added seven, Kolton Kaylor added two and Isaiah Angel tossed in a free throw as the Rebels ended the opening stanza ahead 18-14.
Seven from Richerson led Fannin in the second eight minutes, followed by four from Cole Gribble, three from Bloch and two from Matthew Ponton.
Fannin opened up its lead in the third, outscoring their hosts 20-8 for a 54-36 lead. Bloch set the pace with six, followed by five from Richerson, four from Ethington, three from Gribble, and two from Ponton.
Fannin exploded for 23 fourth quarter points, spreading the offensive effort out among seven players. Ponton led the charge with six followed by Angel and Keaton Watkins with four each, Ethington and Bloch with three each, Richerson with two, and Brody Henson who added a free throw.
Bloch had 19 points on the night followed by Ponton who was also in double figures with ten. Gribble and Ethington each had seven points, Angel added five, Watkins had four, Kaylor had two and Henson had a lone free throw.