Champs: Fannin wins region
Senior Callie Ensley hit a long three-point shot for the Fannin County High School Lady Rebels to end the first half of play in the Region Championship game Friday night, February 14, at Gordon Central High School in Calhoun.
Ensley’s shot marked the last time the Lady Rebels would be behind in the game as they brought the Region Championship trophy back to FCHS with a 42-35 victory.
The Lady Rebels faced uncommon ground in the opening half as the Armuchee Lady Indians pulled ahead midway through the opening quarter and held on until the second period ended.
Armuchee put the first point of the game on the board from the free throw line, then Emma Buchanan hit a three, giving Fannin a 3-1 advantage.
Armuchee went up 5-3 before Maggie Ledford hit a three-pointer at the 3:23 mark, giving Fannin a 6-5 lead. But Fannin’s offense temporarily stalled and the Lady Indians climbed to an 11-6 advantage. A free throw by Albany Cole made the score 11-7 at the end of the quarter.
Emma Holloway hit a turnaround jumper to close that gap to 11-9 as the second period opened. After Armuchee went up 13-9, Reese Lewis scored to again bring Fannin to within two at 13-11. With Armuchee up 14-11, Ledford put the next five points on the board, three from a long three-pointer and the score was tied at 16-16. Soon after was when Ensley gave Fannin its 19-18 halftime lead.
Avi Ethington hit a three to get the third quarter rolling for Fannin County with a 22-18 lead, then Buchanan hit a free throw to put the Lady Rebels on top 23-18.
Armuchee tied the score at 23-23, but this was the last time the region runner-up would come that close to a lead.
Fannin went on a five-point run to lead 30-23 at the 2:10 mark in the quarter, the last two points of that run coming from Izzie Jabaley. After Armuchee closed the gap to 30-27, Cole added two points for the Lady Rebels at the buzzer to take a 32-27 advantage.
Lewis opened the final eight minutes by putting the Lady Rebels up 34-27, and added a free throw for a 35-27 lead.
Ethington added the next point with a free throw as the Lady Rebels began closing out their 42-35 win.
Jabaley led the scoring effort for the Lady Rebels with 11 points, followed by Lewis with eight, Buchanan with six, Ledford with five points, Ethington with four points, Cole and Ensley with three points each, and Holloway with two points.
The Lady Rebels controlled the paint, grabbing 34 rebounds and stood tall, blocking seven shots in the game. Lewis led the team with 10 rebounds and four blocks.
Fannin County now boasts a 24-2 record and a 16-0 worksheet against region opponents.