An Elite Eight showdown against the powerhouse Rabun County Wildcats brought an end to the Fannin County Rebels’ stellar 25-5 basketball season.
The Rebels earned the Elite Eight trip with two previous wins in the Georgia High School Association Boys State Basketball playoffs. That set up the showdown with number two ranked Rabun County Wednesday night on the Wildcats’ home court.
Rabun County used a defense that allowed only a single Rebel to score in double figures, and an inside-outside scoring machine to claim a 76-42 victory.
The Wildcats jumped out of a 19-7 lead at the end of the first quarter, then continued that pace in the second quarter to ourscore the Rebels 18-7 to take a 35-16 lead at halftime.
Fannin County produced its best offensive performance in the third stanza, putting 20 points on the board. Rabun’s pace continued with 32 points, leaving the hosts on top 67-36 at the buzzer.
Defense took over in the final eight minutes, Rabun taking a slim 9-6 scoring advantage. Brody Henson was the lone Rebel to break into double figures with 11 points. He was followed by Kolton Kaylor with six; Keaton Watkins, Cannon Holloway, Matthew Ponton and Kolby Kaylor with five points each; Tyler Blake with three points, and Hudson York with two points.
Watkins led the Rebels with nine rebounds, followed by Henson and Kolton Kaylor with five each.
The Rebels recorded two steals in the game, one by Watkins and one by Cash Lambert. Walkins recorded the only two blocked shots.
Rabun went on to defeat Fitzgerald 70-59 in the Final Four contest Saturday. The Wildcats will take on Southwest Friday, March 13, for the state Class A Division 1 boys title.