Fannin County Wins At The Buzzer! 43-41 Advances to State Championship!
Featured News, Featured Stories, Sports March 9, 2021
In front of a record crowd, Fannin County defeats Butler 43-41 to advance to the State Championship for 1st time since 2004. Will Play Josey High School at the Macon Centreplex Thursday March 11th 12pm for the GHSA AA State Championship.
1st Quarter
Butler’s Jayla Thomas would score the first 4 points of the game. Regan York would score the 1st 2 points of the night for Fannin with 5:15 left in the 1st. Abby Ledford would come up with a steal and take it all the way off the glass to tie the game at 4. Fannin County would build off the baskets made by Abby Ledford and Regan York as Natalie Thomas would knock down a 3-point shot. Courtney Davis would score her 1st 2 points of the night. And Becca Ledford would have 3 points in the quarter. Olivia Sisson and Paige Foresman would provide great defense inside all game. Prisila Bautista would also provide good defense as Fannin would go into the 2nd quarter with a 12-8 lead.
2nd Quarter
In the 2nd Quarter, the Lady Rebels, would get on the board with a basket made by Abby Ledford. Abby would get her own rebound and do an outstanding job of following her on shot and scoring. Abby would also be the next Lady Rebel to score by hitting two free throws. Becca Ledford would continue her amazing performance by picking up a key offensive rebound and getting 2 points. Courtney Davis would score with 7 seconds left in quarter to make it 20-15 at halftime in favor of Fannin County.
3rd Quarter
The 3rd Quarter Butler would outscore Fannin 16-13. Lauren Brady would score on the first trip down the floor for Butler. Abby Ledford would score the first bucket of the half for the rebels followed by a long 3 Point Shot by Becca Ledford. Butler would score the next 6 points and tie the ball game up at 25. Butler would continue their run by adding a free throw from Paris Little to give Butler a 26-25 lead. Lauren Brady would add a 3-point Shot giving Butler a 29-25 Lead a 10-0 Run. Regan York would end the scoring drought for the Rebels by getting an offensive rebound and scoring. Becca Ledford would get her 11th point of the night at the time by sinking a Three Point Shot giving Fannin the lead back 30-29. Butler would find Thomas down in the paint to get the lead back 31-30 with 50 seconds left. Courtney Davis would knock down a long Three Point Shot to give the Rebels back the lead 33-31.
4th Quarter
Butler would score first in the 4th quarter. Jayla Thomas would get an offensive rebound and tie the game at 33. Jamesha Slater from Butler would score next giving Butler the lead. Becca Ledford would take the ball down the court and tie the game at 35. Mackenzie Johnson would hit 2 crucial free throws making it 37-35 Fannin County with 4:58 left in the 4th. Lauren Brady and Butler would answer again as Brady would drive the lane and tie the game at 37. Regan York would retrieve an offensive rebound and give the Rebels the lead again 39-37 with 3:50 left in the 4th. Jayla Thomas would tie the ball game again for Butler at 39 with 2:40 left in the 4th.
Lauren Brady would hit a free throw to give Butler the lead with 1:10 minute remaining. Regan York would answer on the following trip down the floor to give Fannin the lead 41-40 with 57 seconds remaining. Brady would tie the game with 38 seconds left by hitting another free throw.
Becca Ledford would attempt a 3 Point Shot with 16 seconds to go and the shot would not fall. Butler would get the rebound and Mackenzie Johnson for Fannin almost created a near turnover but the basketball would go out of bounds with 9 seconds left and a tie game at 41 with Butler having possession.
Courtney Davis would steal the ball with 5 seconds remaining, Courtney threw a perfect pass to Becca Ledford. Becca was able to get the shot off underneath the basket as time expired and the basket was good!
Final Score Fannin 43- Butler 41
The Video of the Final Play has received thousands of views. Kyle Sandy who is the leader in High School Basketball coverage in Georgia Tweeted the Following about the Rebels Buzzer Beater. https://twitter.com/KyleSandy355/status/1368340910019346434?s=20
Fox 5 out of Atlanta also done a story on the Fannin County Lady Rebels and interviewed Head Coach Ryan Chastain. https://twitter.com/High5Sports/status/1369008300394741763?s=20
Up Next
The State Championship vs Josey High School. Thursday March 11th 12pm at the Macon Centreplex.
How Sweet It Is! Fannin Lady Rebels Sweet 16 Bound 65-47 over Lovett
Sports, Team FYN Sports February 23, 2021
The Fannin County Rebels, hosted the Lovett Lions, on Tuesday, February 23rd in the 1st Round of the GHSA Girls AA State Playoffs. The Lady Rebels entered the game 19-4 and 12-0 in Region 7AA. Head Coach Ryan Chastain’s Lady Rebels defeated Chattooga At Chattoooga 68-39 last Thursday to capture the region crown and earn the #1 Seed in Region 7.
Lovett entered the game as the #4 Seed out of Region 6 with an 11-12 record. Lovett entered the State Playoffs battle tested playing non region opponent’s in Gainesville, Denmark, Blessed Trinity to go along with their tough region opponents in Pace, Washington and Columbia.
First Quarter
The Lady Rebels were introduced with the lights being dimmed and a spotlight on the starters Abby Ledford, Becca Ledford, Olivia Sisson, Mackenzie Johnson and Regan York.
Lovett scored the 1st 4 Points of the night. The Lady Rebels would go on a 18-0 Run. Regan York scored the 1st 9 points of the night for Fannin by drilling 3- Three Pointers on back to back to back trips down the floor. Mackenzie Johnson played stellar defense with a steal and Becca Ledford would later score her 1st 2 points on the night off a steal of her own. Prisila Bautista checked in and immediately caused a turnover leading to another Becca Ledford Basket. Freshmen Courtney Davis would hit her 1st Three of the night to extend the lead to 16-4. Paige Foresman would have a nice offensive rebound that led to 2 points. Bautista would add a Three and Fannin ended the quarter leading 21-11.
2nd Quarter
Oliva Sisson would pull down several rebounds and score the first 4 points of the quarter. The first bucket was on a nice assist by Mackenzie Johnson. Abby Ledford would join the Rebel 3 Point Party as she scored her First 3 points of the night. The Lady Rebels would go on to hit 12- 3 Point shots on the night. Paige Foresman pulled up and nailed a Three Point Shot of her own and on the next trip down the floor Courtney Davis hit another Three Point Shot. Natalie Thomas provided great defense in the quarter along with Jenna Young. Thomas would have a nice assist to Davis also in the quarter. Fannin would end the half leading 38-17.
3rd Quarter
Becca Ledford would add 7 points , Abby Ledford would have 2 Three Pointers in the quarter. Natalie Thomas would add 2 points that saw the Rebels start to taste victory.
4th Quarter
Mackenzie Johnson would have another great assist to Oliva Sisson to start the Quarter. Sisson would add a free throw later in the quarter. Courtney Davis would add 3 more points, Ava Queen scored 2 Points and Bautista added a free throw for all the Lady Rebel Scoring in the 4th. Regan ONeal and Riley Reeves 2 young players who have a bright future with the program also saw playing time in a State Playoff Game. Fannin County would defeat Lovett 65-47 to advance to the Sweet 16
Sweet 16 Vs Heard County
Fannin County will host Heard County on Friday Feb 26th 6pm at Fannin County High School with a spot in the elite 8 on the line.