The Fannin County High School Rebels basketball teams’ seasons ended at the 7-AAA Region Tournament held at Buford High School. Both teams from Fannin fell in the first round, with the Lady Rebels falling to Dawson County 57-40, and the Rebels getting eaten by the hosting Wolves, 68-22.The Lady Rebels met Dawson County having tangled with the Lady Tigers twice already this season, with each home team winning by 13. The rubber match for a chance at Region reign and a state tournament berth, went to Dawson, thanks in large part to the Dawson defense and the Lady Tigers tenacious attacking tactics.

The Lady Tigers drew first blood with back to back three’s, starting the game with a 6-0 run. Fannin got on the board when McKenzey Ryder connected with Molly Chandler for an easy two point bucket. Hope Cochran cut the lead to 6-4 with two free throws.

The Lady Tigers responded with a 7-0 run that saw the Dawson lead balloon to 13-4 with 3:21 left in the first quarter. The Lady Rebels then responded in kind, with a 8-0 run that cut the lead to one with 2:20 left in the first quarter; however, the Dawson outscored Fannin 6-4 to take a 19-16 lead going into the second quarter.

Both teams defense were daunting, and combined with quick whistles from the referees, the offenses combined for only 18 points in the second quarter. Each team scored nine a piece for a half time score of 28-25.

The third period proved particularly costly for the Lady Rebels, as Fannin failed to score a single point until over the first 5:40 of the quarter. Conversely the Lady Tigers scored 10 points over the same time frame to take a 38-25, before a 7-0 Lady Rebels run that ended with a Chandler “and one” tree point play cut the lead to six, 38-32.

The Lady Rebels entered the fourth quarter down 10, 42-32. The Lady Tigers defense clamped down, holding the Fannin offense to eight fourth quarter points, while the Dawson offense scored 15 points in the period to secure a 57-40 victory and an end to the Lady Rebels season.

Cochran led the Lady Rebels in points with 11. She also pulled down five rebounds, all defensive, dished out three assists and blocked two shots.

Chandler led Fannin with eight rebounds, seven defensive. She also chipped in 10 points with four steals and an assist.

Ryder finished with seven points and seven rebounds, five defensive and three assists.

Lyndsey Humphrey had seven points and seven rebounds as well, four offensive, with four steals and two assists.

The Rebels boys’ basketball team faced the number one seeded home team, and the Wolves bit early and often. Buford began the game with a 5-0 run that quickly ballooned to 11-3 and 25-4 as the first quarter came to a close.

The visitors simply could not compete with the taller bigger Wolves as Fannin failed to recover from the first Buford burst. The Wolves led 38-12 and coasted through the second half, even as both teams emptied the bench. Buford eventually won 68-22.