Fannin Girls and Boy Tip-Off Basketball Season with Wins Over Copper Basin
Sports, Team FYN Sports, TeamFYNSports November 22, 2021
Photo by Rachel Adams
The 2021-2022 Basketball Season is officially underway. Fannin County is hosting the 2021 ETC Piedmont Mountainside Tip Off Tourney. The Tourney is a Round Robin Format between Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, and Copper Basin.
On Saturday, the Fannin County Rebels would garner the attention of the whole area. Both Fannin Teams combined for a total of 134 Points on the night.
Fannin Girls Game
Fannin County was excited to get back on the court following the success of last year’s State Runner Up Season. Head Coach Ryan Chastain and the Lady Rebels are poised to build on last year’s season and the tradition of Fannin County Lady Rebels Basketball.
During Pre-Game Warmups, Fannin County Seniors Jenna Young, Reagan York and Becca Ledford all had big smiles on their faces excited to get the season underway.
Fannin would defeat Copper Basin 69- 13. Fannin would jump out to a 21-5 1st Quarter lead and would never look back. Leading Scorers for the Lady Rebels were Courtney Davis with 18 and Becca Ledford with 13. Every Lady Rebel would get in the game. Ellie Cook, Reigan O’Neal, Ava Queen, Jenna Young, Riley Reeves, Jayden Bailey, Macy Hawkins, and Reagan York all provided valuable minutes and contributed to the big Lady Rebels win.
Fannin Boys Game
Head Coach Bryan Richerson and the Fannin County boys would also open their 2021-2022 Campaign vs Copper Basin last Saturday Night. Coach Richerson has a talented group that plays tough defense and can put up points quickly as we saw on Saturday.
Fannin County is led by Seniors Landon Norton, Jordan Bennett, and Kaleb Green.
Fannin defeated Copper Basin 65-28. Leading Scorers for the Rebels were Chasen Ethington with 19 ( 17 in the 2nd Quarter) and Landon Norton with 16 points. The Starting 5 of Norton, Ethington, Bennett, Bryson Wright and Will Jones would each score points in the 1st Quarter that lead to a 17-3 1st Quarter lead for the Rebels. Much like the Lady Rebels in the previous game vs Copper Basin, every Rebel would get in the game. Riley Angel, Lucas Hanson, Kaleb Green, Walker Ballew, Nick Arp, Ben Bloch, and Luke Davenport all played in the contest and played well marching to a Fannin win.
What’s Next?
Fannin is in action tonight ( Monday). Girls play Rival Gilmer at 6pm and Boys Play Rival Gilmer at 7:30pm. Both Games will be at Fannin County High School New Gym
Fannin County Wins At The Buzzer! 43-41 Advances to State Championship!
Featured News, Featured Stories, Sports March 11, 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.