Lady Rebels fall to GAC in Region Tournament
Fannin Co. Basketball, Team FYN Sports February 8, 2020

Becca Ledford taking a shot for Fannin
Yesterday, Feb. 7, the Fannin Co. Lady Rebels (17-11) basketball team traveled to East Hall to take on Greater Atlanta Christian (14-11) for the second round of the region tournament. Both teams were fighting for a win to move on to the championship game that would be played the next day, but the Spartans were able to pull off a 55-43 victory to compete for first place the next day.
Both teams came out ready to play from tip off as Greater Atlanta Christian got the ball. It was a fast paced yet low scoring quarter as it took both teams a few minutes to put any points on the board. The Lady Spartans were the first to put points on the board and gain an early lead as they drove to the basket. Mackenzie Johnson was the first to score any points for Fannin as she drove to the basket to put Fannin on the board. Abby Ledford continued the trend as she earned points from a made layup and free throws to add five points to Fannin’s score to end the first quarter with GAC in the lead with a score of 10-6.
Becca Ledford was working hard as she was able to make a layup and put the Rebels behind by only two points with a score of 23-21. Ledford was the one to lead the Lady Rebels in scoring for the night with 18 points. The Spartans were able to keep making their way to the basket as they kept their lead and added onto their score. Reagan York also showed off her hustle as she made her way past the defense to score a layup and draw a foul where she made both of her free throws. Despite Fannin’s hard work attempting to catch up, GAC was able to keep their lead with a score of 22-17.

Abby Ledford driving to the basket for the Rebels
The crowd was on their feet to start the second half and you could feel the energy fill the gym. Both teams were so hopeful and fought until the end for a victory. The Rebels began to look inside to their posts to start the third quarter. Sadiee Collins and Olivia Sisson showed off their moves on the block as they each made a basket to add to Fannin’s score. Natalie Thomas was on fire with her outside shooting as she contributed 10 of her own points to the Rebels score. On one set of her foul shots, Thomas was able to make them both to tie the game 29-29. With Fannin just a shot away from taking the lead for the first time in the game, the Spartans made a last second basket on the block to put the score at 31-29 to go into the final quarter.
Tension was high as the fourth quarter began. The Spartans found their fire right as the eight minutes began as they made two layups back to back, followed by a 3 point shot to take back their lead. The Rebels were able to add more points on the board, but it was not enough to catch up to the Spartans as the buzzer sounded on their 55-43 victory.
The Rebel’s win put their overall record at 17-11 and their region record at 7-7. Catch Fannin’s next game today as they travel to East Hall to take on Dawson County at 3pm to see who will claim third place in the region.
Lady Rebels advance to second round of state playoffs
Fannin Co. Basketball, Team FYN Sports February 15, 2020
For the first round of state playoffs, the Fannin Co. Lady Rebels traveled to Atlanta to take on the Westminster Wildcats last night, Feb. 14. Both teams fought hard until the end, but Fannin Co. was the one to come out on top with a 54-45 victory to move on to the second round of the state playoffs.
Westminster got the ball from tipoff where they had trouble making their way to the basket. Fannin Co. had a solid defense where they earned rebounds and drove the ball to their basket for points. Saidee Collins was the first to put points on the board with a shot from the block to give Fannin Co. the early lead. Mackenzie Johnson continued the trend as she drove to the basket immediately after to put the score at 4-0. Johnson had a great night on defense as she got after the ball and was able to draw fouls and added a free throw to the Lady Rebels score. The Wildcats began to put the ball into action as they made 3-pointers to put points on the board. The Lady Rebels kept adding to their score and closed out the first quarter with a score of 13-8.
As Westminster began to look inside to their posts for points, Fannin Co. did the same. The Lady Rebels passed around the key well as they had great looks inside to their posts. Olivia Sisson showed off her moves on the block as she added four points to Fannin Co.’s score. Becca Ledford was the one who led the Lady Rebels in scoring for the night with 19 points overall. Abby Ledford also showed off her hustle as she drove to the basket and added four points on the board for Fannin Co. to go into halftime with a 21-17 lead
To start off the second half, Fannin Co. began to make their 3-point shots. Natalie Thomas was on fire above the key as she added 12 points to Fannin Co.’s score from four made 3-pointers. Reagan York continued the trend as she added 10 points on the board for the Lady Rebels, six of them being from made 3-point shots. Westminster began to make a comeback as they were able to make a 3-point shot to tie the game 31-31. Abby Ledford was able to sneak in and and make a wide open shot down low to get Fannin Co.’s lead back with a score of 33-31. Becca Ledford followed right behind as she made a layup to advance Fannin Co.’s lead and closed out the third quarter with a score of 35-33.
The Wildcats quickly tied the game back up to start off the fourth quarter and were able to take a 37-35 lead with made free throws. They continued to advance their lead until Reagan York made back-to-back 3-pointers to tie the game 43-43. Natalie Thomas answered the call as she was able to make a 3-point shot of her own to put Fannin Co. ahead 46-43 for the Lady Rebels to keep adding onto to their score and advancing their lead. As the buzzer sounded, Fannin Co. found themselves with a 54-45 victory to move on to play in the second round.
When asking Becca Ledford about the team’s efforts this season, she stated, “We have put our heart and soul into this team and we no longer do this for ourselves. We do this for each other, our coach, our fans, and everyone who supports the Rebel Nation.”
Fannin Co. Lady Rebels land five on all-region team
Fannin Co. Basketball, Team FYN Sports February 12, 2020
Five members of the Lady Rebels basketball team have been named to the Region 7-3A All-Region Team as voted on by the region coaches.

Senior Morgan Holt was named to the Region 7-3A All-Region First Team.

Junior Abby Ledford was named to the Region 7-3A All-Region First Team.
Two of the five, senior Morgan Holt and junior Abby Ledford, were named to the all-region first team after standout season for coach Ryan Chastain.
Holt, a 5-foot-10 guard and forward, averaged 14 points, six rebounds, two steals, and a block per game this season.
Ledford, a 5-foot-8 guard, averaged 10 points, four rebounds, and two steals for the Lady Rebels.
Three of the five players were named Honorable Mentions for their performances this season: senior Saidee Collins, junior Mackenzie Johnson, and sophomore Becca Ledford.
Collins averaged five points, five rebounds, and a steal per game; Johnson averaged four points, three rebounds, two assists, and two steals; and Becca Ledford averaged 10 points, three rebounds, two assists, and two steals for the Lady Rebels.
Fannin Co. (17-10) earned the No. 3 seed from Region 7-3A in the state playoffs. The Lady Rebels haven’t been past the region tournament since 2013.
The Lady Rebels will face Westminster (20-7), the No. 2 seed from Region 5, at 6 p.m., Friday, Feb. 14, in Atlanta in the first round of the Class 3A state playoffs.

Cheyanne Tilson furthers volleyball career
FCHS Volleyball, Team FYN Sports February 3, 2020
Fannin Co. Lady Rebels volleyball player, Cheyanne Tilson, committed to Truett McConnell University today to further her volleyball career. Not only was Cheyanne committing to play volleyball at Truett, but so was one of her closest teammates, Haley Parks. All of Cheyanne’s friends and family filled the cafeteria for this special day. 
Tilson is a senior at Fannin County High School who has played volleyball for the school for four years. She is a dedicated player who has been awarded for her great performance on the court for the past three years where she has played on the varsity team, received the Offensive Player of the Year Award, and earned the award for Most Valuable Player. When asking the senior why she chose Truett McConell, she stated, “I chose Truett McConnell because I loved the campus and the team. I wanted a college that wasn’t too far away from home and Truett was a perfect fit.”
“Cheyanne and Haley have set examples of what is possible for players in this sport which receives very little if any recognition from the community and the school. It was my honor and privilege to have been a part of their high school careers and I look forward to following their achievements at Truett McConnell,” head coach of the Lady Rebels volleyball team, Jason Stanley, stated about his players.
Haley Parks signs letter of intent to Truett McConnell
Sports, Team FYN Sports February 3, 2020

Today, Feb. 3, Haley Parks signed a letter of intent to further her volleyball career at Truett McConnell University. Not only was Haley committing to play volleyball at Truett, but so was one of her closest teammates, Cheyanne Tilson. All of Haley’s friends and family filled the cafeteria for this special day. 


Haley is a senior at Fannin County High School who has played the sport for the school for the past four years. Parks is an outstanding athlete who has been awarded for her success on the court as she received the Defensive Player of the Year award her sophomore year. Not only does the senior have achievements on the court, but also in the classroom. The scholar is a dual enrollment student at the University of North Georgia who also takes AP courses at the high school. She has been awarded for her academic success by being inducted into not only the National Honors Society, but also the National Technical Honors Society. The athlete is also very involved in clubs at the school as she has the title of Community Service Coordinator in FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America). When competing with the club, she won the FCCLA Star Event Competition on the national level. When asking the senior why she chose Truett McConell, she stated, “I chose Truett because it was a really good opportunity for me. I wanted the chance to play the sport I love beyond high school and the university gave me that opportunity.”
“Cheyanne and Haley have set examples of what is possible for players in this sport which receives very little if any recognition from the community and the school. It was my honor and privilege to have been a part of their high school careers and I look forward to following their achievements at Truett McConnell,” head coach of the Lady Rebels volleyball team, Jason Stanley, stated about his players.
Becca Ledford is the TeamFYNSports Player of the Week for the Lady Rebels!
Fannin Co. Basketball, Player Of The Week, Team FYN Sports February 3, 2020

Becca Ledford is the TeamFYNSports Player of the Week for the Fannin Co. Lady Rebels!
Ledford, a 5-foot-6 sophomore guard, had two standout performances for Fannin Co. (16-9, 6-6 Region 7-3A) last week.
On Friday, Jan. 31, Ledford tied a team high with 12 points as the Lady Rebels fell to Greater Atlanta Christian (14-11, 10-2) in Blue Ridge by a score of 66-53.
Ledford followed that with nine points in a 63-44 non-conference loss to Murphy (18-0, 8-0 Big Smoky Mountain 1-A) on Saturday, Feb. 1, in North Carolina.
For her efforts, Ledford is the TeamFYNSports Player of the Week for the Lady Rebels!
Lady Rebels defeat rival Lady Cats in Ellijay
Fannin Co. Basketball, Team FYN Sports January 5, 2020

The Fannin Co. girls basketball team (11-4, 3-2 Region 7-AAA) traveled to Ellijay on Saturday, Jan. 4, to take on Gilmer (11-4, 6-0 Region 6-AAAA) in the second game between the two rivals this season. While the Lady Rebels one by just one point in the teams’ first matchup, Fannin Co. used a healthy dose of made free throws in the fourth quarter to pull away in the second and earn the 57-45 win.


Fannin Co. took the lead to start off the second quarter as Holt made a jump shot to put the score at 13-11. Saidee Collins followed the trend as she extended the lead from a rebound shot to put the score at 15-11. Collins had a great night on the block as she made moves and added nine points to the Rebel’s score. From then on, the Lady Rebels refused to give up their lead. Olivia Sisson also had spunk down low as she made a shot of her own. As the buzzer sounded, a Lady Bobcat hit a 3-pointer to put them behind Fannin Co. 33-22 to go into halftime.
Gilmer’s defense came to life to start the second half as they only let the Lady Rebels score five points, while they scored nine. Abby Ledford showed off her outside shooting game as she added five points to Fannin Co.’s score. Mackenzie Johnson had spunk as she was able to draw fouls and make 10 points of her own, eight of them being from made free throws. With Gilmer trailing right behind, the Lady Rebels closed out the third quarter with a 38-31 lead.
Tension was high at the start of the fourth quarter as both teams started to run into foul trouble. While two of Fannin’s players had four fouls, they were able to play it smart and keep from getting their fifth. Gilmer on the other hand was not so lucky. There were two Lady Cats to foul out of the game. Fannin Co. found themselves standing at the free throw line for the majority of the quarter due to three technical fouls being called on Gilmer. In the end, it all came down to Fannin Co.’s made free throws that won them the game 57-45.
Fannin Co.’s victory puts their overall record at 12-4 and Gilmer’s at 11-5. Catch the Lady Rebels next game as they travel to Greater Atlanta Christain on Tuesday, Jan. 7, beginning at. 6 p.m.
Morgan Holt is the TeamFYNSports Player of the Week for the Lady Rebels!
Fannin Co. Basketball, Player Of The Week, Team FYN Sports January 27, 2020

Morgan Holt is the TeamFYNSports Player of the Week for the Fannin Co. Lady Rebels!
Holt, a 5-foot-10 senior guard, had three standout performances as Fannin Co. (16-7, 6-5 Region 7-AAA) won three road games during the week.
On Tuesday, Jan. 21, Holt tied a team-high with 13 points, to go along with five rebounds, two assists, three blocks, and three steals as the Lady Rebels defeated region-foe Cherokee Bluff (4-19, 1-9) in Flowery Branch.
Against East Hall (8-14, 3-7) on Friday, Jan. 24, in Rabbittown, Holt put up a game-high 25 points, including five made 3-pointers, to go with 11 rebounds, six assists, and a steal as Fannin Co. won 60-37.
Holt finished the week with 10 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists, two blocks, and two steals in a 57-27 victory Saturday, Jan. 25, against non-conference opponent Southeast Whitfield Co. (6-18, 2-9 Region 6-4A) in Dalton.
Head coach Ryan Chastain said Holt was a big part of the huge win Saturday.
“She did a good job of getting everyone involved,” Chastain said.
For her efforts, Morgan Holt is the TeamFYNSports Player of the Week for the Fannin Co. Lady Rebels!
Reagan York is the TeamFYNSports Player of the Week for the Lady Rebels!
Fannin Co. Basketball, Player Of The Week, Team FYN Sports December 23, 2019

Reagan York is the TeamFYNSports Player of the Week for the Lady Rebels!
York, a sophomore guard, played solid in four games last week for Fannin Co. (10-3, 3-2 Region 7-3A) as the team went 3-1 including a region victory.
Against region-foe East Hall on Tuesday, Dec. 17, York scored just two points but had an important all-around game distributing the ball and playing good defense for the Lady Rebels.
In the first game of the Mistletoe Madness Tournament at North Murray, York scored five points as the Lady Rebels came up just short against McMinn Co., 67-63.
On Friday, Dec. 20, York scored another six points in a 44-40 victory against host North Murray.
York finished up the week with eight points in Fannin Co.’s 46-28 victory against Ooltewah on the final day of the tournament.
For her efforst, York is the TeamFYNSports Player of the Week for the Lady Rebels!
Lady Rebels fall to Lady Indians in matchup of top-10 teams
Fannin Co. Basketball, Team FYN Sports January 18, 2020



Saidee Collins goes up for a shot on the block
Last night, the Lady Rebels (13-8, 4-5 Region 7-AAA) traveled to Lumpkin Co. to take on the Lady Indians (12-8, 4-5) for their second region matchup of the season. Although Fannin Co. almost made a comeback after falling behind early, Lumpkin Co. was the one to walk away with a 53-47 victory.
The Lady Indians came out ready to play as they were able to get the early lead over Fannin Co. While the Lady Rebels mostly drove to the basket and looked inside to their posts for their points, Lumpkin Co. was shooting well from outside. Sophomore Morgan Holt was the one to lead the Lady Rebels in scoring for the night as she earned 13 points overall. The Lady Indians made their mark in the first quarter and were able to close it out with a 16-8 lead.
Fannin Co. full-court pressed the Lady Indians to start off the second quarter. The Lady Rebels were putting up a great defense as they kept the Lady Indians from scoring in the first several minutes. Olivia Sisson added four points to Fannin Co.’s score. Saidee Collins followed the trend as she had moves on the block to make baskets and draw fouls to earn eight points of her own. Although Fannin Co. was doing great on the block, Lumpkin Co. had a 25-18 lead to go into halftime.
To start off the second half, Fannin Co. began to find their fire. Holt made some shots from outside as Reagan York drove to the basket and added 10 points to the Lady Rebels score. Fannin was able to tighten up their defense and made it harder for Lumpkin Co. to get to the basket. The Lady Rebels tied the game 30-30 in the third before Lumpkin Co. quickly responded to end the third quarter with a 39-38 lead.


Olivia Sisson playing defense for Fannin
Mackenzie Johnson and Abby Ledford got after it as they showed off their hustle by each making a basket to add to Fannin Co.’s score. Johnson played scrappy on defense as she was called for her fifth foul in hopes of keeping the Lady Indians from scoring more points.Despite their fight, the Lady Rebels were unable to get their lead back. Lumpkin Co. was able to close out the night with a 53-47 victory.
Fannin Co.’s loss puts their overall record at 13-8 while their region record stands at 4-5. Catch the Lady Rebels next game as they travel to Cherokee Bluff on Tuesday, Jan. 21, to take on the Lady Bears at 5 p.m.
Fannin Co. defeats Hiwassee Dam on the road
Fannin Co. Basketball, Team FYN Sports January 5, 2020

After the long break, the Lady Rebels (10-4, 3-2 Region 7-AAA) traveled to Hiwassee Dam on Friday, Jan. 3, to get back into the rhythm 

Fannin Co. was the first to put any points on the board as Abby Ledford got the ball from tip off and drove it back for a layup. Ledford showed off her outside shooting game as she contributed 12 points to the Lady Rebels’ score for the night. Becca Ledford added nine points to the board with her shots above the key. Paige Forseman followed the trend as she made a 3-pointer to add to Fannin Co.’s score for the night. The Lady Eagles responded they hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to end the first quarter with a 15-12 lead.
Morgan Holt was the one to take the lead for the Lady Rebels as she drove to the basket to make a layup. Holt showed off her great ball handling skills for the night as she led Fannin in scoring with 17 points. Hiwassee Dam mostly drove to the basket to score their points for the night. Mackenzie Johnson followed this trend as she beat the defense up the court to make layups and added five points to the Lady Rebels’ score. The Lady Rebels had a close 28-24 lead to go into halftime.


Morgan Holt playing defense
The Lady Rebels began to extend their lead in the second half of the game by beating the LadyEagles up the court with a press break. As Fannin Co. played with grit, they were able to draw fouls. Jenna Young made two free throws to add to Fannin Co.’s score, while Natalie Thomas added one of her own. The Lady Rebels hit the majority of their foul shots in the period and held a 45-32 lead to end the quarter.
Fannin Co.’s posts did a great job on the block as they pushed past the defense to score baskets. Olivia Sisson showed off her moves as she added six points to Fannin’s score. Saidee Collins followed right behind as she had grit and put up three of her own points from down low. Although the Lady Eagles started to fight back in the final quarter, it wasn’t enough to overcome the Lady Rebels in the 58-44 victory.
Fannin’s win puts their overall record at 11-4 and the Eagle’s at 4-6.
Mackenzie Johnson is the TeamFYNSports Player of the Week for the Lady Rebels!
Fannin Co. Basketball, Player Of The Week, Team FYN Sports January 13, 2020

Mackenzie Johnson is the TeamFYNSports Player of the Week for the Lady Rebels!
Johnson, a 5-foot-6 junior guard, played well in all three games for Fannin Co. (13-5, 4-3 Region 7-AAA) last week.
While her contributions don’t always show up in the scorebook, Johnson is a scrappy, determined defensive player who handles the ball at the point for head coach Ryan Chastain.
Johnson played solid defense Tuesday, Jan. 7, as the Lady Rebels fell to Greater Atlanta Christian (9-9, 5-1) by a score of 66-49 in Norcross.
Johnson got on the scoreboard Friday, Dec. 10, with three points as she helped lead the Lady Rebels to a big, 54-53 region victory against Dawson Co. (11-7, 5-2) in Blue Ridge.
Johnson ended the week by scoring five points in a 62-47 non-conference loss to Union Co. (14-3, 5-1 Region 8-AA) on Saturday, Jan. 11, in Blairsville.
For her efforts, Johnson is the TeamFYNSports Player of the Week for the Lady Rebels!
Saidee Collins is the TeamFYNSports Player of the Week for the Lady Rebels!
Fannin Co. Basketball, Player Of The Week, Team FYN Sports January 20, 2020

Saidee Collins is the TeamFYNSports Player of the Week for the Fannin Co. Lady Rebels!
Collins, a 5-foot-10 senior forward, had a pair of strong games last week as the Lady Rebels (13-7, 4-5 Region 7-AAA) lost a pair.
On Tuesday, Jan. 14, Collins scored five points as Fannin Co. fell to North Hall (15-7, 6-3) in a tough region contest, 64-47 in Blue Ridge.
At Lumpkin Co. (13-8, 4-5) on Friday, Jan. 17, Collins scored eight points as the Lady Rebels fell 53-47 to the top 10-ranked Lady Indians.
For her efforts, Collins is the TeamFYNSports Player of the Week for the Lady Rebels!
Abby Ledford the TeamFYNSports Writer’s Player of the Week for the Lady Rebels!
Fannin Co. Basketball, Player Of The Week, Team FYN Sports December 1, 2019

Junior Abby Ledford is the TeamFYNSports Writer’s Player of the Week for the Lady Rebels!
Ledford, a 5-foot-8 guard, led the team with 17 points per game during the annual north Georgia Thanksgiving tournament Nov. 23-26 in Blue Ridge.
Fannin Co. (4-0) swept the tournament, defeating Hiwassee Dam (70-47), Pickens (80-73), and Gilmer (40-39) to place first in head coach Ryan Chastain’s second season at the helm.
Ledford was a consistent scoring threat for the Lady Rebels, scoring team-highs against Hiwassee Dam (17) and Gilmer (11), and was second only to standout senior Morgan Holt’s 25 points with 24 of her own against Pickens.
Ledford and Holt, along with senior Sadie Collins, were named to the All-Tournament Team.
For her efforts, Abby Ledford is the TeamFYNSports Writer’s Player of the Week for the Lady Rebels!
Becca Ledford is the TeamFYNSports Writer’s Player of the Week for the Lady Rebels!
Fannin Co. Basketball, Player Of The Week, Team FYN Sports December 15, 2019

Becca Ledford is the TeamFYNSports Writer’s Player of the Week for the Lady Rebels!
Ledford, a sophomore guard, had two strong games last week while helping lead Fannin Co. (7-2, 2-2 Region 7-AAA) to two important region victories.
“Becca is a relentless competitor,” Lady Rebels head coach Ryan Chastain said. “This last week, Becca has really started to settle in offensively. She’s put in extra time working on her shot, and it’s starting to pay off.”
Ledford scored a season-high 20 points in a 68-58 win against Cherokee Bluff (2-8, 0-3) on Friday, Dec. 13, in Blue Ridge.
Earlier in the wee, Tuesday, Dec. 10, Ledford scored nine points as the Lady Rebels earned a huge, 51-38 victory against Lumpkin Co. (7-4, 2-2) in Blue Ridge.
But it’s not all offense from Ledford, according to Chastain.
“(Ledford) and (junior) Mackenzie Johnson bring a speed and toughness element to our back court that is hard to deal with. They are a big reason we are averaging 14 steals per game,” Chastain said. “We expect (Ledford) to help set the tone for energy and hustle every game.”
After starting the region schedule with a pair of losses, earning two wins last week has put the Lady Rebels right back in the middle of things in Region 7-AAA.
For her efforts, Ledford is the TeamFYNSports Writer’s Player of the Week for the Lady Rebels!
Morgan Holt is the TeamFYNSports Writer’s Player of the Week for the Lady Rebels!
Fannin Co. Basketball, Player Of The Week, Team FYN Sports December 9, 2019

Morgan Holt is the TeamFYNSports Writer’s Player of the Week for the Lady Rebels!
Holt, a 5-foot-10 senior who plays all over the floor, is a captain for Fannin Co. (5-2, 0-2 Region 7-AAA).
Holt has been on the varsity squad all four years of her high-school career and provides defense, ball handling, points, and leadership for the Lady Rebels.
Against Union Co. on Saturday, Dec. 7, in Blue Ridge, Holt didn’t make her presence known on the scoreboard until the fourth quarter when the team needed her the most.
Clinging to a 36-35 lead entering the final frame, Holt scored eight points in the period for the Lady Rebels, who pulled away late to earn the big, 52-47 victory of one of the school’s biggest rivals.
For her efforts, Morgan Holt is the TeamFYNSports Writer’s Player of the Week for the Lady Rebels!
To be considered for the TeamFYNSports Writer’s Player of the Week, a player must play in all games the team plays during that week and must not have any unsportsmanlike conduct (ejections, etc.). Stats considered for Player of the Week run from Monday through Saturday, with Player of the Week being selected Sunday each week.
