Franklin County took advantage of a few late Lady Cat miscues to spoil Senior Night 48-45 Tuesday at Tullahoma High School.
The Rebelettes struck first in a battle between the top two teams in District 8-3A, opening the game on a 15-3 run and building an 18-9 lead at the end of the first quarter. Tullahoma would counter by scoring the first 13 points of the second quarter to take the lead. The Lady Cats would win the second frame 16-6 to take a 25-24 lead into the locker room. McLayne Bobo led the way for Tullahoma with four first half threes.
The teams played to a stalemate in the third, each scoring 10 points and Tullahoma holding a one point advantage going to the fourth.
Franklin County tied the game at 43 with 2:35 to play on a Baylor Russell steal and fast break layup. Moments later Ne’KayJah Holman forced another Tullahoma turnover and got the ball to Russell who was fouled. She made one of two foul shots to give the Rebelettes a one point advantage. A pair of Franklin County defensive stops and two made free throws from Hannah Campbell pushed Franklin County’s lead to 46-43 with :36 seconds left.
McLayne Bobo responded for Tullahoma earning a trip to the line with :22 seconds left and hitting both to pull the Lady Cats back within one. That was as close as the Lady Cats would come as Holman and Gracen Bagget would each earn trips to the line in the final 20 second and convert three of four foul shots and then Holman blocked Bobo’s final second three point attempt.
The win snaps a nine game Tullahoma win streak in the series and extends the race for the regular season district crown to the regular season’s final night.
McLaybe Bobo led Tullahoma with 16 points and was named the Owens Provisions and Apparel Player of the Game. Seniors Lakaiyah Barnes and Isabella Lidstrom added 9 points each for the Lady Cats who fell to 15-12 overall and 7-2 in the district.
NeKayjah Holman finished with a game high 20 to lead Franklin County who improved to 16-12 on the season and 7-2 in district play. Gracen Baggett also finished in double figures tallying 19 points.
Tullahoma visits Giles County Thursday while Franklin County hosts Marshall County. The Lady Cats win the 8-3A regular season crown with a victory and Franklin County loss. A Tullahoma loss and Rebelette win gives Franklin County the regular season title. If both teams win then they would split the regular season championship and tie breakers would be used to seed the district tournament. Regardless of the outcome Thursday Tullahoma is assured of a top two seed for the 8-3A tourney and a berth in the Region 4-3A tournament.
Wildcats hold off Rebels, sweep season series
Without Austin Tinnion in the lineup the seventh ranked Tullahoma Wildcats shook off a slow start and a third quarter surge from the Rebels to down Franklin County 59-45 to extend their win streak to six and move a step closer to their first regular season district title since 2013.
The Rebels jumped out to an early 4-0 lead before Tullahoma closed the opening quarter on an 11-4 run to lead 11-8 at the end of the first.
Led by Khani Johnson, who was near automatic on the night, Tullahoma closed the second quarter on a 9-0 run while limiting the Rebels to just six points in the frame to build a 30-14 lead at halftime.
The Rebels trimmed the lead down to as few as six points in the third outscoring the Wildcats 20-11 in the quarter to go to the fourth down just 41-34. However Tullahoma closed the game strong led by the senior duo of Johnson and Xavier Farrell tallying 18 fourth quarter points to pull off the 14 victory.
Johnson led the Cats with a game high 27 points and earned Player of the Game honors from Owens Provisions and Apparel. Farrell also finished in double figures with 16 points. Broody Goff led Franklin County with 13 points and Brandon Walker added 10.
With the win Tullahoma is now 24-3 overall and 8-1 in district play. Franklin County falls to 4-22 on the season and 2-7 in the district.
The Wildcats, who are assured at least a share of the district 8-3A championship, can claim the crown outright with a win Thursday night at Giles County or Marshall County loss at Franklin County . Thanks to the head to head tie breaker Tullahoma will be the one seed in the district tournament regardless of Thursday’s results and has secured a spot in the Region 4-3A tournament.
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