GAINESVILLE - Eight out of 10 times, senior Sarah Lane hits both free throws.
But Friday night, with 7.1 seconds left and a chance to give the Johnson Lady Knights the lead against Fannin County in their Region 7-AAA semifinals, both lipped out and Fannin got the rebound and ran down the clock on a 44-43 win.
Johnson coach Benji Wood said things happen.
"That's who you want up there in that situation. It just happened. I feel bad for her but we still get to play again," Wood said.
Lane was looking to put a cap on a miraculous fourth quarter rally by the Lady Knights (20-7). They trailed 40-26 with just over six minutes left and were fading fast.
But following baskets by Brooke Baker and Melissa Johnson, sophomore Whitney Randolph nearly shot Johnson to the win. Randolph scored eight straight points, capped by a long 3-pointer to tie the score at 43-43 with 32 seconds left.
Fannin's Alder Acker gave the Lady Rebels (23-4) a 44-43 lead hitting 1-of-2 free throws with 24 seconds.
Lane was fouled after an offensive rebound and Fannin coach Johnny Farmer could only hope for two misses.
"I did not want to go to overtime. We were gassed, they had all the momentum. I was just praying for a miracle," he said.
He got it.
The win for Fannin sets up an old-time rivalry with No. 1 Gainesville for the region title Saturday night. The two programs routinely duked it out for state supremacy in the mid-1990s. Fannin won the 1993 state title the year before Gainesville began it's streak of dominance in the area.
"I don't think my girls really understand how good it was. We haven't been at that level lately. But it's always fun when the two teams meet," Farmer said.
Randolph finished with 18 points, most coming in the fourth quarter.
Fannin was led by senior Stephanie Searce with 20 points.
Sunday
July 6th, 2025
5:49AM
