S

The Franklin County Rebels lost to the Warren County Pioneers 60-51 in overtime at Coffee County Saturday in the District 6-4A championship game.

The Rebels kept pace with the top-seeded Pioneers through the four quarters of regulation, but Warren County pulled away in an extra period to leave the Rebels as the district runners-up.

The Pioneers scored the last six points of the opening period to take what would be the largest lead of the day for either team until overtime.

Franklin County trailed 14-6 after one quarter.

The Rebels scored the first 11 points of the second quarter to take their first lead of the day. The lead changed hands an additional five times in the period before the teams ultimately ended the first half tied at 24-24.

The teams continued to trade baskets in the third quarter with a layup from Ke’Andre Johnson tying the score with 30 seconds remaining in the period.

The score was tied at 36-36 going into the fourth quarter.

The Rebels jumped out to a three-point lead early in the fourth quarter before the Pioneers scored four straight to take a 44-43 lead with about four minutes remaining in regulation.

A free throw from Kai Baker tied the score at 44-44, and Kaleb Rigsby gave the Rebels the lead once more at 46-44 on a basket with about three minutes left. However, the Pioneers quickly moved down the court and hit a tying shot of their own to make it a 46-46 game.

A block from Baker on a later Warren County possession gave the Rebels possession of the ball in the final minute, but they turned the ball over with about 10 seconds to go.

The Pioneers were unable to score in the time remaining as the game went into overtime tied at 46-46.

A basket by the Pioneers to start the overtime period was quickly met by a matching score from Rigsby to tie the score at 48-48, but the Pioneers closed out the game on a 12-3 run from there as the Rebels lost by nine.

Baker led the Rebels with 16 points for the game, followed by Rigsby with 14 points and Sam Vincent with 12.

Johnson scored seven points and Kenyon Fuqua scored two.

Following the conclusion of the game, Baker was named the MVP of the district for the regular season, and Rigsby and Johnson were named to the all-district team.

Baker and Rigsby were also named to the all-tournament team.

With the loss, the Rebels moved to 13-15 on the season.

They will next play Saturday at home against Bradley Central High School or Walker Valley High School in a quarterfinal game for the Region 3-4A tournament. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.