Macon – Head coach Tasha Kimble has been adamant all season long that the goal for the season was set a year ago when the Turner County Lady Rebels lost to Taylor County in the state championship game. That loss has motivated her squad all season long. All that motivation was evident on the floor of the Macon Coliseum Thursday afternoon as the Lady Rebels, after a slow start, dominated the last three quarters of the game to win going away over Terrell County 55-38. It is the school’s first championship in basketball since 1956 when Ashburn won a Class C championship.
Office led the team in scoring, helping Mylashia Yancey defeat Terrell County. Photo: Jessica Peters/SGSN
“We set the goal last year to get back to Macon. We have had March 3 circled on our calendar for a long time,” said an elated and relieved Tasha Kimble.
The Lady Rebels found themselves in an early 14-4 deficit to the Greenwave. In addition, Mylashia Yancey, the Lady Rebels leading scorer with almost 26 points per game, found herself saddled with two early fouls. The rest of the team, led by senior Xariah Office, picked up the pace, and led the team to a 32-28 halftime lead.
The second half was all Lady Rebels. Yancey did pick up her third and fourth foul in the third quarter but the rest of the team continued to build on the lead established in the first half. Office hit four three points over the course of the game and the Lady Rebels hit their free throws down the stretch to pull away for the 55-38 victory to become state champions in Class A.
“We have practiced situations like we experienced today because I have told the girls to be prepared if Mylashia gets in foul trouble or gets hurt. And we were ready today. It was a total team effort and I couldn’t be more prouder of our girls,” says Kimble.
Office led the team with 22 points while Yancey still finished with 21 points despite sitting out almost a full quarter with foul trouble.
This year’s Lady Rebels team finished the season 31-0 and this senior class finished with an overall record of 103-14 over the past four years. The Class of 2016 will forever be known as the class that brought a state championship in girls basketball to Turner County.
The Lady Rebels will be honored with a parade in Ashburn at 11:00 Saturday morning with a chance for pictures and autographs at Elrod Park immediately afterwards.