Rebels done in by Wolfpack

TIFTON — In 2008, the Turner County Rebels were defeated in the final seconds by Hancock Central for the Class A state championship game. Things were slightly different in 2009 as the Rebels again fell in the state title game, but the outcome was determined much earlier as the Whitefield Academy Wolfpack outplayed the Rebels and garnered a 69-53 victory over Turner.

“We weren’t ready to play. This is first time all year that a team took it to us, and we didn’t fight back,” said Turner coach Eric Holland. “We missed layups, made bad passes, weren’t in the right spots on the floor, we just didn’t finish.”

Down throughout most of the first half, Turner battled back to take a four-point lead, 25-21, on a Ternell Davis three-point play in the second quarter. However, Whitefield bounced back and with less than five seconds left in the half, the Wolfpack made a steal and Brandon Reed converted a layup to tie the game at 27-27 at the half.

A Davis basket late in the third quarter was the next time the Rebels would score and by that time, it was 38-29. The Wolfpack were never challenged again as Whitefield outscored Turner by a 20-4 margin in the third quarter.

To make matters worse for the Rebels Turner had six players foul in the game, but Holland was not going to use that for an excuse.

“They just outplayed us. They took it to us and got us into foul trouble,” said Holland. “The officiating is a part of the game, and you have to fight through it. That didn’t affect the outcome. We were just outplayed.”

Davis led the Rebels with 18 points. Todd Lawson had 10, and Breon Dixon had eight points, nine rebounds and six blocked shots.

Turner ends the year with a 30-2 record.