DANVILLE — Momentum built by the Fairview Lady Aggies from the second period in the Lady Hawks' Thanksgiving Classic championship game with undefeated Athens Friday night was not carried into the second half.
Athens got back control of the game thanks to a 15-4 advantage in the third and went on to claim the championship trophy by a final margin of 49-33.
The win by Athens kept the Golden Eagles undefeated on the season at 9-0 and ended a five-game winning streak by the Lady Aggies.
Fairview had reached the title bout for the first time in this 8th annual tournament at Wayne Bowling Gymnasium, turning back Danville in the semifinals 66-35.
Down 10-3 after the first period and with one made the field goal, Fairview fought back against Athens and got the game tied at 18-18 thanks to a McKinna Yearwood three-pointer in the closing seconds of the second quarter.
Athens then went ahead 19-18 to start the third and a three-pointer by Taylor Hall gave the Golden Eagles the momentum they would need to extend the lead to 33-22 as the third stanza came to a close.
Alexis Woods would score a game high 21 points to send Athens to the championship. Abbi Taylor threw in a team-high 18 for Fairview who is now 5-2 on the season.
In the semifinal victory vs. Danville, the Lady Aggies were ahead 31-18 at halftime and 44-35 following the third period.
The defense got strong by keeping Danville scoreless for the final 8:00 and a 22-point run put the game out of reach. Taylor Yeager was on fire in this game for Mary Lauren Hartline's Lady Aggies with 24 points, Jada Golden netted 11 and Yeager contributed eight.
Cold Springs got a huge 64-59 victory over 5A power Lawrence County in the consolation bracket, then suffered a 57-32 defeat at the hands of Decatur in the fifth place game.
Emme Willoughby outperformed Lawrence County star Rachael Childress by scoring a career-best 33 points, 19 coming in the second half. Childress tossed in 29, but only managed nine in the final half as Tammy West's Lady Eagles went to a box-and-one defense on her.
West Point was 0-2 on the day, dropping a 48-35 game in the morning hours to Decatur and then coming up short to Lawrence County 62-42 in the seventh place game.
Jeri Beasley scored 11 points for John Welborn's team in both games. Bailee Yearwood had 10 in the Decatur game and eight versus Lawrence County.
Brewer took home third place by defeating Danville 59-44 as Bri Flack scored 19 and Tamara Chatman delivered 13. Jolee Cole guided Danville with 15 and Gracie George 11.
