This time around PG-Alisha Andrews was mentally ready to lead her team to the state title.

Duluth, GA – What a difference a year makes, last seasons with a team full of sophomores Redan lost their composure and the state championship game to their rivals from Stephenson. This time around Head Coach Rhonda Malone’s team hit the floor as more mature, composed team primarily made up of juniors and drilled Marietta to capture the school 1st state basketball championship.

After beating No.1 ranked Parkview in the semifinals on Thursday you knew that the undefeated Lady Raiders were going to be ready and that Marietta was going to be in real trouble…. period.

One very important piece of the Redan puzzle was put into place at the beginning of the season in the form of Peachtree Ridge transfer MacKenzie Dalrymple; the junior got the Lady Raiders off and running with a pair of steals that she converted into points. A three-pointer by Kierra Paige would make it 7-0 with less than 1:00 minute gone in the game.

The match-up inside between a pair of 4SHOT Hoops All-Stars Nia Evans (Redan) and Telia McCall (Marietta) was a one-sided affair in favor of Evans, who dominated the paint early on scoring two baskets to put Redan up 11-0, forcing Marietta Head Coach Ken Sprague to call a timeout to try and settle his team down.

With 2:23 left in the first quarter the Lady Blue Devils would finally score their first basket on a lay-up by Brittany White.

With the traffic jam Redan was causing inside McCall decided to move outside where she found some daylight; first she knocked down a short jumper than she showed off her range by drilling a three-pointer to cut the Redan lead to 14-7 at the end of the first quarter.

of 4SHOT Hoops All-Stars Telia McCall (Marietta) and Nia Evans (Redan)

Evans who was off to such a great start was called for her second foul and had to take a seat on the bench as the second quarter got underway. That didn’t stop the Lady Raiders from continuing to dominate the glass, Delia Brunson and reserve Aneesah Daniels made sure of that.

Alisha Andrews, who at this point in last years championship game was already mentally and emotionally done, was fighting off those old emotions and starting running the team like a true leader should; she also found time to drain her second three-pointer of the game as Redan increased their lead.

Reserve Quortni Fambro, who has played a big role in the Lady Raiders return to the championship game was feeling it as she hit the court. The senior would take a stroll through the Matrix knocking down 3 three-pointers as Redan opened up a 34-17 halftime lead.

Evans would return to the line-up and pick up right where she left off as the third quarter got underway. Evan would score and hit 4 of 4 free-throws as the Lady Raiders increased their lead to 40-19.

Peachtree Ridge transfer MacKenzie Dalrymple played a big role in Redan's success this season.

McCall, who just wasn’t having one of her all-star type performances, picked up her fifth foul with 4:32 left in the quarter thus ending her season and any hopes of a Marietta comeback.

Daniels continued her outstanding post play; she would go 3 of 4 from the line and added a basket to give Redan a commanding 53-25 lead heading into the forth quarter.

Before the start of the forth quarter I overheard Coach Malone reiterating to her players that the game wasn’t over and that they needed to keep playing hard.

Marietta would score a couple of easy baskets and Coach Malone immediately called a timeout to repeat in no uncertain words that she meant what she said about finishing strong.

This time the Lady Raiders heeded their coaches’ words and went back on the floor and finished off the Lady Blue Devils. Both coaches would clear their benches to give the other players a chance to perform in the championship game.

As the Redan players came to the bench the tears they were shedding now were those of joy and excitement. When the final seconds on the clock ticked off the Lady Raiders rushed to center court and held up their Class 5A State Championship Trophy, capping of a perfect undefeated season.

In closing I would like to pay a tribute to Redan senior Quortni Fambro, who has had to battle back from a serious knee injury that forced her to miss her entire sophomore season when she was at Cedar Grove. As a freshman at Cedar Grove she was one of the most athletic young players in the state and had college recruiters already inquiring about her game. Just ask the other players who they didn’t want to have to deal with back then, they know (lol).

As a junior she transferred to Redan and played towards the end of the season but she still wasn’t 100% but you saw glimpses of what had made her such an outstanding young player. This season you saw her gaining confidence in her knee and her game and with that the confidence of her coaches to put in the rotation where she was one of the key contributors. Now Fambro will be sporting a championship ring, way to go Fambro.

The Final Score:

Redan 64 – Marietta 40

Scoring Recap

Redan: Quortni Fambro scored a game high 18 points to pace Redan. Nia Evans added 17, Aneesah Daniels 9 and Alisha Andrews finished with 8.

Marietta: Brittany White scored 8 to lead Marietta. Telia McCall added 7 and Dani Barteimay 6. 

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