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2:43 to go MCHS was down 43-37. A pair of free throws by Makyla Bell closed it to 43-39 with two minutes on the clock. With just over a minute in the third it was 45-39 after the Bulldogs got a shot to fall.

Marley Bell made it 45-41, and she hit another to close it to a twopoint game at 45-43. And that was the score at the end of the third quarter, 45-43, with the Eagles trailing.

In the fourth with 5:40 to play Hancock had pushed their lead back out to 50-43. Marley made it 50-45 with two free throws. With 4:20 left to play Amire Banks hit a runner in the lane and Makyla hit a pull up jumper from 12 feet to close it to 52-49.

But a three-pointer by Hancock with just under two minutes to play gave them a 55-49 lead. Makyla made it 55-51, and at that point the Eagles had to start fouling to slow the clock. With just 45 seconds it was 56-53.

Hancock made a couple of late free throws to maintain their lead. Makyla added a threepointer in the final seconds, but it was not enough as the Lady Eagles fell 58-56 to Hancock Central.

Makyla led the Eagles with 25 points including 4 three-pointers. Marley added 21 and 14 rebounds, and Banks scored 10 in the game with 9 rebounds.

Hancock went on to win in their Final 4 appearance over Commerce and will face Lake Oconee Academy for the State Championship on Wednesday of this week in Macon.