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Hanna, Popescu combine for 41 points as Indians hold on for thrilling win

#6-ranked Tallulah Falls took a 50-47 win Thursday night at Prince Avenue Christian in what was a rematch from last season's region championship game. Just like last year's overtime game, this one once again came down to the wire.

A Wolverines 5-0 run to open the game had the home team in front. Vlad Popescu's runner got the Indians on the board, and a dunk by Anfernee Hanna had TFS within 10-5, and Popescu connected from downtown to highlight the opening quarter, though PAC held a 15-9 lead.

Tallulah Falls flipped the script in the second, outscoring the Wolverines 20-9 as Hanna had 12 points in the quarter. The senior got a pair of quick buckets, and then Krystian Jankiewicz had a laying to get within 18-15. Moments later, Jankiewicz splashed a shot from deep as the go-ahead triple and the 19-18 lead. From there, Hanna converted several free throws, and added another dunk. Prince Ave made a run to tie the game at 25 apiece, but the dunk got the Indians back out in front, and Lincoln Hall's spinaround jumper was good. Tallulah Falls held a slim 29-26 halftime lead.

In the third, Popescu had a layin early on to to pull ahead 31-30 after Prince Avenue had taken a one-point lead momentarily. Hanna had a jumper and a 3-point play to go ahead 36-35, but the Wolverines continued to hit a flurry of 3-pointers and outpaced TFS 12-8 in the quarter to hold a 38-37 lead going into the final stanza.

Hanna continued to rack up points at the charity stripe, keeping the game close until Popescu nailed a triple for the 43-41 lead. Once again, the Wolverines came back for a 45-45 tie before Popescu hit on his third tri-fecta to reclaim the 48-45 lead with just a few minutes to go. TFS held a one-point lead with 27 seconds to go and possession when Jankiewicz banked in a shot in the lane with eight seconds to go, pushing the lead up to 50-47. The defense held on for the win despite Prince Ave getting the last shot.

Hanna had a game-high 27 points, and Popescu had 14 including three 3-pointers. Jankiewicz finished with seven and Hall had two. The Indians are now 4-1 on the season, and return to action on Saturday as they host White County in a non-region contest.

The JV Indians secured a blowout win of 42-10, moving their record to 2-0 on the young season. Petar Radovic had a team-high 15 points, and Andrija Vujacic tallied 10.