The Fayette County-McIntosh basketball rivalry is arguably the best the county has to offer.

Exciting, fast-paced and intense are three of the many words that could be used to describe games between McIntosh and Fayette.

The two Region 2-AAAA rivals squared off for the second time this season Tuesday in Peachtree City, and the game, not surprisingly, wasn’t decided until late in the fourth quarter, with Fayette holding on for a 69-66 victory to complete the season sweep.

The Tigers' victory, their second straight, improved their overall record to 12-7 and region record to 8-2. The Chiefs dropped to 8-6 overall and 4-6 in the region.

Fayette’s girls also completed a season sweep of McIntosh, downing the Lady Chiefs 57-19 for their fourth consecutive victory.

The Lady Tigers' victory improved their overall record to 14-4 and region record to 9-1. The Lady Chiefs fell to 6-8 overall and 3-7 in the region.

Entering the fourth quarter of the boys game, the teams were deadlocked at 53.

Addison Flynn opened the final period with a 3-pointer to put Fayette in front. McIntosh went on to cut Fayette’s lead to one three times over the next three minutes.

Back-to-back baskets by Brandon Boykin (a layup) and Flynn (a 3-pointer) gave Fayette a six-point lead (65-59), tied for its largest of the game, with 4:20 remaining.

The Chiefs pulled within one (65-64) for the final time on a 3-pointer by Jeremy Lampkin with 2:20 to go.

About a minute later, McIntosh suffered a crushing blow — Lampkin, who led McIntosh with 21 points, fouled out.

With Lampkin sitting on the bench, Fayette took advantage. Boykin drew a foul in the lane and hit one of two free throws and Noel Johnson scored on a scoop shot in the lane that gave Fayette some breathing room, 68-64, with 40.6 seconds left.

McIntosh committed two turnovers within six seconds in the final 20 seconds, stymying its chances of beating the Tigers. But the Chiefs still had some life left late, trimming Fayette’s lead to 68-66 on a tip-in by Robert Chubb with 4 seconds left.

Boykin was immediately fouled on the ensuing inbounds pass, and he drilled the first of two free throws to make it a three-point game.

McIntosh had one final opportunity to tie the game and send it into overtime, but Cameron Rich’s halfcourt shot at the buzzer was off the mark.

The Chiefs led by as many as nine in the second quarter, but they failed to maintain the lead as they let a prime opportunity to knock off one of the region’s top teams slip away.

"McIntosh always plays us tough," Fayette coach Andre Flynn said. "We got down, but we kept our composure and pulled out a win against a very good McIntosh team."

Two difference-makers for Fayette were Johnson, who scored a game-high 27 points, and Flynn, who scored 21 points (all but three of his points came on 3-pointers). McIntosh’s 2-3 zone clogged the lane, but Johnson and Flynn provided the Tigers with what any team needs to solve a zone defense — reliable shooting from the perimeter.

"My son [Addison Flynn] was key tonight because they were playing that zone defense," Andre Flynn said. "We needed someone to shoot it besides Noel because we knew they were going to cheat on Noel. Addison helped us out."

Boykin also was a key contributor for Fayette, finishing with 10 points.

McIntosh had three players score in double figures, Lampkin, Chubb (19 points) and Jake Tanis (10). Rich added eight.

The Lady Tigers were dominant from start to finish in the early game, leading the entire way.

Fayette point guard Tessah Holt, who scored 13 points, consistently broke down McIntosh’s defense. When she found an opening, she either drove the lane and dished the ball off to her teammates for high-percentage baskets or stepped up and nailed her shots.

One of the main beneficiaries of Holt’s ability to carve up McIntosh’s defense was forward Anma Onyeuku, who scored a game-high 14 points. Onyeuku made her presence felt early, scoring 12 consecutive points in the first quarter, which ended with Fayette's Jasmine Facey draining a 3-pointer at the buzzer that put the Lady Tigers ahead 20-6.

Fayette's transition game, led by Holt, continued to overwhelm the Lady Chiefs the rest of the way.

"Our transition game was working really well tonight," Fayette coach John Strickland said. "Once we get out on the break, we really get going. It's what we like to do, play fast-paced basketball."

Fayette's defense also was a significant factor in its victory. The Lady Tigers held McIntosh to single digits in each of the four quarters; they didn't allow more than six points in each of the quarters.

McIntosh was led by Laura Higgason (nine points) and Erin Justice (seven).

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