MONTGOMERY — Francis Marion ran out of legs and then they ran out of time.

The Lanett Panthers were 30-41 from the free throw line, which made the final difference in their 68-63 win over the Rams in Thursday’s Class 2A Central regional finale.

“Well, looking at the stat sheet, its not surprising,” Francis Marion head coach Lee Hollis said.

“When you score 30 from the line, and I’m not sitting here and complaining, but when you score 30 from the line and only lose by five. I feel like the game was won and lost at the free throw line.”

The Rams fought hard the entire game, having to come back in each quarter to stay within striking distance of the Panthers.

“It was a hard fought game, our guys went down, they came back and I admire them for that,” Hollis said. “They are hurting right now and I wish there was something I could say to make it better, but that’s life. You have to move forward and get to that second chapter.”

Francis Marion trailed for much of the game but connected on key 3-point baskets in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 50 with six minutes left to play.

On the next possession, the Rams got a steal and Francis Marion’s LaDarius Tabb, who ended the night with 18 points, grabbed the loose ball and took it up the court to give the Rams the lead for the first time since the score was 1-0.

After that, it appeared the charge had left the Rams on empty.

“These guys who played heavy minutes, played heavy minutes Tuesday,” Hollis said, referring to the Rams’ opening round game. “But that’s our style. It’s how we play. I think Tuesday, where we held up, today it didn’t.”

But in the end, the game was won at the free throw line for the Panthers.

Lanett made more free throws, 30, than Francis Marion attempted, 23.

“We couldn’t be as aggressive as we wanted to be,” Hollis said. “Because in that situation we were getting fouls called on us.

“I’m just so proud of these boys, they fought all game. We just couldn’t quite do it.”