Welcome to our new web site!

To give our readers a chance to experience all that our new website has to offer, we have made all content freely avaiable, through October 1, 2018.

During this time, print and digital subscribers will not need to log in to view our stories or e-editions.

STATEBOUND!

McKenzie Rebels Earn State Tournament Berth with Sectional Win

Posted

McKENZIE (March 5) — The McKenzie High School Rebels will travel to Murfreesboro next week as one of the “Elite Eight” teams in the 2019 TSSAA Class A State Boys' Basketball Tournament at the Murphy Center on the campus of Middle Tennessee State University.

The Rebels punched their tickets Monday with a 69-57 Sectional win over a tough East Robertson team before a raucous crowd at Bethel University's Crisp Arena.

It is just the second trip the Rebels have made to the state tournament in the history of the program, the first coming 21 years ago.

After a tight first quarter, the Rebels gradually built up a lead over the resilient Indians. A Lucas King three-pointer to open the second half finally gave McKenzie its first double-digit lead, and from there the gap hovered between eight and 14 points. With just over a minute to play, Ben Austin punctuated the win with a breakaway and a two-handed slam dunk that elicited a thunderous reaction from Rebel faithful.

When time expired, an ocean of red and gray swept onto the court in celebration. Each player, Assistant Coach Larry Joe Smith and finally Head Coach John Wilkins cut a piece of the net down from the goal in traditional fashion.

The Rebels will be joined by Columbia Academy, Humboldt, Manassas, University School – Johnson City, Cosby, Fayetteville and Eagleville in the single-elimination tournament. Teams will draw for position on the bracket Tuesday, March 5 at 5 p.m.

First round games in Class A are Thursday, March 14 at 1:15, 2:45, 4:30 and 6 p.m. Semifinal games are Friday at 4:30 and 6 p.m., and the championship game is Saturday at 6 p.m.

McKenzie Rebels 69, East Robertson Indians 57

The Rebels had a 16-15 edge after the opening frame, led by Ben Austin with nine points. Lucas King scored four, Lane Horton had a pair, and Lazarick Hill hit a free throw. Taylor Groves led the Indians with eight points. Isaiah Hobdy scored four, and Darion Shannon hit a three-pointer.

McKenzie had a 16-10 advantage in the second quarter, led again by Austin with seven points. Nate Whitsell scored four, Micah Austin hit a three-pointer, and Hill added a pair. Dalton Hammonds led East Robertson with six points on a pair of threes, and Groves and Hobdy each added a pair. At the half, the Rebels led 32-25.

The Rebels outscored the Indians 18-17 in the third, led by Whitsell with ten points, including a pair of threes. King scored five with a three-pointer, M. Austin added a pair, and B. Austin hit a freebie. Groves led East Robertson with eight, including a three. Shannon scored six, and Hobdy had three points. Heading into the final frame, McKenzie led 50-42.

McKenzie capped the win with a 19-15 tilt in the fourth, led by B. Austin with ten points. Whitsell scored eight, and King hit a free throw. Groves and Shannon each scored six for the Indians, and Hammonds hit a three-pointer.

Rebel Ben Austin led all scores with 27 points. Nate Whitsell scored 22 with a pair of three-pointers. Lucas King had ten points, also with a three.

Taylor Groves led East Robertson with 24 points, including a three-pointer. He was 11-for-11 at the line. Darion Shannon scored 15 points with a three.