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Lady Rebels Continue State Run Defeating Lady Bulldogs

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MURFREESBORO (March 11) — On Friday evening, the #1 ranked McKenzie Lady Rebels and the #14 ranked Gleason Lady Bulldogs squared off in a winner-takes-all battle to play for the BlueCross Girls’ State Basketball Championship. After four quarters of hard-fought play, the Lady Rebels picked up the 58-46 win.

McKenzie was forty percent from the floor picking up eighteen points from behind the arc. Gleason shot fifty percent with two three-pointers. The Lady Rebels were twelve of fifteen from the charity stripe, while the Lady Bulldogs were ten of thirteen.

The Lady Rebels turned the ball over nine times and the Lady Bulldogs lost the ball fifteen times. McKenzie had thirty rebounds to Gleason’s twenty.

The first quarter of action was an even ebb and flow between the pair of opponents. The Lady Rebels took the first lead but Lady Bulldog and Miss Basketball Finalist Alayna Anderson tied things up at two apiece. At the 4:19 part, McKenzie’s Miss Basketball Finalist Savannah Davis tied the game at 5-5 after hitting the and-one foul shot.

Carrington Lifsey for Gleason reclaimed the Lady Bulldog lead only to have the Lady Rebels reclaim the lead 8-7 with a quick three from Davis. With less than three minutes to play in the quarter, Anderson drove the paint, drawing a shooting foul off Briley Auvenshine.

McKenzie’s Katie Chesser hit a trey to retake the lead, 13-11 with under two minutes in the quarter. Lifsey squared things at 13-13 with under two minutes remaining in the first quarter.

In the opening minute-fifty seconds both teams were scoreless but the second quarter favored the Lady Rebels fourteen points to the Lady Bulldogs’ eight points. Davis regained the McKenzie lead 15-13 following putting up two points from the free-throw line after drawing the foul from Autumn Mingle.

McKenzie amped up their defense running a full-court press but was called for defensive fouls. Lifsey went to the line cutting the McKenzie lead 17-16 with less than five minutes to play in the quarter.

Dani Dyer drove inside the key into the heart of the Gleason defense picking up two. She then picked up three points from long-range putting the Lady Rebels up 24-17 with under two to play in the half.

Lady Bulldog Daisy Blevins kept her team within range with a much-needed offensive and put-back, putting the score 24-19 in favor of the Lady Rebels. Hannah Dillingham came off the bench for McKenzie hitting a huge three-pointer from the corner. Lifsey scored the final points of the quarter as McKenzie closed the half with a 27-19 lead.

McKenzie led for a total of eight-and-a-half minutes in the half. Through six lead changes, Gleason led for just under three minutes.

The final two quarters worked in favor of the Lady Rebels as they outscored the Lady Bulldogs 31-25. Gleason worked to narrow the McKenzie lead in hopes of possibly knocking off the #1 ranked Lady Rebels. After a series of turnovers and blocked shots, it was inevitable McKenzie would advance.

Anderson logged the first points of the third quarter, but Dyer responded with an up and under at the baseline. Auvenshine was able to add three for the Lady Rebels after backing the basket and picking up the extra point from the foul shot. With under six minutes to go in the quarter, McKenzie led 32-25.

Dyer picked up the trey on a step-back jumper. The shot was met by a three-pointer from Gleason’s Tinsley Parkins. With under one minute in the third quarter, Chesser picked up her second three-pointer as McKenzie went up 43-32. Lifsey drew the shooting foul off Auvenshine (her fourth of the game) as the quarter ended with the Lady Rebels up 43-34.

With one quarter remaining and a nine-point lead, the clock was the only obstacle standing in the way of a Lady Rebel state championship appearance. McKenzie went on the defensive working the time off the clock but still increased their lead.

Dyer and Davis were able to pick up points putting the Lady Rebels up 49-38 with under five minutes to play. Anderson and Lifsey worked with precision to cut the McKenzie lead to less than ten.

After a timeout called by McKenzie’s Coach John Wilkins, the Lady Rebels were able to adjust and continue their march through Murfreesboro in hopes of a championship. As the buzzer sounded to end the game, McKenzie advanced to the championship round taking down Gleason by a score of 58-46.

Davis led the Lady Rebels with 24 points, nine rebounds, three assists and one block. During the game, she scored her 1000th career point. Dyer was four of eight for twelve points with seven rebounds and one assist. For Gleason, Lifsey had 19 points and Anderson finished the night with 14 points and 4 rebounds.

Saturday, March 12, the Lady Rebels hit the court for the last time this season in hopes of bringing home the gold ball. The McKenzie Lady Rebels played the Wayne County Lady Wildcats at the Murphy Center at 6:30 p.m. CST.