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.
McKENZIE (April 14) — Players, coaches, family members, administrators, sponsors and supporters packed the McKenzie High School cafeteria Sunday afternoon to celebrate a great basketball season for the Rebels, Lady Rebels and cheerleaders.
The banquet began with Principal Tim Watkins welcoming all and student John Tyler Putman giving a blessing. Then guests enjoyed a delicious meal catered by Big Daddy’s Bar-B-Que.
After dessert, Watkins returned to the podium to thank supporters of the program, including Mark Anderson and the Big Daddy’s staff, the Board of Education, Tim McBride, Ladona Herrin, Matt Lane of Block City Pizza, Ryan Dyer of Mallard’s, Brad Chappell of Bethel University and Gina Pate.
Cheer sponsor Ashley Taylor then took the podium. She began by thanking supporters, including parents and both basketball programs. She read a statement from fellow sponsor Lauren Flannery thanking everyone for their support during her absence for maternity, especially Gina Pate, who stepped into a sponsor role.
Each cheerleader was recognized and presented with a plaque, then individual awards were announced: Academic Award (senior with the highest GPA) — Haven Hargrove; Most Improved — Savannah Hill; Most Dedicated — Madison Hendrix; Most Spirit — Anna Grace Spivey; Best Team Player — Haven Hargrove; Awesome Attitude Award — Anna Grace Spivey; Leadership Award — Marisa Nunnery; Rebel Pride Award (Best All-Around) — Sydney Pate; Top Flyer Award — Haven Hargrove; Top Main Base Award — Lauren Mansfield; Top Secondary Base Award — Sydney Pate; Top Back Spot Award — Madison Hendrix; Best Jumps — Kristen Taylor. The Taylor Buckley Scholarship Award, a memorial to the McKenzie cheerleader who died in a car accident in October 2011, was presented to Marisa Nunnery.
Following the awards, senior cheerleaders Nunnery, Hargrove and Taylor presented gifts to the sponsors and thanked them.
Lady Rebel Head Coach Lance McAllister and Assistant Coach Dan Ridley then continued the program. McAllister noted that his fourth year as coach was special because it was his first group of senior that he had coach for all four years. He pointed to the team’s 18-12 record as a continuation of the program’s upward climb and change in culture. He repeated thanks to supporters and expanded that to include The Banner, Jim Steele, the cheerleaders and sponsors, bus drivers Logan Hubble and Wyatt Brooks, and Coach Ridley, who he announced would be stepping down as assistant.
The players and managers were recognized and given certificates, then individual awards were presented: Sharpshooter Award — Camille Travis; Sixth Man of the Year — Whitley Smith and Dani Dyer; Most Improved — Anna Callahan; Leadership Award — Shelby Davis; Mental Toughness Award — Shelby Davis; Defensive MVP — Mi’Kayla Gill; Hustle Award — Mi’Kayla Gill; Player of the Year — Lilly Bennett; Lady Rebel Award — Macey Ognibene.
Ognibene then spoke on behalf of the seniors, thanking the coaches for their time and effort and wishing the girls good luck in the future. She presented gifts to McAllister and Ridley from the seniors.
Other items that may interest you