Rebels End Season with Semifinal Loss to McEwen in Overtime, 57-56

WAYNESBORO (March 5) — The McKenzie High School Rebels ended their season Wednesday with a thrilling overtime loss to McEwen, 57-56, in the semifinal round of the Region 6A Boys Basketball Tournament hosted by Wayne County High School.

McKenzie finishes the year with a 16-15 record, with several losses the Rebels would love to have back, but just as many impressive wins to hang their hats on.

The game was the final for six senior Rebel players, Tate Surber, Carter Kee, Landyn Smith, Craegen Travis, KD Cunningham and Landon Brown, as well as three senior managers, Jacey Pinson, Ally Gibson and Kyla Beveridge, and four senior cheerleaders, Baylee Barden, Reese Gallimore, Lydia Pate and Laila Scott.

Surber ends his McKenzie High School basketball career as the program’s all-time leading scorer with 1,780 points.

McEwen Warriors 57, McKenzie Rebels 56 (OT)
Momentum lurched back and forth in the contest, which was the third meeting of the teams this season. McEwen won the first two meetings by eight and 21 points, respectively.

The Rebels jumped out to a 14-6 lead after the opening frame, led by Craegen Travis with six points. Tate Surber scored five, and Carter Kee hit a three-pointer at the buzzer. Warrior Zeke Harrington scored four points, and Ty Greene had a pair.

McEwen seized control in the second quarter with a 17-3 advantage, led by Case Greene with nine points. Harrington, T. Greene, Caleb Coates and Hawkins Winstead each had a pair. Surber added a pair for McKenzie, and Cole Brown hit a free throw. At the half, the Warriors led 23-17.

McKenzie took a point off of the deficit with an 11-10 edge in the third, led by Kee with five points, including a three. Surber, Travis and Eli Vinson each had a pair. Coates hit a three for McEwen. Harrington, C. Greene and Landon Davis each had a pair, and T. Greene hit a freebie. Heading into the final frame, the Warriors led 33-28.

The Rebels forced overtime with a 17-12 tilt in the fourth, but not before McEwen started the quarter on an 8-0 run to open up a 13-point lead. McKenzie answered with eight straight, then pulled within two points a couple of times before Surber tied it at 45-45 with half a minute to play in regulation. Surber led the way in the frame with eight points. Kee scored five with a three, Brown hit a three, and Travis hit a free throw. Coates led the Warriors with eight, including a pair of threes. Davis and C. Greene each added a pair.

The Warriors held on to a 12-11 edge in overtime for the win. The Rebels struck first as Surber put them up two, their first lead since the second quarter. Davis scored four straight to give McEwen the lead, and C. Greene pushed it to five with a three-pointer. Surber scored and Kee hit a pair of free throws to pull within one, but T. Greene went to the line and hit one of two. Travis tied it again at 53-53, but Coates hit four straight free throws for a 57-53 lead with nine seconds to play. Surber hit a quick three-pointer, but time expired with the Rebels still down a point.

Rebel Tate Surber led all scorers with 24 points, including a three-pointer. Carter Kee scored 15 with a trio of threes, and Craegen Travis had eleven points.

Caleb Coates led McEwen with 17 points, including a pair of threes. Case Greene scored 16 with a three.