McKenzie Rebel Comeback Thriller Caps Homecoming Sweep of Houston County

McKENZIE (January 16) — McKenzie High School hosted Houston County Friday night for Homecoming festivities and a pair of district basketball contests. The evening was bookended with excitement as Ava Hastings was crowned queen before the games (see separate story) and the Rebels erased a nine-point deficit in the fourth quarter for a 73-70 victory. The Lady Rebels maintained a lead in a defensive bout to win 47-37.

Following the sweep, Lady Rebels Head Coach Dru Emerson told The Banner, “Our student section was electric tonight! I’d like to thank the school board, [Director of Schools] Dr. Barden and Principal Spivey for making it possible to allow our student body to attend our games free of admission. Thank you McKenzie Maniacs!! At the pep rally today I challenged you to show up tonight, and you did! What an incredible atmosphere you all provided tonight!”

McKenzie Lady Rebels 47, Houston County Lady Irish 37
The Lady Rebels had a 12-8 lead after the opening frame, led by Braylin Auvenshine with ten points, including a trio of three-pointers. Jaycee Stafford had a pair. Ally Mitchell and Briley Bucciarelli each hit a three for Houston County, and Kyaira Rains had a pair.

The second quarter was a 9-9 wash. Madeline Gottshall led McKenzie with four points. Ava Hastings hit a three, and Auvenshine added a pair. Mitchell and Peyton Brooks each had a three-pointer for the Lady Irish, Kylee Smith had a pair, and Preslee Moore hit a free throw. At the half, the Lady Rebels led 21-17.

McKenzie widened the gap with a 15-8 advantage in the third, led by Stafford with nine points, including a three. Molly French hit a three-pointer, and Auvenshine also scored three points. Smith led Houston County with three points. Moore and Paisley Byler each had a pair, and Rains hit a freebie. Entering the final frame, the Lady Rebels led 36-25.

The Lady Irish had a 12-11 edge in the fourth, led by Mitchell with five points, including a three. Brooks also hit a three, and Rains added a pair. Moore and Smith each hit a free throw. Lady Rebel Addyson Littleton scored five with a three-pointer. Stafford had three points, Gottshall added a pair, and French hit a freebie.

McKenzie’s Braylin Auvenshine led all scorers with 15 points, including a trio of three-pointers. Jaycee Stafford scored 14 with a three.

Ally Mitchell led Houston County with eleven points, including a trio of threes.

Rebels 73, Fighting Irish 70
Houston County had an 18-14 edge after the first frame, led by Ryan Carter with eight points. Hayden Burgess scored six on a pair of three-pointers, and Townes Epps had four points. Avery Brown led McKenzie with six points. Nolan Fawcett hit a three. Eli Vinson and Kason Brown each had a pair, and Cole Brown hit a free throw.

The Irish grew the lead with a 25-20 advantage in the second quarter, led by Carter with 13 points. Epps and Burgess each scored four, and Knox Parker hit a three. Jaxon Honeycutt hit a free throw. A. Brown and K. Brown each scored seven for the Rebels, each with a three. Fawcett, C. Brown and Vinson each added a pair. At the half, Houston County led 43-34.

The third was a 16-16 wash. A. Brown led McKenzie with seven points. C. Brown scored six on a pair of threes, and Fawcett also hit a three-pointer. Daniel Phillips led the Irish with eight points, including a pair of threes. Carter scored six, and Epps added a pair. Heading into the final frame, Houston County led 59-50.

The Rebels stormed back to claim the win with a 23-11 tilt in the fourth, led by A. Brown with 12 points, including a three. K. Brown scored six, and C. Brown had five with a three-pointer. Carter scored six for the Irish, Phillips hit a three, and Burgess added a pair.

Houston County’s Ryan Carter led all scorers with 33 points. Hayden Burgess scored a dozen with a pair of three-pointers. Daniel Phillips had eleven with a trio of threes, and Townes Epps scored ten.

Avery Brown led McKenzie with 32 points, including a pair of threes. Kason Brown scored 15 with a three. Cole Brown had 14 points with a trio of three-pointers.