McKenzie Splits Season Opener with Peabody

McKENZIE (November 24) — McKenzie High School tipped off the basketball season Monday, hosting Peabody. The Lady Rebels were dominant from start to finish for a 67-30 victory. The Rebels were short-handed, dressing out just six players due to eight still playing football. The Golden Tide, at full strength, coasted to an 87-43 win.

McKenzie Lady Rebels 67, Peabody Lady Tide 30

The Lady Rebels doubled up Peabody 14-7 in the opening frame, led by Jaycee Stafford with eight points. Ava Hastings hit a three-pointer, Braylin Auvenshine had a pair, and Alleigh Britt hit a free throw. Azarriah Wells led Peabody with four points, and Jayci Browning hit a three.

McKenzie had a 22-10 advantage in the second quarter, led by Stafford with 14 points, including a three-pointer. Hastings and Gracie Aird each hit a three, and Madeline Gottshall and Addyson Littleton each hit a free throw. Lady Tide Paislee Walls scored five with a three. Jayda Ramos also hit a three-pointer, and Avery Olson had a pair. At the half, McKenzie led 36-17.

The Lady Rebels enjoyed a 16-5 tilt in the third, led by Stafford with eight points, including a three. Auvenshine and Kynadie Brown each hit a three-pointer, and Hastings added a pair. Olson and Wells each added a pair for Peabody, and ZaKaysea Skinner hit a free throw. Entering the final frame, the Lady Rebels led 52-22.

McKenzie sealed the win with a 15-8 fourth, led by Hastings with five points, including a three. Britt and Brown each hit a three, and Ashley Dunavant and Molly French each had a pair. Walls scored five for Peabody, Olson added a pair, and Ramos hit a freebie.

Lady Rebel Jaycee Stafford led all scorers with 30 points, including a pair of three-pointers. Ava Hastings scored 13 with a trio of threes.

Paislee Walls led the Lady Tide with ten points, including a three.

Golden Tide 87, Rebels 43

Peabody stormed out to a 34-13 lead after the first frame, led by Emmanuel Cannon with eleven points, including a three-pointer. Jayden Jennings scored ten, and Noah Woolfork had six points. Onterrio Agnew, Jamarcus Haynes and Edward Agnew each had a pair, and LaTaveah Cannon hit a free throw. Nolan Fawcett and Eli Vinson led McKenzie with six points each, Fawcett on a pair of threes and Vinson with one three-pointer. Ethan Bradberry hit a free throw.

The Golden Tide had an 18-7 advantage in the second quarter, led by E. Cannon with nine points, including a three-pointer. Woolfork scored seven with a three, and E. Agnew added a pair. Fawcett hit another three for the Rebels, and Bradberry and Vinson each added a pair. At the half, the Tide led 52-20.

Peabody had a 17-11 edge in the third, led by Woolfork with six points. E. Agnew scored five with a three-pointer. Jennings hit a three, and Haynes also scored three points. Fawcett led McKenzie with six points on a pair of threes. Qunitton Jones hit a three-pointer, and Vinson added a pair. Heading into the final frame, Peabody led 69-31.

The Golden Tide closed out the win with an 18-12 tilt in the fourth, led by L. Cannon with six points, including a three-pointer. Ja'haziah Smith scored five with a three. Destin Wells also hit a three-pointer, and Max Hammond and Camelo Tyler each had a pair. Bradberry led the Rebels with six points on a pair of threes, and Fawcett and Vinson each hit a three.

Peabody's Emmanuel Cannon led all scorers with 20 points, including a pair of threes. Noah Woolfork scored 19 with a three-pointer. Jayden Jennings had 13 points with a three.

Nolan Fawcett led McKenzie with 18 points on six three-pointers. Eli Vinson scored 13 with a pair of threes.