McKenzie Sweeps West Carroll

ATWOOD (January 22) — West Carroll High School hosted McKenzie Thursday for a pair of basketball contests. The opener was close for three quarters, but the Lady Rebels pulled away in the fourth for a 61-37 win. After a tight first half, the Rebels had the momentum in the third, but had to hold off a fervent War Eagle rally in the fourth to claim a 59-53 victory.

Early in the girls' fourth quarter, McKenzie sophomore Jaycee Stafford hit two free throws to bring her career points total to 1,000 (see separate story).

McKenzie Lady Rebels 61, West Carroll War Eagles 37

The Lady Rebels had a 16-12 edge after the opening frame, led by Jaycee Stafford with nine points, including a three-pointer. Ava Hastings and Addyson Littleton each hit a three, and Madeline Gottshall hit a free throw. Chloe Rimmer scored five for West Carroll. Abbi O'Bryan hit a three, and Aubrey Hammett and Hailey Mitchell each had a pair.

McKenzie built on the lead with a 13-6 advantage in the second quarter, led by Stafford with eight points, including a pair of threes. Molly French also hit a three, and Gracie Aird had a pair. Mitchell hit a three for the Lady War Eagles, and Hammett also scored three points. At the half, the Lady Rebels led 29-18.

West Carroll rallied 16-12 to close the gap in the third, led by Mitchell with ten points, including a pair of threes. Hammett also hit a three. Taylor Robinson had a pair, and Marissa Mueller hit a free throw. Stafford scored five for McKenzie. French and Littleton each hit a three, and Aird hit a freebie. Entering the final frame, McKenzie led 41-34.

The Lady Rebels pulled away with a 20-3 tilt in the fourth, led by Stafford with eight, including a three. Littleton scored four points with a three-pointer. French hit another three, and Hasting also scored three points. Alleigh Britt had a pair. Mitchell had a pair for West Carroll, and Mueller hit a freebie.

Lady Rebel Jaycee Stafford led all scorers with 30 points, including four three-pointers. Addyson Littleton scored ten points with a trio of threes, and Molly French had nine on a trio of threes.

Hailey Mitchell led the Lady War Eagles with 17 points, including a trio of three-pointers. Aubrey Hammett scored eight with a three.

Rebels 59, War Eagles 53

West Carroll had a 13-12 edge after the first frame, led by Bryler O'Neal with five points, including a three-pointer. Demarion Gilbert scored four, and Isaiah Snyder and Mason Taylor each had a pair. Avery Brown scored five for McKenzie, including a three. Nolan Fawcett had four points, Cole Brown had a pair, and Eli Vinson hit a free throw.

The Rebels took the lead with a 12-10 advantage in the second quarter, led by Fawcett with five points, including a three. Vinson also hit a three-pointer, and C. Brown had four points. War Eagle Skyler Wilhite scored four points, and Taylor and O'Neal each had three points. At the half, the Rebels led 24-23.

McKenzie doubled up West Carroll 22-11 in the third, led by A. Brown with seven points. Vinson scored five with a three. C. Brown and Cooper Davidson each had four points, and Ethan Bradberry had a pair. Wilhite scored five for West Carroll with a three-pointer. Gilbert also hit a three, O'Neal added a pair, and Chandler Rimmer hit a free throw. Heading into the final frame, the Rebels led 46-34.

A War Eagle rally in the fourth came up short at 19-13, led by Gilbert with six points, including a three-pointer. Snyder scored five with a three. O'Neal and Wilhite each hit a three, and Rimmer added a pair. C. Brown scored nine for McKenzie with a three, and Cayden Ownby had four points.

Rebel Cole Brown led all scorers with 19 points, including a three-pointer. Avery Brown scored 12 with a three.

War Eagles Demarion Gilbert and Bryler O'Neal each scored 13, both with a pair of threes. Skyler Wilhite had 12 points, also with a pair of three-pointers.