Rebels Rout Panthers, Lady Rebels’ Late Rally Just Short

McKENZIE (December 12) — McKenzie High School hosted Riverside Thursday for a pair of basketball contests. The Lady Rebels fell behind in the third, but stormed back to tie the game with two minutes left before falling 70-66. The Rebels had a narrow lead at the half, but exploded in the second half for an 86-56 victory.

It was the final home games before the Christmas break, so the cheerleaders, coaches, managers and players (during warm-ups) wore Christmas sweaters.

Riverside Lady Panthers 70, McKenzie Lady Rebels 66
The Lady Panthers had an 18-16 lead after the opening frame, led by Alyssa Pratt with ten points, including a pair of three-pointers. Ella Davis scored four, and Bently Rogers and Lauren Camper each had a pair. Lady Rebel Ava Hastings scored six points on a pair of threes. Braylin Auvenshine had four points, Molly French hit a three, and Jaycee Stafford scored three points.

Riverside had a 14-13 edge in the second quarter, led by Davis with six points. Rogers hit a three, and Pratt also had three points. Emma Johnson had a pair. Stafford led McKenzie with six points. Addison Milam hit a three-pointer, and Sophie Pate and Gracie Aird each had a pair. At the half, Riverside led 32-29.

The Lady Panthers opened up the lead with an 18-10 advantage in the third, led by Pratt with nine points on a trio of threes. Johnson scored seven with a pair of threes, and Camper added a pair. Auvenshine scored four for the Lady Rebels, and Hastings and Stafford each hit a three-pointer. Entering the final frame, Riverside led 50-39.

McKenzie’s rally in the fourth came up just short at 27-20, led by Stafford with 16 points. French scored eight with a pair of threes, and Aird also hit a three. Lillian Wade led the Lady Panthers with five points. Johnson and Davis each had four points, Johnson with a three. Rogers had three points, and Pratt and Camper each added a pair.

Lady Rebel Jaycee Stafford led all scorers with 28 points, including a three-pointer. Molly French had eleven points with a pair of threes. Ava Hastings scored nine on a trio of threes.

Alyssa Pratt led Riverside with 24 points, including five three-pointers. Ella Davis scored 14, and Emma Johnson had 13 with a trio of threes.

Rebels 86, Panthers 56
McKenzie led 19-15 after the first frame, led by Carter Kee with seven points, including a three-pointer. Landon Brown scored five with a three. Cole Brown hit a three, and Eli Vinson and Tate Surber each had a pair. Jack Cupples scored eight for Riverside. Landon Swindle had five with a three, and Kutter Potts had a pair.

The Rebels had a 15-14 edge in the second quarter, led by C. Brown with six points. Surber and Craegen Travis each scored four, and L. Brown hit a free throw. Swindle led the Panthers with five. Cupples scored four, Austin Shelton and Gavin McClan each had a pair, and Colt Brooks hit a free throw. At the half, the Rebels led 34-29.

McKenzie pulled away with a 28-9 advantage in the third, led by Surber with 13, including a pair of three-pointers. C. Brown scored seven with a three, and Kee also hit a three. Travis and KD Cunningham each had a pair, and L. Brown hit a freebie. Swindle scored four for Riverside, Cupples had three points, and Brooks added a pair. Heading into the final frame, McKenzie led 62-38.

The Rebels sealed the win with a 24-18 tilt in the fourth, led by Surber and Cunningham with four points each. Landyn Smith and Nolan Fawcett each hit a three. C. Brown, Kee, Kason Brown and Cooper Davidson each had a pair. Ace Brown and Avery Brown each hit a free throw. Brooks led the Panthers with seven points, including a three. Jase England scored three points, and McClan, Landon Vaughan, Aiden Lunsford and Izak Beasley each had a pair.

Rebel Tate Surber led all scorers with 23 points, including a pair of threes. Cole Brown had 18, also with a pair of three-pointers. Carter Kee scored a dozen with a pair of threes.

Jack Cupples led Riverside with 15 points. Landon Swindle scored 14 with a three.