The Long Road Back to the State Tournament

One could have a really good debate on when the current journey that has led to this state tournament berth began. Some would say it started after the last trip to state in 1998. Some would say it started in 2014-15 season which was the first of five consecutive district titles. You could even make a case for the journey starting right after the upset loss to Collinwood last year in the first round of the region tournament when play had to be stopped due to dangerous weather. The Rebels had the lead, the momentum, and the ball when play was stopped. When the game resumed some 45 minutes later, McKenzie couldn’t get the momentum back and lost 62-57. The fact is all of these played a part in the Rebel basketball program getting back to the state tournament.
McKenzie began the 21st century in a losing rut with several consecutive losing seasons with some of that due to competing in double A against the likes of Bolivar, Camden, Milan, and Lexington. The first winning season of the new century came in 2005-2006 when the Rebels returned to Class A and immediately improved from 12-13 the previous year to 24-6 and 10-1 with a district championship but lost in the first round of the region tournament. McKenzie was competitive for the next couple of seasons, but struggled from 2007-2012. In the 2012-2013 season, the Rebels improved to 22-8 and 14-2 in the district, winning the district championship but losing in the first round of the region tournament. This would be a burr in the Rebels’ behind for the next several seasons.
The current streak of district championships began with the 2014-2015 season with the Rebels averaging 20-plus wins per season but losing in the first round of the region tournament. McKenzie wasn’t the only team with that problem; the entire district was being swept out in the first round of the region tournament for several seasons.
The Rebels put together a solid 2017-2018 campaign posting a 23-8 record with a 10-2 district record plus their fourth straight district title. It was Saturday, February 24, they played host to #17 Collinwood in the first round of the Region 6 tournament in front of a full-house crowd. The game was close from the start. Early in the fourth period, McKenzie had the lead, momentum, and possession of the ball when play was stopped due to dangerous weather in the area. 45 minutes later, the game resumed but the Rebels lost the momentum and went cold shooting which led to a 62-57 loss abruptly ending the season.
2018 — 2019
There was a lot of excitement about this year’s team way before the season even began knowing that the Rebels returned a lot of talent from the previous season. The season dawned on November 13, 2018 with an 80-43 blowout win against Madison Academic. They won their first eight games including a 69-67 win over Trenton Peabody who was ranked #12 at the time. Peabody went all the way to the sectionals ending their season against Memphis-Manassas. They defeated another ranked team in #22 Camden in an 89-82 shootout.
McKenzie’s first loss came to West Carroll on December 14 after the War Eagles erased a double digit lead with a scorching shooting streak in the final period defeating the Rebels 69-67 in overtime. They bounced back in the next game defeating Bradford by 22 points at home heading into the Christmas Break. Their second loss came in their first game in the Huntingdon Point Guard Classic when they came out flat against Lexington losing 53-47. The very next day they came out and whipped Waverly 72-38 to close out 2018. Starting with the Waverly win, McKenzie went 14-1 during the remainder of the regular season losing only to #2 Columbia Academy who is also in the State Tournament with the Rebels. After that loss on January 18, the Rebels have not lost since posting a number of lopsided victories, sweeping the district tournament for their fifth straight district title.
They went into the Region Tournament at Bethel University defeating Perry County in the quarterfinals 63-50 and then ended #11 Summertown’s season in the semi-finals 66-42, and won a close 54-51 contest against #8 Loretto who was the defending state champion in Class A, to win their first region title since the 1970s. Next up was a talented, #10 ranked East Robertson team in the sectionals. This game was a win or season over contest. McKenzie kept the momentum the entire contest and punched their ticket to the state tournament with a convincing 69-57 win.
Putting the season in perspective, the Rebels have been dominating with the exception of the three hiccups. They defeated six ranked teams including three in a row in the tournaments. No matter how things turn out in Murfreesboro, this team will be remembered for years to come.