By JIM STEELE
mckenzierebels.com

The McKenzie Rebels celebrated senior night by playing all its healthy seniors for the entire game against visiting Hollow Rock-Bruceton Friday night.

With post-season upcoming, it was an interesting exercise for the Rebels, who seemed to savor the opportunity. Five players played, all five scored. It may have been senior night, but junior Tyler Holt emerged. He scored a career high 22 points and pulled down five rebounds as the Rebels toppled the Tigers 72-54.

Holt controlled the paint, too no shot farther than 12 feet and was a load inside. Meanwhile seniors Shabree Payne scored 20, Derek Carr scored 19 and Josh Brown added eight. Hunter Herrin had three points, but was a menace on the boards. He had nine rebounds.

Despite the early ups and downs, McKenzie played better against a tricky team. Central employs free-for-all offense and plays perhaps the best defense in the district. But the Rebels stormed from the gate for a 21-9 lead. Payne and Carr had the hot hand from the outside, Holt collected the trash in the middle and the Rebels seemed to be in control...for a moment.

Central scored 10 unanswered points to finish the first frame trailing by two, 21-19, which created much consternation among the seniors. Central hit four of its last five shots and the Rebels felt the breath on the collar.

Payne, Herrin and Brown tried to put a little distance between the Rebels and the Tigers. The Rebs led 27-21 at that point. Hunter Willis launched a pair of triples and closed the Tigers within two, 33-31, with 1:15 to play. Holt scored late to give the Rebels a four-point cushion at the half.

After a ping pong game to start the third, the Rebels found themselves in front 39-37. From there, they unleashed an 11-3 run to the end of the third for a 50-40 advantage. The Rebels were 5-6 from the line during the spree and basically closed the door on the Tigers.

Leading 52-46 in the fourth, McKenzie exploded for an 18-5 burst. Carr hit a pair of triples while Brown, Payne and Holt collected stickbacks and jumpers in the paint.

Ballgame.

"We went with the same lineup the whole game because I didn't want to take out the seniors on senior night," said McKenzie coach Lynn Yarbrough. "We looked better on defense, but we still aren't where we need to be yet."

"We had three in double figures and that was good," said the coach.

The Tigers were led by Chandler Jordan with 12, Bubba Matlock with 10, Hunter Willis nine and Aaron Runions eight.

McKenzie improves to 9-10 overall and 8-2 in the district. The Rebels travel to West Carroll Tuesday night at 6 then will host Huntingdon Thursday night in a make-up game. Tipoff for the girls game is 6:30 p.m.