By JIM STEELE
mckenzierebels.com

UNION CITY - This just in: Union City's boys' basketball team is pretty darned good.

When one walks into the Union City gym, they are met by four banners denoting the fact that UC won three Class 2A state titles in the 1990s and one more Class A title in 2005-06. Basketball is something folks take very seriously at Union City.

The McKenzie Rebels found that out the hard way Friday night as Union City ended their season 94-51 in the first round of the Region 7A tournament.

The Rebels stayed within striking range for about 10 minutes, trailing 28-16. Then they found out the Twisters could score a lot of points and quickly. In two-and-a-half minutes the Tornadoes took advantage of four straight steals and four missed Rebel shots and outpaced MHS 25-3 for a 32-point, 51-19 lead.

With 4:41 to play in the second quarter, it was apparent that Union City would be moving on, the only thing left to settle was the final score.

How dominant were the Tornadoes? They were 25-53 shooting from the floor in the first half alone. McKenzie had one more first-half field goal than Union City had first-half three pointers. The Rebels were 11-27 shooting in the first half while UC hit 10 triples. McKenzie didn't play poorly. Union City was just that good.

A big reason for McKenzie's offensive woes was that Union City was too quick on the glass. UC outrebounded the Rebs 53-30. McKenzie was often one-and-done on offense in the first half. When Union City was in transition, it got quick baskets. When it was in the halfcourt, it executed well and shot the three with precision.

In an eyeblink, a manageable game turned into a rout.

"They shoot the ball real well," said McKenzie coach Lynn Yarbrough. "I thought we did okay, they are just good."

Union City was 10-19 from the three-point line.

The Tornadoes took a 13-2 lead in the first frame, Josh Brown's hoop being the lone score. Yes Union City spent a lot of time in its own half court, but the Rebels stayed in the fight and kept chipping away. Derek Carr connected on a three-point play and then a triple later. Shabree Payne added a deuce with :05 to play and McKenzie trailed after one, 26-14.

Hunter Herrin's hoop with 7:37 to play in the second frame drew the Rebels back within 12, 28-16. The Rebels wouldn't be so close the rest of the game. Union City outscored McKenzie 41-15 the rest of the way.

The Rebels continued to play hard and without much depth. They opened the third with a 6-1 spurt to cut Union City's margin in half, 70-35. In the final 6:15 in the third, the Twisters 20-2 for a 90-37 lead. McKenzie did much better in the final frame when the UC understudies got in the game. McKenzie outscored Union City 12-4, but the issue had long since been settled.

Brown ended his MHS career with 16 points and four rebounds. Senior Derek Carr scored 13 points and 12 rebounds. Tyler Holt scored nine points and four rebounds. Senior Shabree Payne had seven points. Hunter Herrin had six points and five rebounds.

Tony Williams led Union City with 25 points, Nick Burks scored 16 and M.J. Brown added 12.

The Rebels end the season with a 10-14 mark and waves good-bye to four seniors: Josh Brown, Derek Carr, Shabree Payne and Drew Brown, who missed much of the last half of the season with a nagging ankle injury.

Union City, 31-0, battled fourth-ranked Lake County, in the Region 7A semifinals at Dresden. UC lost to Rebel vanquisher Humboldt in this round last year and the Vikings went all the way to the state finals.