By JIM STEELE
mckenzierebels.com

McKenzie's Lady Rebel and Rebel basketball teams maybe didn't have the greatest of seasons, despite showing many flashes of brilliance. A lengthy football season, youthful players, a new coach, a scrunched schedule made this season an interesting one, but McKenzie's boys and girls fought hard, never quit and were in the hunt until the end.

Thursday night, McKenzie's basketball teams and cheerleaders were honored.

First-year cheerleader coach LaDona Herrin spoke of the youth of her squad and their stamina. The Rebel cheerleaders were state runners up this year and accomplished the feat with seven freshmen on the squad and newcomers Kendra Hollingsworth and Anna Cary.

Instead of giving awards this year, Herrin recognized that this squad had been a part of a lot of athletic contests.

"These cheerleaders probably cheered in more games than any other squad ever," she said.

The squad cheered at the football jamboree and all 15 high school football games, then took part in basketball season, which lasted 24 games and the state cheerleading competition. The squad appeared 41 times this year.

After Herrin's remarks, senior Samantha Wheat, who recently was selected by the Universal Cheerleaders Association to serve as a summer instructor and also will cheer at Austin Peay next season, spoke emotionally of the challenges of a new coach and new squad.

"It was a big challenge," she said.

During her emotional address, she wished the squad good luck next year as she looks forward to the new phase of her cheer career at Austin Peay.

McKenzie girls' basketball coach Dan Ridley was next. He said that he enjoys coming to work each day and because of that he feels he was somehow ordained to teach and coach at McKenzie.

"Our season was difficult at times; we lost our top three scorers, our top rebounders and everything offensive," Ridley said. "We knew this was going to be a rebuilding year. But we got better and this will carry over into next year."

Ridley praised the efforts of his lone senior, Morgan Limbaugh.

"How would you like to be the only senior on a team? How would you react to something like that?" Ridley mused. "Morgan experienced that this year. It wasn't the senior year she probably dreamed of and you want your seniors to go out on top, but I hope MOrgan takes with her life lessons from this season. I know she is going to prosper and be successful."

Lady Rebel awards went to Zana Carter (best offense), Evan Hudgins (most improved), Trevatia Bowden (top newcomer), Alex Gray (best defense), Mignon Salameh (coach's award) and Morgan Limbaugh (Lady Rebel).

Limbaugh took the microphone and spoke of her time at McKenzie, saying that Coach Ridley had faith in her and her abilities. She also warned her juniors and other teammates that the time passes by very quickly.

"I remember when Renee Crawley was up here giving this same speech, telling us that it goes by fast," she said.

FIrst-year boys' basketball caoch Lynn Yarbrough said when he first came into the MHS gym, he was met by junior Tyler Holt, who is 6-6, and Josh Brown, who stands at 6-4.

"I saw those guys and I knew we were going to have a good year," he said. "I was extremely proud of this team this year."

The Rebels were regular-season district champs.

Award winners for the Rebels were Shabree Payne (best offense), Josh Brown (rebounds), Derek Carr (best defense, MVP), Hunter Herrin (most improved) and Tyler Holt (coach's award).

Terry Howell presented the next series of academic awards.

"These students are student-athletes and that's the essence of what we do here," Howell said. "Sometimes we lose perception."

Howell praised two student-athletes who had a 92 average-or-above. They were Drew Brown and Derek Carr.

The prestigious Andy Camp award, named for 1981 MHS graduate, basketball and tennis standout who was tragically taken from us in a car wreck in Feb. 1985, was given to Josh Brown and Amber Nunnery.

"This is the award," Howell said. "Andy was a person of character. OUr two kids, mine and Suzanne's, both won this award and we are as proud of that as anything. The spirit of Andy lives on in this award."

The Andy Camp award is selected with great input by the parents of Andy, former MHS basketball coach John Camp and former MHS teacher-extraordinaire Karen Camp.