MHS captured a 66-23 non-district triumph in convincing and accurate fashion. The Lady Rebels hit their first eight shots and was 10-12 shooting in the first quarter to take a 22-4 lead. Anna Trull and Mallory Brandon each deposited three-pointers as the Lady Rebels went on a tear.

"I was worried that, with it being homecoming and no warm-up, we might be a little flat," said MHS girls coach Dan Ridley. "But we played pretty hard. I'm okay with our effort."

McKenzie advanced its agenda in the second frame and took a 34-10 lead. Then the Lady Rebels went on a rampage in the third frame. They hit five triples, three coming from senior Brittany Russell, and McKenzie forged a 53-17 lead. Trull and Courtney Wiggins tossed in triples as well.

Big Sandy never gave up, but couldn't match the Lady Rebels' firepower.

For the game, McKenzie was 27-60 shooting and had 40 rebounds as well as 16 turnovers. Trull was tops with 16 points. Homecoming queen Hope Wyder and Wiggins each had 10 points. Brooke Cole and Russell each had nine. Sarah Hartz scored eight while Brandon added three and Megan Cox scored one.

Rachel French led the Lady Red Devils with 12 points. Kimberly Armstrong had four; Jacque Elandt added three while Meghan Rummage and Kasie Ray each scored two.

The Lady Red Devils were 9-46 shooting and had 25 rebounds. Big Sandy coughed up 19 turnovers.

"I thought we played well and we played well pretty deep in our bench," Ridley said. "We shot well. It was the second game in a row that we shot the three well."

But the Rebels did the job at the free throw line down the stretch and edged past the Red Devils for a 59-47 homecoming victory.

McKenzie was 8-11 from the free throw line in the final frame and that proved to be the difference. Big Sandy 6-8 center Levi Craig was a force inside early, but the Rebels limited him to four points in the second frame and frustrated him defensively.

In all, it was another solid effort for the Rebels, but one they can put in the left column for a welcome change.

"We won a close one tonight," said McKenzie coach Larry Joe Smith. "We hit free throws and spread it out down the stretch and pulled it out."

It was an uncomfortable game for the Rebels, who played pretty much at Big Sandy's tempo.

"They shot well," Smith said. "And it was one of those games where I had the feeling that I didn't like the flow of the game."

But the Rebels found ways to win the game.

Seth Parker scored a threebie with 6:50 to play in the game to give the Red Devils a 45-44 lead. From there, the Rebels started a run, sparked by senior John French's three-point play. The Rebs outscored the Red Devils 15-2 down the stretch. French drilled another triple, then hit free throws along with Huffman and Hayes. It was a strong finish to counter a struggle at the beginning.

In the first quarter, McKenzie and Big Sandy swapped buckets. Lance Mantey hit a three to start the game for Big Sandy and John Craig Howell added a three ball for the Rebels mid way in the first. MHS secured a 13-11 lead after one.

As the second frame unfolded, Big Sandy made it evident that it wasn't going to go away. Craig scored half of his 16 points in the second frame. He had the drop step down pat and was effective in the paint.

"I don't think we gave good backside help in the first half," said Smith on the defense of Craig. "I think we did much better in the second half."

McKenzie led 29-25 at the half.

In the third frame, Big Sandy found its range. Sonny Melton hit a pair of threes while Seth Parker tossed in another and Big Sandy was right on the Rebels' heels. Huffman's triple with :22 to play vaulted the Rebels to a 42-39 lead. But Melton connected from the arch at the buzzer and the two teams were deadlocked at 42 going into the fourth frame.

"They changed defenses on us a few times," said Smith. "We made some adjustments and tried to counter Craig a little bit. Big Sandy is an improved team and this is pretty much what I expected from them."

Craig's 16 led Big Sandy. Matt French and Melton each had nine. Parker scored eight. The Red Devils were 20-49 shooting and had 28 rebounds. Twenty-two turnovers plagued Big Sandy.

John French had 16 to lead the Rebels. Huffman added 13, Daniel Duncan scored 10 and Howell added eight. For the game, McKenzie was 22-49 from the floor and had 26 rebounds. McKenzie turned the ball over 12 times.

The quintet capped a busy signing day that netted the Wildcats 22 players, quality athletes who are mostly from the surrounding area.

McKenzie lineman Kris Sydnor, 6-1, 280 lb. offensive and defensive lineman for the Rebels was an all-district performer for the Rebels and part of the winningest class in MHS history.

In addition, West Carroll seniors Shane DePriest, Wesley Arnold, Kevin Taylor and Blake Abercrombie joined the BC fold with their signatures last week.

DePriest and Arnold were War Eagle all-staters. DePriest is a 6-1, 200 lb. linebacker and running back. Arnold, 6-1, 290 lb. is a lineman. Taylor is 6-2, 260 lb. and an offensive lineman while Abercrombie is a 6-3, 180 lb. wide receiver. They were part of a senior class that won the Region 8A title this year.

Bethel head coach Dino Kaklis says he's pleased with his local recruits, but very happy with his overall haul as well.

"Sydnor is going to be a good player for us," Kaklis said of his MHS signee. "He has good leverage and a lineman's tenacity; he looks for guys to hit and comes from a solid program. Coach (Wade) Comer does a good job over there.

"The kids from West Carroll are solid kids," the coach said. "They get after you and play at a different pace. I'm pleased with them."

It was a monumental day for the Wildcats, who also will soon announce the groundbreaking for a new state-of-the-art stadium, set for completion before the start of the 2004 football season.

"They are going to break ground on March 1 and bring in the turf on June 1," said Kaklis. "From a growth standpoint, this is going to be a very big year for us."

The Wildcats were 2-8 last year, but had chances to win all but one game and did so with a mostly-freshman squad. Last season, 17 freshmen started.

In addition, 54 Wildcats return to the field this spring to join the 22 signees. Kaklis hinted more may join the Wildcats before the signing spree is done.

"I feel good about who we signed," he said. "We have signed solid kids we feel will help the program and that's important."

The coach warned that the Mid South Conference is one of the top leagues in the NAIA.

"We had four teams ranked nationally last year and two teams that made the playoffs," Kaklis said. "I think that speaks for itself. And we were in the game with every one of those teams last year."

Other signees include Grady Baggett (6-1, 270 lineman) of Simpsonville, S.C.; Knox Baggett (6-1, 275 lineman) of Simpsonville, S.C.; Aaron McKenzie (6-0, 280 defensive lineman) from Auburndale, Fla.; Antonio Brown (5-11, 180) of Brandon, Fla.; Kelly Leek (6-0, 205 fullback) Gadsden, Ala.; Alex Thomas (6-2, 245 defensive lineman), Satellite, Fla.; Carlos Baez Reed (5-10, 205 fullback) Braidwood, Ill.; Jim Tucker (6-4, 260 lineman), Greenfield, Tenn.; Don Pitt (6-4, 280 lineman), Greenfield, Tenn.; Justin Baker (6-5, 330 lineman), Dresden, Tenn.; Wyman Price (5-11, 200 fullback), Dresden, Tenn.; Bruce Slusser (6-3, 290 lineman), Dresden, Tenn.; Rye Rader (6-0, 265 line), Cordova, Tenn.; Tyler Green (5-11, 210 linebacker), Cordova, Tenn.; Ricky Goff (6-0, 220 linebacker), Milan, Tenn.; Jesse Alexander (6-1, 180 quarterback), Milan, Tenn.; Matthew Paris, (6-0, 210 linebacker), Lincoln Co., Tenn.

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