Lions can’t finish off McKenzie

By RANDY CAVIN
Press Sports
Dresden had McKenzie down for the count, but the Rebels bounced back up for a 51-46 win and the District 13A Championship.
The Lions (17-9) were doing all the right things in the first period and went into the second frame with an 18-4 lead, but then turnovers and poor execution at the free throw line let the Rebels (22-7) right back in the game.
“We knew we were going to turn it over some, but we could not make any free throws,” Dresden head coach Tommy Dilday said. “We were 7-for-17 at the line. That changes the whole outcome of the game.”
The Lions went 7-for-15 at the line in the first half and 0-for-2 after intermission. Dresden was up 16-1 in the first period before the Rebels made their first basket. District 13A MVP Trevor Willis hit a 3-pointer with 19 seconds remaining in the period.
The Rebels only shot 11 percent from the field in the first period but improved their aim in the second by making 60 percent of their shots. The Lions, meanwhile, hit 60 percent in the opening frame but only made 2-of-6 shots in the second period.
Dresden did not attempt many shots in the second quarter due to nine turnovers, ending the half with 14. Dresden had 24 turnovers for the game. The Rebels only turned the ball over six times in the first half and 13 for the game.
McKenzie also hit three 3-pointers in the second period to creep back into the game. Willis hit a short jumper with just under two minutes to play in the half to pull the Rebels to within one point of the Lions. Kaleb Houston answered with a jumper of his own to give the Lions a 27-24 halftime lead.
Both teams made five 3-pointers on the night.
Austin Daniel was a beast around the basket on the offensive end in the first period, scoring seven points. He only scored one point in the second, however, and just two in both the third and fourth periods for a total of 12 points.
“They were trying to deny him all the time,” Dilday said. “They were putting a man on him in the zone to try to deny him. We have got to work harder to get him the ball.”
Turnovers got to the Lions once again in the third period with seven committed, keeping Dresden from attempting more shots at the basket.
That hurt the Lions as they connected on 6-of-8 shots, including a 3-pointer by Austin Maxey and Brock Dilday.
The Rebels hung right with the Lions in the period and made a pair of triples themselves to go into the final period down 41-40.
Breshan Oglesby hit a layup to give the Rebels a 42-41 lead before Houston connected on a 3-pointer from the top of the key. Daniel followed up Houston’s shot with a strong basket under the rim to put the Lions up 46-42 with 5:34 to play. That would be the last points the Lions would score as the Rebels took advantage of some more Dresden turnovers to close out the game on a nine-point run.
Houston led the Lions with 20 points. He shared the game-high with Willis of McKenzie who also scored 20 points.
The Lions will host South Fulton on Friday in the Region 7A quarterfinals. McKenzie will be at home vs. Lake County in its quarterfinal contest.
Huntingdon beat West Carroll in the consolation game 76-46.
The Mustangs will travel to Union City on Friday in a quarterfinal game, while West Carroll will play at Humboldt on Friday.

Published in The WCP 2.19.13

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