McKenzie High School defeated Gleason Friday in the Class A semifinals and will play in the state championship against Wayne County Saturday night.
The Lady Rebels claimed a semifinal 58-46 victory over the Gleason Lady Bulldogs, who are making their first appearance at state since 2007. Gleason won the title that year. McKenzie claimed its first victory at state since 1960 when it defeated North Greene in the state quarterfinals Thursday afternoon.
Saturday, McKenzie sophomore and Miss Basketball candidate Savannah Davis overcame a slow start and took over the game, leading the Lady Rebels with 24 points and nine rebounds. McKenzie battled foul trouble for much of the game, but negotiated it well. MHS senior Dani Dyer had 12 points.
Carrington Lifsey led Gleason with 19 points, Alayna Anderson, Gleason’s Miss Basketball finalist, scored 14, despite spending much of the first half in foul trouble herself.
Thursday, Briley Auvenshine led McKenzie with 18 points and 10 rebounds as the Lady Rebels defeated North Greene 58-44 in the state quarterfinals. McKenzie opened the second half with a 15-6 run to wrest control of the game and advance to the semifinals.
With the semifinal victory, McKenzie is 30-2.
Note: Saturday’s Class 1-A championship game between McKenzie and Wayne County has been changed from 6:30 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. due to the weather.
