You can put an end to that brutal streak for the Todd County Central Rebels. The Rebels opened the second half with a 10-0 run to take the lead for good and then held on to take a 68-57 win over the Russellville Panthers Friday night in Elkton.
The win ended an 18-game losing streak for the Rebels, going back to a December 20th win over Fort Campbell. It also ended a short two-game skid to the Panthers.
The Rebels came out of the gate and took the early 6-2 lead. Russellville battled back behind the inside play of Octavious McKeage to tie the game at 8-8.
The Panthers scored a late basket in the first to take a 13-11 lead after one. McKeage was a big part of things for Russellville in the first 8 minutes coming up with 7 points.
The game was a battle through the first with three ties and one lead change.
The Panthers extended the lead to 16-11 early in the second quarter, thanks again to the play of McKeage. The Rebels then got a big boost off the bench in the form of Connor Holder. Holder came into the game and gave Todd County Central some instant offense. Keyed by that spark from Holder, the Rebels went on a 7-0 run to take the lead back at 18-16.
The two teams went back and forth the rest of the half with neither leading by more than three points. The Panthers scored the final four points of the half after an Antavion Shemwell three for the Rebels to take a 30-29 lead into the break.
The last basket for the Panthers marked the 6th lead change of the first half. There were seven ties between the two teams in the half.
After Hall of Fame recognitions at halftime, the Rebels came out ready to roll. Three-pointers from Connor Holder and Jayden Glass were part of a 10-0 run to open the second half that put Todd County Central up 39-30. A three-pointer moments later from Antavion Shemwell extended the lead out to double figures at 42-32.
Things got a bit intense late in the quarter. Octavious McKeage was called for his second technical foul with 1:33 to go in the third and was ejected from the game. Things then flared up on the Russellville bench and the teams were sent to the sidelines.
The Rebel lead reached as many as 15 at 50-35 before the Panthers cut it down to 50-39 at the end of the third.
The deep ball was a big part of Todd County Central getting to the lead as the Rebels knocked down four shots from behind the arc in the quarter.
Even without their big man in the game, the Panthers were not quite done yet. The Rebels had some ball-handling issues and rushed a couple of shots midway through the final quarter and Russellville came charging, cutting the lead down to 56-51.
The lead was five points at 60-55 when Todd County Central got some big plays from John Ross Cardwell, Connor Holder, and Hunter Johnson and pushed the lead back out to 65-55 with 1:25 to go in the game. The Rebels then rode it out for the 11-point win.
Connor Holder led three Rebels in double figures with 18 points before fouling out late in the game. Antavion Shemwell added 17 points. J.R. Cardwell scored 10 points for the night, all coming in the final quarter. Hunter Johnson chipped in with 10 and Jaydon Glass added 8.
Octavious McKeage ended up with 17 for the Panthers before his departure from the game. Jamarion Gardner had 12 points and Takyon Darden hit double figures with 11.
The win improves the Rebels to 2-24 for the season. Todd County Central is set to be back in action Saturday night when they travel down US 68 to Hopkinsville to take on the University Heights Academy Blazers.
