For the last three years, Helanea McKenzie saw nine players celebrate their senior night with the Wellsville-Middletown girls basketball team.
On Feb. 10, it was her turn.

McKenzie was honored with her parents Brandon and Tara during a senior recognition ceremony after the girls contest against Van-Far. She played with the W-M basketball program all four years.

“It’s crazy because when I was walking out my parents’ house, I said, ‘Mom, this is crazy. I didn’t know what to do. I have never done this.’ I can’t believe I’m a senior now after watching my sisters (Tana and Taren Justice) and everybody else,” McKenzie said.

But McKenzie had to celebrate her senior night in street clothes. She suffered an ankle injury in a home game against Sturgeon that forced her to miss several games. Even though McKenzie’s injury wasn’t serious, she wasn’t cleared to play in her senior night game.

“It’s the same one that I twisted four times now, so it’s taking a long time to recover,” McKenzie said.

Other seniors who were recognized were McKenzie’s teammate Mia Romecka, cheerleader Brooke Stroup, girls basketball manager Kylie Allison and band members Abbie Freie and Isaac Todd.

McKenzie’s high school basketball career is close to coming to an end. The Tigers end their regular season on Feb. 19 with a road game against Wright City. They will play in the Class 1, District 10 tournament at Madison High.

“When I was in kindergarten, I started playing in the Montgomery camps they had,” McKenzie said. “I was practicing and practicing all of this time. Now, it’s going to end one day. It’s going to be pretty sad.”

Three years ago, McKenzie was the only freshman on the team. Her first high school basketball season was a successful one as she helped the Tigers finish 16-11 and reach the district finals. It was the team’s first winning season in many years.

When she was a sophomore, McKenzie helped the team finish 13-13. McKenzie returned to the squad in her junior year despite suffering an eye injury in weighlifting class that forced her to wear glasses in games.

This year, McKenzie led a W-M squad that had two other returning players from last year – Elly Cash and Aubrey Harmon – and five new players. The Tigers dropped to 7-14 with the 46-16 loss to Van-Far on senior night and surpassed last year’s win total of six.

“It’s definitely challenging at times because we have such a young team, but the good thing is everyone has a good attitude about it, so it’s really just fine,” McKenzie said. “Honestly, the season has been pretty decent for the circumstances we had.”

McKenzie said she enjoyed competing with former players such as Bethany Slovensky, sisters Jenelle and Natalie Boeckleman, Meagan Cripe, Keigan Hall and Hallie Guzy during her high school basketball career.

“I loved playing with them so much,” McKenzie said. “Every year, it’s like there’s a new team and I love all of them. It’s crazy looking back.”
When was in eighth grade, McKenzie played on a junior high team that had four boys and two girls. She was the only eighth-grade student on the roster. Steve Lasman was the coach of that squad.

Now, McKenzie is ending her high school basketball career with Lasman as her head coach. He’s in his second year heading the W-M girls squad.

“I loved my time with Coach Lasman,” McKenzie said. “He’s great.”

McKenzie plans to attend Evangel University in Springfield next year. She will major in elementary education and minor in children’s ministry. She will not play basketball.

McKenzie said she has high hopes for her team in the future.

“I hope that I can come back and I hope that they have an amazing winning streak,” she said.