SPRINGFIELD -- Keion Wallace scored 27 points to lead four Effingham County boys in double-figures as the Rebels defeated Richmond Hill 80-71 and earned the No. 3 seed heading into the Region 2-AAAAAA Tournament.

ECHS (17-5, 8-4 Region 2-AAAAAA) will host Bradwell Institute in the first round of the region tournament Friday at 7:30 p.m.

The Rebels, who have won six games in a row, got a big boost from the return of Khiry Wallace, who had 16 points in his first game back from an elbow injury suffered against Benedictine on Jan. 8.

Rashad Scott added 18 points and Caleb Williams had 13.

ECHS lost to Richmond Hill by 17 points (53-36) in its first meeting, but jumped on the Wildcats in the early going this time. The Rebels used a 17-4 run to build a 27-14 lead in the second quarter.

ECHS led by 18, 54-36, with two minutes to go in the third quarter, but the visitors roared back and closed within two, 65-63 with 1:43 to go.

But the Rebels made 10 of their next 12 free-throw attempts to seal the win.