Highlanders open season with wins in McLennan Classic

The McLennan Highlanders cruised to an easy 87-49 win over the Southern-Shreveport Jaguars to open the season. The game was tied at 15 midway through the first half. The Highlanders used a 21-5 run over the course of five minutes to extend the lead to 36-20 with five minutes left in the half. McLennan continued to pull away in the second half as the Jaguars struggled to find a rhythm.

Freshman Alex Mills led the Highlanders with 22 points. Sophomores Jeff Beverly and Jalen Jones added 13 and 12, respectively.

Saturday's game with Richland was low scoring as the Highlanders defeated the Thunderducks 63-49.

The teams kept it close until the five-minute mark of the first half. McLennan held the 29-25 lead with 2:20 to go and ended the half on a 6-0 run to go into the locker room with the 35-25 lead. 

Richland cut the lead to one, 39-38, with 14:20 remaining in the game. The Highlanders pulled away down the stretch, and the Thunderducks were unable to get shots to fall, scoring only seven points in the last nine minutes of play.

Freshman K.J. Boyd led the Highlanders with 16 points. Ricardo Artis and Jeff Beverly added 15 and 10, respectively.

McLennan 87, Southern-Shreveport 49
Southern-Shreveport: DeMarcus Emanuel 1 0-2 2; Amos Givan 1 0-2 5; Dangelo McClinton 1 2-2 4; Xarrius Larry 3 1-3 7; DeAndre Williams 2 0-0 4; Patrick Smith 3 2-2 14; Dontario McNeal 2 3-5 7; Nykolas Dawson 0 2-6 2; Ziyunda Thomas 1 0-0 2; Totals: 1 10-22 49.

McLennan: Rashaan Surles 0 4-6 4; K.J. Boyd 1 0-0 2; Jalen Jones 4 4-4 12;  James Harrison 1 2-2 7; Alex Mills 6 4-4 22; Ricardo Artis 2 4-6 8; Jeff Beverly 6 0-1 13; Ben Brown-White 3 0-0 6; Aundre Jackson 3 1-2 7; Zach Charles 1 1-4 3; Devon Washington 2 0-0 4; Totals: 29 16-29 87.

3-pointers: Southern-Shreveport 3 (Smith 2, Givan 1); McLennan 7 (Mills 6, Harrison 1); Total fouls: Sourthern-Shreveport 23; McLennan 18; Fouled out: Southern-Shreveport (Smith); Halftime score: McLennan 45, Southern-Shreveport 27; Record: McLennan 1-0.

McLennan 63, Richland 49

Richland: Brandon Woods 3 2-2 8; Ryan Daniels 2 2-2 8; Trey Hall 5 4-5 18; Ishamel Donzo 4 1-4 9; Trevon Jeffrey 2 0-0 4; K.D. Moore 0 2-3 2; Totals: 16 11-17 49.

McLennan: K.J. Boyd 3 7-11 16; Jalen Jones 2 3-4 8; James Harrison 1 0-0 3; Alex Mills 3 3-4 9; Ricardo Artis 3 9-9 15; Jeff Beverly 3 3-4 10; Ben Brown-White 1 0-1 2; Totals: 16 25-33 63.

3-pointers: Richland 6 (Hall 4, Daniels 2), McLennan 6 (Boyd 3, Jones 1, Harrison 1, Beverly 1); Total fouls: Richland 25, McLennan 18; Halftime score: McLennan 35, Richland 25; Record: McLennan 2-0.