The McLennan Highlanders fell to the second-ranked Trinity Valley Cardinals 76-66 on Friday evening in the Lewis Orr Classic at Navarro College in Corsicana.
The Cardinals opened the game on a 9-0 run. The Highlanders cut the lead to three, 17-14, with 12:40 to play in the first half. Trinity Valley pulled away, extending the lead to 14 with 5:19 remaining in the half and held the 39-29 advantage at the break.
Trinity Valley continued to pull away, extending the lead to 25, 67-42, midway through the second half. McLennan rallied, cutting the lead to 10 several times down the stretch but was unable to pull any closer.
Sophomores Jalen Jones and Ricardo Artis led the Highlanders with 19 points each.
McLennan: Rashaan Surles 0 1-2 1; Jalen Jones 5 9-11 19; James Harrison 2 0-0 4; Alex Mills 3 0-0 7; Ricardo Artis 6 7-10 19; Jeff Beverly 1 6-9 8; Ben Brown-White 1 0-0 2; Aundre Jackson 3 0-1 6; Totals: 21 23-33 66.
Trinity Valley: Clarence Williams 2 3-4 7; Melvin Swift 2 1-2 7; Dedrick Basile 8 3-4 23; Sheldon Hagigal 3 3-4 10; Aldonis Foote 0 1-2 1; Preston Anderson 1 0-0 3; Jhaustin Thomas 6 0-0 12; Devante Jackson 2 1-4 5; Nic Brown 3 1-3 7; Totals: 27 14-25 76.
3-pointers: McLennan 1 (Mills 1), Trinity Valley 6 (Basile 3, Swift 2, Hagigal 1); Total fouls: McLennan 21, Trinity Valley 25; Fouled out: Trinity Valley (Thomas, Brown); Halftime score: Trinity Valley 39, McLennan 29; Record: McLennan 6-1.
