In a hard fought battle, the McLennan Highlanders defeated the North Lake Blazers 77-72.
Alex Mills opened the game with back-to-back 3-pointers for McLennan. North Lake took the 8-7 lead with 16:28 to play in the first half. The Blazers held the Highlanders scoreless for the next four minutes of play, extending the lead to double digits, 19-9. McLennan fought back, cutting the lead to three, 23-20, with 8:25 remaining in the half. North Lake pulled away again, extending the lead to nine, but the Highlanders rallied to pull within one at the break, 35-34.
McLennan took an early four-point lead in the second half. The Blazers regained the lead at 42-41 with 14:52 remaining in the game. The Highlanders began to pull away, using a 14-5 run. McLennan built a 10-point lead, 62-52, capped by a dunk by Ricardo Artis with just over six minutes to play. North Lake pulled within three with 30 seconds to go, but McLennan held off the rally to secure the win.
Mills led the Highlanders with 19 points and James Harrison added 11.
North Lake: Torrence Neal 2 0-0 6; Napoleon Onyeje 2 1-2 6; Travis Matthews 4 0-0 8; Nate Jackson 3 0-0 7; Joseph Mitchell 8 2-3 24; Deosic West 7 1-3 17; Jamael Haynes 0 0-0 0; Jalen West 2 0-2 4; Totals: 28 4-10 72.
McLennan: Rashaan Surles 0 1-2 1; Jalen Jones 2 3-4 7; Elijah Mayes 2 0-0 4; James Harrison 4 0-0 11; Alex Mills 5 4-4 19; Ricardo Artis 2 5-6 9; Jeff Beverly 3 1-2 7; Ben Brown-White 2 2-3 6; Aundre Jackson 2 2-5 6; Zach Charles 0 3-4 3; Devon Washington 2 0-1 4; Totals: 24 21-31 77.
3-pointers: North Lake 12 (Mitchell 6, West 2, Neal 2, Onyeje 1, Jackson 1) McLennan 8 (Mills 5, Harrison 3); Total fouls: North Lake 24, McLennan 16; Fouled out: North Lake (Hayes, Mitchell); Halftime score: North Lake 35, McLennan 34; Record: McLennan 13-3.
