Highlanders top Temple, Highlassies fall short

The McLennan Highlanders opened conference play with a 78-60 victory over the Temple Leopards on Saturday afternoon in Temple.

The teams kept it close throughout the first half. McLennan took the first double-digit lead at 38-27 with two minutes remaining in the half. Temple ended the half on a 4-0 run to cut the lead to seven at the break, 38-31.

The Leopards pulled within four at 48-44 with 14:45 to play in the game. The Highlanders extended the lead back to 11 with just under nine minutes on the clock. McLennan continued to pull away down the stretch, leading by as many as 21.

James Harrison led the Highlanders with 19 points. Ricardo Artis recorded the double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Alex Mills and Ben Brown-White scored 13 and 12, respectively.

In women's action, the McLennan Highlassies fell to the Temple Lady Leopards 80-63.

McLennan struggled early, allowing Temple to build a double-digit lead at 17-6 with 13:54 remaining in the first half. McLennan fought back, cutting the lead to seven at the break, 35-28.

The Highlassies opened the second half on a 6-1 run, cutting the lead to two, 36-34. The Lady Leopards pulled away, extending the lead to 18, 76-58, with just under two minutes on the clock and McLennan was unable to recover.

McLennan returns to action on Wednesday, hosting Ranger. The women's game begins at 5:30 p.m., followed by the men's game at 7:30 p.m.

Temple 80, McLennan 63
McLennan: Kaylin Roher 7 2-2 22; Kendra Wynn 1 0-0 2; Demi Cumby 2 3-3 9; Re'Elle Miller 1 1-4 3; Amani Davis 3 0-1 7; Adrienne Drake 1 4-4 6; Caylinne Martin 5 4-7 14; Totals: 20 14-21 63.

Temple: Laqeisha Brown 6-8 16; Kiahna Thompson 7 1-2 19; Raquel Kellow 1 1-1 2; Samantha Allen 4 6-6 15; India Conner 2 6-8 10; Trei Torain 6 7-8 19; Totals: 26 24-33 80. 

3-pointers: McLennan 9 (Roher 6, Cumby 2, Davis 1), Temple 5 (Thompson 4, Allen 1); Total fouls: McLennan 23; Temple 21; Halftime score: Temple 35, McLennan 28; Record: McLennan 5-9 (0-1). 

McLennan 78, Temple 60
McLennan: K.J. Boyd 1 2-5 5; Jalen Jones 2 0-0 5; James Harrison 7 2-2 19; Alex Mills 5 1-2 13; Ricardo Artis 7 46 18; Jeff Beverly 1 0-0 2; Ben Brown-White 6 0-0 12; Aundre Jackson 1 0-0 2; Zach Charles 0 2-3 2; Totals: 30 11-18 78.

Temple: Keyunta Watkins 5 4-7 15; Joe Jackson 7 2-3 16; Chad Cantrell 1 2-2 5; Marcus Frazier 1 1-2 3; Ray Edwards 2 2-4 6; Darrien Gilmore 1 0-2 2; Cole Price 0 2-2 2; Anthony Christ 0 0-2 0; Shawn Gulley 4 3-6 11; Totals: 21 16-24 60.

3-pointers: McLennan 7 (Harrison 3, Mills 2, Boyd 1, Jones 1), Temple 2 (Cantrell 1, Frazier 1); Total fouls: McLennan 22, Temple 19;  Halftime score: McLennan 38, Temple 31; Record: McLennan 14-3 (1-0).