Highlanders defeat Ranger, Highlassies fall

The McLennan Highlanders opened the game on a 19-0 run and never looked back as they defeated the Ranger Rangers 86-48 on Wednesday night to move to 2-0 in conference play.

The Highlanders defense held the Rangers scoreless through the first 12 minutes of play. McLennan led 34-17 at halftime. The Highlanders continued to pull away in the second half, leading by as many as 38.

Ricardo Artis led McLennan with 16 points. Jeff Beverly and Alex Mills added 12 and 10, respectively.

In women's action, the McLennan Highlassies fell to the Ranger Lady Rangers 63-54.

Turnovers plagued the Highlassies from the start, allowing the Lady Rangers to build a six-point lead at 13-7 with 12:30 to play in the first half. McLennan used a 7-0 run over the next four minutes to take its first lead of the game at 14-13. The Highlassies led 25-21 with 2:40 to go in the half. Ranger ended the half on a 10-0 run to take the 31-25 advantage at the break.

The Lady Rangers extended the lead to eight early in the second half. McLennan fought back, taking the 51-50 lead on a Kaylin Roher 3-pointer with 4:26 remaining in the game. Ranger reclaimed the lead with a 3-pointer on the next posession and led 56-54 with a minute to play. The Lady Rangers ended the game on a 7-0 run to seal the win.

Freshman Caylinne Martin led McLennan with 22 points.

The Highlassies return to action on Saturday, traveling to Cisco for a 2 p.m. game. The Highlanders return to action on Jan. 21, hosting fifth-ranked Hill at 7:30 p.m.

McLennan 86, Ranger 48
Ranger: Torrey Henry 1 0-0 3; Renard Thomas 1 0-0 3; Jonathan Perez 2 2-2 8; Onix Collazo 1 0-0 2; Roosevelt Whyley 3 1-3 7; Shaq Berry 5 0-2 10; Alfred Johnson 3 0-0 6; Gabi Laurent 4 0-0 9; Totals: 20 3-7 48.

McLennan: Rashaan Surles 3 1-2 7; K.J. Boyd 1 0-0 2; Jalen Jones 1 6-6 8; Elijah Mayes 2 0-1 6; James Harrison 1 4-4 7; Alex Mills 3 2-2 10; Ricardo Artis 7 1-2 16; Jeff Beverly 6 0-0 12; Ben Brown-White 1 0-1 2; Aundre Jackson 2 0-0 4; Zach Charles 3 1-6 7; Devon Washington 2 1-1 5; Totals 32 16-25 86.

3-pointers: Ranger 5 (Perez 2, Henry 1, Laurent 1), McLennan 6 (Mayes 2, Mills 2, Harrison 1, Artis 1); Total fouls: Ranger 21, McLennan 13; Halftime score: McLennan 34, Ranger 17; Record: McLennan 17-3 (2-0).

Ranger 63, McLennan 54
Ranger: Dana Whitehead 6 1-2 15; Madison Franklin 2 2-2 8; Sham Hunter 3 3-5 10; Alex Howze 1 0-0 2; Mariah Merriweather 5 1-5 13; Taryn Johnson 1 6-8 8; Kaylee Kana 2 1-2 7; Totals: 20 14-24 63.

McLennan: Kaylin Roher 1 1-2 4; Kyera Coleman 1 1-2 3; Kendra Wynn 1 1-2 3; Re'Elle Miller 1 4-7 6; Sha'de Adedapo 0 1-2 1; Amani Davis 2 3-4 7; Adrienne Drake 2 4-5 8; Caylinne Martin 8 6-8 22; Totals: 16 21-32 54.

3-pointers: Ranger 9 (Whitehead 2, Franklin 2, Merriweather 2, Kana 2, Hunter 1), McLennan 1 (Roher 1); Total fouls: Ranger 30, McLennan 22; Fouled out: Ranger (Whitehead, Kana); Halftime score: Ranger 31, McLennan 25;
Record: McLennan 5-10 (0-2).