The McLennan Highlassies squeaked by the Ranger Lady Rangers 60-58 on Saturday afternoon in Ranger.
The game was close from start to finish with neither team gaining a double-digit lead. Ranger led 16-14 with 9:15 remaining in the half. McLennan used a 12-1 run to take the 23-17 lead with 2:21 to go. The Lady Rangers rallied to cut the lead to four at the half, 29-25.
The Highlassies extended the lead back to nine, 36-27, with 16:51 remaining in the game. Ranger rallied once again to take the 39-38 lead less that two minutes later. The Lady Rangers led by five, 57-52, with 4:34 to play. McLennan cut the lead to three on an Adrienne Drake layup with just under four minutes on the clock. Kaylin Roher's free throws cut the Ranger lead to one, 58-57, with 1:30 to go. The Highlassies' Kyera Coleman drained a 3-pointer with 29 seconds on the clock to seal the win.
Freshman Caylinne Martin led McLennan with 20 points. Drake and Roher added 11 and 10, respectively.
In men's action, the McLennan Highlanders defeated the Ranger Rangers 69-59.
McLennan opened the game on a 7-0 run and took the first double-digit lead at 27-16 with 8:55 remaining in the first half. The Highlanders led by 13, 39-26, with 1:15 to play. Ranger's Jonathan Perez hit a 3-pointer with 44 second to go to cut the lead to 10 at the break, 39-29.
Ranger began to rally midway through the second half, cutting the lead to six, 47-41, with 10:34 remaining in the game. McLennan extended the lead back to double digits with six minutes to play, and Ranger couldn't pull any closer.
Sophomore Jalen Jones led the Highlanders with 15 and Aundre Jackson added 13. James Harrison and Jeff Beverly scored 12 and 10, respectively.
The Highlassies return to action on Wednesday, hosting Cisco at 5:30 p.m. The Highlanders return to action on Feb. 14, traveling to Hill for a 4 p.m. game.
McLennan: Kaylin Roher 3 3-6 10; Kyera Coleman 1 1-2 4; Kendra Wynn 3 0-2 6; Demi Cumby 2 0-0 4; Re'Elle Miller 0 1-2 1; Sha'de Adedapo 1 0-0 3; Amani Davis 0 1-2 1; Adrienne Drake 5 1-4 11; Caylinne Martin 9 2-2 20; Totals: 24 9-20 60.
Ranger: Dana Whitehead 2 0-0 6; Tyrasha Degrate 2 0-0 4; Madison Franklin 0 2-2 2; Sham Hunter 4 4-4 11; Mariah Merriweather 5 4-7 15; Taryn Johnson 1 3-5 6; Kaylee Kana 2 8-15 12; Kayla Turner 1 0-0 2; Totals: 17 21-33 58.
3-pointers: McLennan 3 (Roher 1, Coleman 1, Adedapo 1), Ranger 5 (Whitehead 2, Hunter 1, Merriweather 1, Johnson 1); Total fouls: McLennan 24; Ranger 19; Fouled out: McLennan (Martin); Halftime score: McLennan 29, Ranger 25; Record: McLennan 9-13 (4-5).
McLennan: K.J. Boyd 2 0-0 4; Jalen Jones 3 8-10 15; Elijah Mayes 0 1-2 1; James Harrison 5 1-1 12; Alex Mills 2 0-0 6; Jeff Beverly 4 2-3 10; Aundre Jackson 6 1-1 13; Zach Charles 2 0-0 4; Devon Washington 2 0-0 4; Totals: 26 13-17 69.
Ranger: Onix Collazo 2 0-2 4; Torree Henry 3 1-2 9; Renard Thomas 2 0-2 6; Jonathan Perez 3 0-0 8; Roosevelt Whyley 1 2-2 5; Shaq Berry 3 6-6 12; Alfred Johnson 2 0-0 4; Gabi Laurent 5 2-4 12; Totals: 21 11-20 59
3-pointers: McLennan 4 (Mills 2, Jones 1, Harrison 1), Ranger 7 (Henry 2, Thomas 2, Perez 2, Whyley 1); Total fouls: McLennan 19, Ranger 19; Halftime score: McLennan 39, Ranger 29; Record: McLennan 21-5 (6-2).
