The McLennan Highlanders opened the season on Friday with a 75-64 win over the Southern-Shreveport Jaguars in the McLennan Classic at The Highlands.
The first half was all McLennan. The Highlanders opened the game on a 9-0 run and extended the lead to 18 with 6:49 remaining in the half. McLennan held the 43-28 at the break.
Southern-Shreveport began to rally in the second half, cutting the lead to five, 57-52, with 7:31 remaining in the game. The Highlanders increased the lead back to double digits at 67-56 with just under four minutes to go and cruised the rest of the way.
Alex Mills led the Highlanders with 14 points. Jerami Grace and Shannon Bogues added 11 and 10, respectively.
On Saturday, the Highlanders closed out the Classic with an 82-56 win over the Richland Thunderducks.
McLennan led 20-12 with 13:22 remaining in the first half. Richland rallied to cut the lead to three before the Highlanders pulled away once again. McLennan took the first double-digit lead at 29-19 with three minutes left in the first half and led 37-25 at halftime. The Highlanders continued to pull away in the second half as they cruised to the win.
Mills once again led the Highlanders with 16 points and Bogues added 14. Antonio Wade and Aundre Jackson added 10 points each.
McLennan 75, Southern-Shreveport 64
Southern-Shreveport: Terrance Cobb 2 2-2 14; Amos Givan 4 7-10 15; Dangelo McClinton 1 2-2 4; Darrion Jacobs 1 4-6 6; Derion Porchia 4 6-6 16; Jerry Murphy 2 0-0 5; Darrell Thomas 2 2-2 4; Nykolas Dowson 0 0-3 0; Totals: 24 23-31 64.
McLennan: Ben Nakwaasah 1 3-6 6; Antonio Wade 3 0-0 7; K.J. Boyd 0 1-2 1; Jerami Grace 3 3-4 11; Shannon Bogues 3 3-5 10; Alex Mills 3 8-10 14; Justin Bartie 1 0-0 2; Brian Long 1 0-0 2; DeAnte Robinson 0 2-2 2; Aundre Jackson 3 2-2 8; Zach Charles 2 4-6 8; Fred Jackson 2 0-0 4; Totals: 27 26-37 75.
3-pointers: Southern-Shreveport 5 (Cobb 2, Porchia 2, Murphy 1), McLennan 5 (Grace 2, Nakwaasah 1, Wade 1, Bogues 1); Total fouls: Southern-Shreveport 29, McLennan 28; Fouled out: Southern-Shreveport (McClinton, Dowson); Halftime score: McLennan 43, 28; Record: McLennan 1-0.
McLennan 82, Richland 56
Richland: Terrance Cooper 1 3-3 6; Torrance Cooper 3 0-0 9; Marquis Williams 3 0-0 8; Kevin Baines 3 1-1 7; Abrain Edwards 4 1-5 10; Jacques Stephenson 1 0-0 3; Zac Graves 0 3-4 3; Jordan Francis 4 1-2 10; Totals: 19 9-15 56.
McLennan: Ben Nakwaasah 2 3-4 7; Antonio Wade 4 0-0 10; K.J. Boyd 2 0-0 4; Jerami Grace 5 3-3 14; Shannon Bogues 5 3-3 14; Alex Mills 5 2-2 16; Justin Bartie 1 2-2 4; Brian Long 1 2-2 4; DeAnte Robinson 0 0-2 0; Aundre Jackson 3 4-4 10; Jalyn McKoy 2 0-0 4; Zach Charles 3 3-4 9; Totals: 28 19-23 82.
3-pointers: Richland 8 (To. Cooper 3, Williams 2, Te. Cooper 1, Edwards 1, Stephenson 1, Francis 1), McLennan 7 (Mills 4, Wade 2, Bogues 1); Total fouls: Richland 21, McLennan 17; Fouled out: McLennan (Long); Halftime score: McLennan 37, Richland 25; Record: McLennan 2-0.
