Highlanders squeak by North Lake
The McLennan Highlanders bounced back with a 78-76 win over the North Lake Blazers Monday afternoon at The Highlands.
McLennan opened the game on a 9-0 run. North Lake rallied to tie the game at 12 with 13:28 to play in the first half. The Highlanders led 23-21 with 8:49 to play. The Blazers used an 8-0 over the next minute and a half to take the 29-23 lead. The Blazers led by as many as seven down the stretch and held the 41-37 advantage at the break.
The Highlanders opened the second half on a 5-0 run to take the 42-41 lead. McLennan led by five, 55-50, with 12:45 remaining in the game. North Lake tied the game at 55 midway through the half and took the 59-58 lead with eight minutes to play. McLennan took the lead again and led by four several times in the final minutes. The Blazers led 74-73 with 29 seconds to go. The Highlanders took the lead on a Shannon Bogues jumper with 17 seconds to go and sealed the win at the free throw line.
Jerami Grace led the Highlanders with 25 points and Bogues scored 18. Zach Charles recorded the double double with 12 rebounds.
McLennan 78, North Lake 76
North Lake: Jeremy Crane 2 4-4 10; Orion Lewis 2 0-0 6; P.J. Esocbar 6 0-0 16; Akeem Black 4 5-10 13; Anthony Morales 1 0-0 2; Ceddrick Ali 3 2-2 8; Dare Brazeal 3 0-0 7; Jules Woods 5 1-2 14; Schuyler Ferris 0 1-2 1; Totals: 26 13-20 76.
McLennan: Ben Nakwaasah 0 1-2 1; Antonio Wade 1 0-0 2; K.J. Boyd 1 0-0 2; Jerami Grace 7 6-7 25; Shannon Bogues 6 4-6 18; Brian Long 1 0-2 2; Aundre Jackson 3 3-6 9; Zach Charles 2 8-10 12; Fred Jackson 2 2-2 6; Totals: 23 24-35 78.
3-pointers: North Lake 11 (Escobar 4, Crane 2, Lewis 2, Woods 2, Brazeal 1), McLennan 7 (Grace 5, Bogues 2); Total fouls: North Lake 26, McLennan 23; Fouled out: North Lake (Brazeal, Ferris); Halftime score: North Lake 41, McLennan 37; Record: McLennan 15-2.