Highlanders top Ranger

The No. 10 McLennan Highlanders opened conference play with a 74-56 win over the Ranger Rangers Saturday afternoon on the road. 

The game began as a defensive battle. McLennan led 6-5 with 11:57 to play in the first half. Derrick Farquharson and Hayden Hunter jump-started the Highlanders' offense, combining for an 9-0 run. Farquharson had a put back, Hunter then laid in a basket and sank an ensuing foul shot, and Farquharson drained a 3-pointer from the corner, putting the Highlanders up 14-5 with 9:48 to play in the half. Terrance Sewell hit a 3-pointer for Ranger to break a four-minute scoring drought for the Rangers, 14-8. McLennan continued to pour it on. Shannon Bogues hit a 3-pointer and Isaiah Gurley grabbed an offensive rebound and put back off the glass to give the Highlanders their first double-digit lead of the game 21-8. The Highlanders led 23-15 with just under five minutes to play in the half. McLennan used another run, this time 6-0 to extend their lead to 14. McLennan held the 35-22 advantage at the break.

McLennan continued to pound Ranger in the second half. The Rangers pulled within 12 early on in the half but the Highlanders continued to pull away, leading by as many as 25 down the stretch.

Bogues led the Highlanders with 23 points. Farquharson and Gurley added 15 and 14, respectively. Jashawn Talton scored 11. The win moves the Highlanders to 19-0 on the season and 1-0 in conference play.

McLennan 79, Ranger 56
McLennan: Kyle Brennon 0 0-0 0; Zarious Wilson 0 3-4 3; Chamar Hawkins 0 0-0 0; Hayden Hunter 1 1-3 3; Derrick Farquharson 6 2-2 15; Shannon Bogues 9 3-4 23; Isaiah Gurley 6 2-2 14; Jashawn Talton 5 1-1 11; Daniel Pinho Severo 2 1-1 5; Fred Jackson 0 1-2 1; Julius Palmer 0 4-7 4; Totals: 29 18-26 79.

Ranger: Michael Bowers 0 0-2 0; Jabri McCall 4 7-10 15; Corbin Stephens 0 0-0 0 Trey Conrod 3 0-0 6; Steve Walker 0 2-2 2; Tony Allen 2 0-0 6; Terrance Sewell 2 1-2 6; Jonathan Turner 4 1-2 9; Gary Ringo 0 0-0 0; Chris Royal 2 0-0 4; Devonte Patterson 3 2-3 8; Totals: 20 13-23 56. 

3-pointers: McLennan 3 (Bogues 2, Farquharson 1), Ranger 3 (Allen 2, Sewell 1); Total fouls: McLennan 17, Ranger 27; Fouled out: Ranger (Patterson); Halftime score: McLennan 35, Ranger 22; Record: McLennan 19-0 (1-0).