Highlanders throttle Timberwolves in season opener

The 23rd-ranked McLennan Highlanders opened their season with a 108-67 thrashing of the Lone-Star College-Tomball Timberwolves at The Highlands.

McLennan came out on fire, opening the game on a 4-0 run comprised of a shot in the paint from Daniel Pinho Severo and a jumper by Aaron Gregg. The Highlanders led 9-4 with 16 minutes to play in the first half. The next three minutes appeared much like a 3-point contest with the two teams combining for six shots from behind the arc – four for McLennan and two for Tomball. The Highlanders began to pull away, extending their lead to 10, 22-12 with 13:15 to play in the first half. McLennan's swarming defense and offensive prowess proved to be too much for Tomball. The Highlanders rolled down the stretch in the first as they extended their lead to 28 at the break, 58-30.

McLennan dominated in the second half, holding the Timberwolves to just 19 points in the 20-minute period as they cruised to the victory.

Freshman Antoine Banks led the Highlanders with 18 points. Freshmen Aaron Gregg and Xaiver Armstead added 12 points each, and Marquez Cooper chipped in 11.

McLennan returns to action tomorrow, facing El Centro College at 4 p.m. on the opening day of the McLennan Classic.

LSC-Tomball: Kyle Brennon 1 0-0 2; Jaren Chevalier 1 2-2 4; Dandre Walker 2 3-3 9; Dontavious Elder 1 0-0 2; Rodnell Desir 5 0-0 11; Jackie Davis 0 2-4 2; Jordan Bates 0 4-5 4; Paul Ezimako 5 5-5 17; Donald Richardson III 2 0-0 6; Artavious Turner 0 3-4 3; Totals: 21 20-25 67.

McLennan: Aaron Gregg 5 0-1 12; Javen Hedgeman 4 1-2 9; Marquez Cooper 3 4-4 11; Xaiver Armstead 3 4-4 12; Antoine Banks 7 1-2 18; Garrett Shaw 2 2-2 7; Jashawn Talton 1 0-0 5; Dayante McClellan 3 2-4 8 ; Daniel Pinho Severo 4 1-2 9; Jordan Skipper-Brown 4 1-2 9; Sasa Vuksanvic 4 0-0 8; Totals: 41 16-23 108.

3-pointers: LSC-Tomball 7 (Richardson 2, Ezimako 2, Walker 2, Desir 1); McLennan 10 (Banks 3, Gregg 2, Armstead 2, Cooper 1, Shaw 1, McClellan 1); Total fouls: LSC-Tomball 22; McLennan 22; Halftime score: McLennan 58, LSC-Tomball 33; Record: 1-0.