Highlanders defeat North Lake

The McLennan Highlanders moved to 16-1 on the season with a 90-71 win over the North Lake Blazers Saturday afternoon at The Highlands.

Xaiver Armstead put McLennan on the board with a long shot from the top of the key, just shy of the 3-point line. North Lake tied it at two on a layup by Darrell Watson with 17:56 to play in the first. Aaron Gregg drained a 3-pointer from the elbow followed by a layup and free throw to give McLennan an early six-point lead. The Highlanders extended their lead to 10, 17-7, with just under 15 minutes to go in the first half. North Lake rallied, cutting the lead to two three minutes later, 21-19. The Highlanders led by eight, 27-19, midway through the half, but the Blazers didn't give in. North Lake rallied once again and took the one-point lead, 28-27, on a Seyi Imade put back with 8:11 to play in the half. The Blazers continued their 19-0 run to build an 11-point lead, their largest of the contest, at 38-27 with five minutes on the clock. McLennan responded with a 12-1 run, including eight points from Antoine Banks, to tie the game at 39. The Highlanders took a one-point lead on a Dayante McClellan free throw, but North Lake's Vernon Burns basket with 30 seconds to go would give the Blazers the one-point lead at the half, 41-40.

The game remained tight through the first 10 minutes of the second half. McLennan led 65-60 with 9:53 remaining in the game. Back-to-back long balls by Aaron Gregg and Xavier Armstead extended the Highlanders' lead to 11, 71-60. A Byrale Carter bucket with 7:19 to go cut that lead to nine, but that would prove to be as close as the Blazers would get down the stretch. McLennan went on a 10-run capped off by a dunk and alley-oop by Jordan Skipper-Brown to extend the Highlanders' lead to 19 and put the game out of reach.

Xavier Armstead led McLennan with 19 points, and Antoine Banks added 16. Jashawn Talton and Jordan Skipper-Brown scored 12 and 10, respectively.

The Highlanders will close out the nonconference portion of their schedule Tuesday, hosting Concordia JV at 6 p.m. McLennan hosts Ranger Jan. 13 to begin conference play. Women's action will begin at 2 p.m. followed by the men's game at 4 p.m. at The Highlands.

McLennan 90, North Lake 71
North Lake: Landen Stephens 3 0-0 9; Nathan Bradley 1 0-0 2; Byrale Carter 6 3-5 16; Darrell Watson 3 1-3 8; Jalan Horne 0 0-0 0; Zay Booker 0 0-0 0; Vernon Burns 2 0-0 5; Brady Boyd 4 6-6 18; Tre McCou 0 0-0 0; Josh Harris 1 3-3 5; Seyi Imade 3 2-2 8; Totals: 23 15-20 71.

McLennan: Aaron Gregg 3 1-1 9; Javen Hedgeman 2 3-4 7; Marquez Cooper 2 2-4 6; Xaiver Armstead 6 3-3 19; Antoine Banks 5 2-4 16; Garrett Shaw 1 0-0 3; Jashawn Talton 4 2-2 12; Dayante McClellan 1 2-4 4; Daniel Pinho Severo 0 1-2 1; Jordan Skipper-Brown 4 2-2 10; Sasa Vuksanvic 1 1-2 3; Malachi Barron 0 0-0 0; Totals: 29 19-28 90.

3-pointers: North Lake 10 (Boyd 4, Stephens 3, Carter 1, Watson 1, Burns 1), McLennan 13 (Armstead 4, Banks 4, Gregg 2, Talton 2, Shaw 1); Total fouls: North Lake 21, McLennan 20; Fouled out: North Lake (Watson and Imade); Halftime score: North Lake 41, McLennan 40; Record: McLennan 16-1.