Highlanders dominate Collin, Highlassies fall
The McLennan Highlanders avenged last month's one-point loss to the Collin Cougars with a dominating 74-59 victory this afternoon at The Highlands.
It was a low-scoring affair between the Highlanders and Cougars. Collin's Mason Hix went 1-2 from the free throw line with 19:07 to play in the first half to begin the scoring. Back-to-back layups from Mike Adewunmi and Xavier Armstead would put McLennan up 4-1. A bucket from Hix would pull the Cougars within one with 17:31 to play in the half, 4-3. That's when McLennan took control. The Highlanders used an 11-2 run over the next five minutes to build a 10-point lead, 15-5. McLennan extended the lead to 14, 20-6, midway through the half. Collin rallied to cut the lead to seven, 24-17. The Highlanders ended the half on a 5-0 run comprised of a bucket by Jordan Skipper-Brown and 3-pointer by Armstead to extend the lead to 12 at halftime, 29-17.
McLennan opened the second half on a 7-0 run. The Highlanders led by as many as 23 in the half as they rolled over the Cougars. Collin cut the lead to 15 late but it wasn't enough to overcome the McLennan dominance.
Xavier Armstead and Casey Armour led McLennan with 17 points each. Mike Adewunmi added 13.
In women's action, the McLennan Highlassies fell to the Collin Lady Cougars 85-58.
Collin opened the game on a 6-0 run. Ny'Asia Goldman put McLennan on the board with a pair of free throws with 7:44 to go in the first quarter. Collin led 7-2 with 7:21 remaining in the quarter. Back-to-back 3-pointers from Annya Moss and Goldman put the Highlassies ahead by one 8-7. The game would be tied at 14 with one minute to play in the quarter. The Lady Cougars ended the period on a 5-0 run to hold the 19-14 lead going to the second quarter.
McLennan rallied to start the second period and took a one-point lead at 24-23 on a Moss fade-away 3-pointer from the corner with 5:45 on the clock. The Highlassies trailed by three, 31-28, with 3:39 remaining in the half. The Lady Cougars ended the period on an 8-0 run to take the 39-28 advantage at the break.
Collin extended the lead to 15, 43-28, with nine minutes to play in the third. McLennan responded with a 5-0 run to pull within 10, 43-33. Collin controlled the game from that point and the Highlassies were unable to recover.
KeeKee Nowlin led the Highlassies with 16 points. Annya Moss and Ny'Asia Goldman scored 12 and 10, respectively.
McLennan will host Hill Wednesday evening at The Highlands. The women will tip off at 5:30 p.m., followed by the men's game at 7:30 p.m.
Collin: Michael Tate 0 0-0 0; Ikem Okeke-Oraeki 3 0-0 8; Timothy Denton II 0 0-0 0; Lamont Simmons 2-2 6; Connor Ouellette 1 2-3 4; Tajzmel Sherman 4 4-4 16; Tino Sebalj 4 0-0 12; River Reed 1 2-7 4; Seth White 1 1-2 4; Ryan Flores 0 1-2 1; Nighel Ceaser 0 1-2 1; Jordan Wallace 0 0-0 0; Mason Hix 1 1-2 3; Totals: 17 14-24 59.
McLennan: Javen Hedgeman 0 1-2 1; Creighton Avery 3 0-0 9; Jimmie Kelly 1 0-0 3; Mike Adewunmi 5 3-4 13; Kameron Ivory 0 0-0 0; Xavier Armstead 4 6-6 17; Casey Armour 3 11-13 17; Garrett Shaw 1 0-0 2; Devyn Brewton 0 0-0 0; Dayante McClellan 2 2-4 6; Willie Thomas 1 2-2 4; Jordan Skipper-Brown 1 0-0 2; Tevis Stukes Jr. 0 0-0 0; Ja'Lyn Banks 0 0-0 0; Totals: 21 25-33 74.
3-pointers: Collin 11 (Sherman 4, Sebalj 4, Okeke-Oraeki 2, White 1), McLennan 7 (Avery 3, Armstead 2, Kelly 1, Adewunmi 1); Total fouls: Collin 28, McLennan 27; Fouled out: Collin (Hix), McLennan (Skipper-Brown); Halftime score: McLennan 29, Collin 17; Record: McLennan 19-6 (5-4).
Collin: Destiny Thurman 4 8-9 16; Jordynn Hernandez 3 0-0 9; Briana Marshall 5 2-4 13; Shala Robinson 3 2-5 8; Denae Lofton 4 2-6 14; Lauren Stallworth 1 1-2 3; Christina Baker 41-2 9; Jalah Walton 4 0-1 8; Cardrina Nolen 1 3-3 5; Totals: 29 19-32 85.
McLennan: Jada McHenry 2 1-3 5; Ny'Asia Goldman 2 4-4 10; Kenidi White 0 0-0 0; Gabby Cleveland 0 0-0 0; Harmony Pettis 1 0-0 2; KeeKee Nowlin 5 5-10 16; Annya Moss4 1-2 12; Shequana Jackson 0 0-0 0; Elizabeth Critton 1 1-2 3; Anastacia Mickens 4 0-0 8; Desirae Devine 1 0-0 2; Totals:
3-pointers: Collin 8 (Lofton 4, Hernandez 3, Marshall 1), McLennan 6 (Moss 3, Goldman 2, Nowlin 1); Total fouls: Collin 17, McLennan 24; Fouled out: McLennan (Critton); Halftime score: Collin 39, McLennan 28; Record: McLennan 10-14 (1-10).