Highlanders remain undefeated

In a low-scoring affair, the McLennan Highlanders squeaked out a 65-64 victory over the Hill Rebels to remain undefeated and move to 2-0 in conference play.
 
It was a close battle from start to finish with neither team ever achieving a double-digit lead until the last five minutes of the contest. McLennan held a six-point lead at 12-6 with 15:47 to play in the first half. Hill rallied to tie the game at 13 with 13:14 on the clock. The teams were tied at 18 when the Rebels used an 8-0 run to give themselves a little breathing room. McLennan stuck with them and trailed by six at the break, 35-29.
 
Hill continued to hold a seven-point lead at 41-34 with 16:49 remaining in the game. Nehemiah Nuckolls and Rayquan Brown both made good on and-one situations to pull the Highlanders within one, 41-40. The teams traded baskets for the next two minutes and McLennan trailed by three, 47-44, with 13:18 to go. A 5-0 run from Rayquan Brown gave the Highlanders lead at 49-47. A bucket from Maurice Harvey and a 3-pointer from Chris Pryor completed a 10-0 run for McLennan. The Highlanders continued to pull away and took the first double-digit lead at with a pair of 63-52 with a pair of Diego Gonzalez free throws with five minutes on the clock. Hill wasn't going to back down and rallied to pull within one on a Quin Anderson 3-pointer from the top of the key with 44 seconds to play. Hill had the ball on their own end of the court with 6.3 seconds to play. A last second shot by Jamal Fuller bounced off the rim, giving the Highlanders the one-point victory.
 
Diego Gonzalez led the Highlanders with 20 points and Rayquan Brown added 16.

McLennan 65, Hill 64

McLennan: Dillon Gooding0 2-2- 2; Amani Harris 1 0-0 3; Maurice Harvey 2 2-4 7; Nehemiah Nuckolls 1 3-5 5; Chris Pryor 3 0-0 9; Rayquan Brown 5 5-5 16; Diego Gonzalez 6 8-10 16; Asare Otchere 1 1-3 1; Kirk Smith Jr. 1 0-3 2; Totals: 19 21-32 65.
 
Hill: Cam Bush 2 1-2 5; Bryce Lattimer 4 7-10 16; Josh Noton 2 0-0 4; Chase Lane 0 0-0 0; Quin Anderson 4 0-0 12; Raschard Green 3 3-4 9; Hanniel Quattara 2 0-2 5; Khuath Gatkuoth 1 1-2 3; Jamal Fuller 1 8-12 10; Isaac Weaver 0 0-0 0; Totals:19 20-32 64.
 
3-pointers: McLennan 6 (Pryor 3, Harris 1, Harvey 1, Brown 1), Hill 6 (Anderson 4, Lattimer 1, Quattara 1); Total fouls: McLennan 20, Hill 17; Fouled out: McLennan (Nuckolls); Halftime score: Hill 35, McLennan 29; Record: McLennan 8-0 (2-0).