The McLennan Highlanders moved to 13-2 overall and 7-2 in conference play with a 78-66 win over the Hill Rebels this afternoon in Waco.
McLennan dominated Hill early on. Hill's Bryce Latimer began the scoring with a bucket less than two minutes into the contest. Kirk Smith Jr. put the Highlanders on the board less than 20 seconds later with a bucket from the lane and the subsequent foul shot. The 3-point play started a 13-0 run highlighted by five points from Smith Jr. and four from Maurice Harvey. McLennan led 22-13 with 11:23 to play in the first half. Another Highlander run, this one of the 12-0 variety, pushed the McLennan lead to 21, 34-13. The Rebels rallied late in the half, cutting the lead to seven, and the Highlanders led by nine at halftime, 44-35.
McLennan led 50-42 with 17:07 remaining in the game. Hill held the Highlanders scoreless for the next three minutes as they rallied to trim the lead to one, 50-49. The Rebels took a one-point lead at 58-57 with 8:46 on the clock. McLennan stepped it up, using a 10-0 run to get some breathing room for the remainder of the game.
Maurice Harvey led the way for the Highlanders with 21 points. Chris Pryor and Nehemiah Nuckolls scored 15 and 14, respectively. Kirk Smith Jr. recorded the double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds.
McLennan 78, Hill 66
Hill: Cam Bush 4 1-2 9; Bryce Latimer 9 3-4 22; Josh Noton 6 2-2 15; Chase Lane 0 0-0 0; Quin Anderson ` 0-0 3; Raschard Green 3 0-0 6; Hanniel Quattara 2 1-1 5; Khuath Gatkuoth 0 0-0 0; Jamal Fuller 2 2-2 6; Totals: 27 9-11 66.
McLennan: Dillon Gooding 3 0-0 7; Maurice Harvey 8 5-8 21; Nehemiah Nuckolls 5 4-4 14; Chris Pryor 5 3-4 15; Rayquan Brown 0 1-2 1; Diego Gonzalez 2 2-2 7; Asare Otchere 1 0-0 2; Kirk Smith Jr. 3 5-7 11; Totals: 27 20-27 78.
3-pointers: Hill 3 (Lattimer 1, Notno 1, Anderson 1), McLennan 4 (Pryor 2, Gooding 1, Gonzalez 1); Total fouls: Hill 19, McLennan 16; Halftime score: McLennan 44, Hill 35; Record: McLennan 13-2 (7-2).
