Highlanders outlast Grayson
The McLennan Highlanders moved to 17-3 on the season and 4-1 in conference play with a 85-72 over the Grayson Vikings.
The game was close through the first five minute of play. With Grayson leading 10-8, McLennan put together an 8-0 run to take the 16-10 lead with 13:30 to play in the first half. The Vikings cut the lead to two less than a minute later but the Highlanders began to pull away once again. McLennan took its first double-digit lead at 37-27 with 3:57 remaining in the half. Grayson rallied down the stretch, cutting the Highlanders lead in half at intermission, 41-36.
McLennan had the momentum to start the second half. The Highlanders pushed the lead to 10 with 16:10 remaining in the game and extended it to 14 three minutes later, 59-45. Once again, Grayson fought back and cut the lead to four with 8:24 to play, 62-58. A Chris Pryor jumper followed by a pair of free throws each from Dillon Gooding and Diego Gonzalez put McLennan back up by 10, 68-58, with 6:40 to go. The Vikings pulled within six, 76-70, with just over three minutes to play, but the Highlanders closed the game on a 9-2 run to seal the win.
CJ Hall led the Highlanders with 24 points and Diego Gonzalez added 13. Chris Pryor and Dillon Gooding scored 13 and 10, respectively.
Grayson: DJ Thomas 7 2-4 19; Tyrone Williams 5 5-10 17; Samier Kinsler 4 2-2 14; Joshua Robinson 3 4-10 10; Rajeir Jones 3 2-2 10; Dorian Benford 1 0-0 2; Aseem Luckey 0 0-0 0; Totals: 23 15-28 72.
McLennan: Forte Prater 0 0-0 0; Dillon Gooding 3 4-4 10; CJ Hall 8 5-6 24 ; Nehemiah Nuckolls 1 1-2 3; Chris Pryor 5 3-3 13; Diego Gonzalez 6 4-5 16; Cortland Blake 0 0-0 0; Kirk Smith Jr. 4 1-1 9; Javani Brown 1 1-3 3; Justin Wilson 3 1-4 7; Totals: 31 20-28 85.
3-pointers: Grayson 11 (Kinsler 4, Thomas 3, Williams 2, Jones 2), McLennan 3 (Hall); Total fouls: Grayson 25, McLennan 22; Fouled out: Grayson (Benford), McLennan (Smith Jr.); Record: McLennan 17-3 (4-1).