The McLennan Highlassies came from behind to defeat the Jacksonville Lady Jaguars 63-61 on the road Monday evening in Jacksonville.
McLennan opened the game on a 4-0 run. The Highlassies led 7-5 with 6:08 to play in the first quarter. Jacksonville used an 8-0 run over the next four minutes to build a six-point lead, 13-7. The Highlassies bounced back, cutting the lead to two at the end of the first quarter, 15-13. The Lady Jaguars extended the lead to 10, 31-21, with 3:59 to play in the second. McLennan used a 5-0 run to cut the lead in half, but Jacksonville extended the lead to seven at intermission, 38-31.
The Highlassies once again opened the half on a 4-0 run to trim the lead to three, 38-35, with 8:34 to go in the third. The Lady Jaguars responded with a 4-0 run of their own to extend the lead back to seven, 42-35. McLennan tied the game at 42 with just under three minutes to play in the third quarter. Velma Mitchell's 3-pointer with 1:48 remaining in the quarter gave the Highlassies the 45-42 lead – their first lead since the 7:39 mark of the first quarter. McLennan extended the lead to five down the stretch and held the 50-47 advantage heading into the final period.
Jacksonville tied the game at 52 with 6:39 to go, but the Highlassies didn't give up. McLennan led by four, 62-58, with 29.8 seconds remaining in the game. Lady Jaguars' Brianna Perry sank a bucket and the ensuing foul shot with 22.2 seconds on the clock to pull Jacksonville within one, 62-61. Mitchell and Mirackle Sallie both went to the free throw line for two shots each, following intentional fouls by the Lady Jaguars, but couldn't convert. Mitchell then hit a free throw with 0.8 seconds to play to seal the win for McLennan.
Mitchell led the Highlassies with 26 points, including five 3-pointers, and Sallie scored 18.
McLennan: Patrickia Daily 0 0-0 0; Dariel Johnson 1 0-0 2; Jordan Mullins 3 0-0 6; Velma Mitchell 7 8-12 26; Ashley Smith 0 2-2 2; Jaylonn Walker 2 0-0 6; Nadia Haynes 1 1-4 3; Ashley Moore 0 0-0 0; Desirae Devine 0 0-0 0; Mirackle Sallie 6 6-9 18; Totals: 20 16-27 63.
Jacksonville: Quai Smith-Sims 1 0-0 2; Aaliyah Wheatfall 4 1-1 9; Jazmyne Santiel 0 0-0 0; Brianna Perry 7 5-7 22; Kristian James 0 0-0 0; Wandy Weekes 0 0-0 0; Florence Sifa 7 8-10 22; Flora Akinbade 0 0-4 0; Allyson Hinds 2 0-0 4; Shaundrea Rhymes 1 2-4 4; Totals: 21 16-26 61.
3-pointers: McLennan 7 (Mitchell 5, Walker 2), Jacksonville 3 (Perry 3); Total fouls: McLennan 21, Jacksonville 21; Fouled out: McLennan (Johnson), Jacksonville (Smith-Sims); Halftime score: Jacksonville 38, McLennan 31; Record: 4-7.
