Highlanders top Weatherford; Highlassies fall

The McLennan Highlanders closed out Sophomore Day at The Highlands with an exciting 99-85 victory over the Weatherford Coyotes.

The game was close throughout the first half as the two teams exchanged baskets and the lead for the first 13 minutes of play. Weatherford led 31-30 with 7:30 to play in the half. McLennan's two sophomores, Jashawn Talton and Daniel Pinho Severo, combined for an 8-0 run to begin putting distance between the Highlanders and Coyotes. McLennan took their first double-digit lead on a pair of Garrett Shaw free throws with 47 seconds remaining in the first half and led 46-38 with five seconds on the clock. Talton drained a long 3-pointer from the top of the key as the buzzer sounded to give McLennan the 49-38 advantage at the break.

The Highlanders continued to roll in the second half, extending their lead to 18, 65-47, with 15:30 remaining in the game. Weatherford rallied to pull within nine midway through the half, 76-67, but McLennan pulled away again, leading by as many as 21 down the stretch.

Jashawn Talton led the Highlanders with a double-double, scoring 23 points and pulling down 10 rebounds. Xaiver Armstead also chipped in 23 points. Daniel Pinho Severo and Garrett Shaw scored 21 and 17 points, respectively.

In women's action, the Highlassies fell to the Lady Coyotes 86-72.

McLennan came out fired up, looking to avenge the loss to Weatherford earlier in the season. Sophomores Jaylonn Walker and Colandria Haynes were hot in the first quarter, scoring 11 and nine points respectively to help build the 25-23 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Highlassies pulled away in the second quarter and led 44-36 with 53 seconds to play in the first half. The Coyotes ended the half on an 8-0 run to cut the McLennan lead to four at halftime, 44-40.

The Highlassies extended the lead to nine early in the third quarter and led 58-49 with 3:53 to play in the third. Weatherford used a 5-0 run to pull within four, 58-54. Jaylonn Walker put McLennan back up by six with just under three minutes remaining in the quarter. The momentum swung to the Lady Coyotes as they ended the period on a 10-0 run to take the 64-60 advantage. Weatherford outscored McLennan 22-12 in the final quarter to seal the win.

Jaylonn Walker led the Highlassies with 19 points and Velma Mitchell added 17. Colandria Haynes rounded out the Highlassies in double figures with 16 points.

McLennan 99, Weatherford 85
Weatherford: Tyrik Armstrong 6 3-6 15; Zach Naylor 4 1-1 10; Ken Busby 5 8-10 19; Chance Edwards 5 2-2 14; Ansu Sesay 0 0-0 0; Braxton Lovings 0 2-2 2; Ke-lyn Adams 7 0-0 16; Jesse White 0 0-0 0; Josh Ihek 3 2-5 8; Naim Rabay 0 0-0 0; Totals: 30 16-23 85.

McLennan: Aaron Gregg 0 2-6 2; Javen Hedgeman 1 4-4 6; Marquez Cooper 0 0-0 0; Xaiver Armstead 10 2-3 23; Antoine Banks 0 0-0; Garrett Shaw 6 2-4 17; Jashawn Talton 7 5-5 23; Dayante McClellan 1 102 3; Daniel Pinho Severo 8 5-7 21; Jordan Skipper-Brown 1 2-4 4; Totals: 34 16-23 99.

3-pointers: Weatherford 9 (Armstrong 3, Edwards 2, Adams 2, Naylor 1, Busby 1), McLennan 8 (Talton 4, Shaw 3, Armstead 1); Total fouls: Weatherford 26, McLennan 21; Fouled out: Hedgeman (McLennan), Ihek (Weatherford); Halftime score: McLennan 49, Weatherford 38; Record: McLennan 22-2 (5-1).

Weatherford 86, McLennan 72
Weatherford: Destiney Winkfield 63-4 19; Masha Vasilevko 5 3-4 13; Eva Lewis 6 2-3 15; Kayla Hunter 0 0-0 0; Dovile Strimaityte 0 0-0 0; Faith Norman 0 0-0 0; Reyna Ammons 4 0-0 8; Grace Daniels 4 3-5 11; Tahnia McDaniel 7 4-5 20; Totals: 32 16-24 86.

McLennan: Patrickia Daily 1 0-0 3; Colandria Haynes 6 2-2 16; JonNá McDonald 1 0-0 2; Shekenia Green 0 0-0 0; Velma Mitchell 7 2-6 17; KeeKee Nowlin 1 0-0 2; Jaylonn Walker 6 4-8 19; Shankia Clark 0 0-0 0; Nadia Hayes 2 0-0 4; Chiqueria Cook 0 0-0 0; Anndrea Lloyd 4 1-2 9; Totals: 26 9-18 72.

3-pointers: Weatherford 6 (Winkfield 3, McDaniel 2, Lewis 1), McLennan 7 (Walker 3, Haynes 2, Mitchell 1, Daily 1); Total fouls: Weatherford 18, McLennan 19; Fouled out: Vasilevko (Weatherford); Halftime score: McLennan 44, Weatherford 40; Record: McLennan 14-11 (7-4).