The McLennan basketball teams faced their toughest competition of the short season on the final day of the McLennan Classic, and both squads came away with nice victories.
In the early game the Highlassies defeated the Cedar Valley Lady Suns 61-53. It was a tough battle from the opening tip. The Highlassies opened on a 3-0 run by Anastacia Mickens. All 15 of Cedar Valley's points in the first quarter came from 3-pointers, and the Lady Suns led 15-11 going into the second period.
Cedar Valley continued to lead through the majority of the second and led by four, 22-18, with 3:33 to play in the first half. McLennan ended the quarter on a 10-2 run, highlighted by five points from Kenidi White, to take the 28-24 lead into the break.
McLennan began to pull away in the third quarter, extending the lead to 14 with just over a minute remaining in the period. Cedar Valley began to rally at the end of the period, and cut the Highlassies lead to 10, 51-41 to start the fourth. The Lady Suns rally continued into fourth with a 6-0 run to pull within two, but that was as close as they would get. McLennan kept them at arm's length the remainder of the game to seal the win.
Kenidi White led the Highlassies with 14 points. Anastacia Mickens and KeeKee Nowlin chipped in 13 and 10, respectively.
In men's action, the Highlanders defeated the Western Texas Westerners 90-66 to improve their record to 3-0 on the season.
It was the Mike Adewunmi show to start the game. Adewunmi scored McLennan's first 14 points to give the Highlanders the early 14-5 lead. McLennan led by six, 16-10, with 12:55 to play in the first half. The Highlanders quickly doubled the lead to 12 with a 6-0 run highlighted by a Casey Armour slam. The Westerners didn't give in and trimmed the lead to six once again, 37-31 with 3:41 to play in the half. Strong shooting from the Highlanders at the free throw line down the stretch gave McLennan the 48-36 lead at intermission.
The Highlanders busted the game open early in the second half and led 62-43 at the midway point. McLennan continued to pull away for another easy victory.
Mike Adewunmi led McLennan with 25 points including four 3-pointers, and Jordan Skipper-Brown added 16. Javen Hedgeman and Casey Armour added 13 and 11, respectively, and Xavier Armstead rounded out the Highlanders in double figures with 10.
McLennan 61, Cedar Valley 53
Cedar Valley: Moore 2 0-0 4; Patterson 3 0-0 8; Rusk 1 2-4 5; DeModesty Williams 2 2-2 7; Johnson 3 0-0 7; Kelley 1 0-0 3; Roundtree 2 3-3 7; Mosley 2 0-0 6; A. Williams 1 0-0 3; Kayla Watson 0 3-6 3; Totals: 17 10-15 53.
McLennan: Ny'Asia Goldman 2 3-5 7; Kenidi White 3 6-8 14; Gabby Cleveland 1 0-2 3; Harmony Pettis 2 1-2 6; KeeKee Nowlin 4 1-3 10; Annya Moss 0 0-0 0; Janeisha Mosley 0 0-0 0; Raveen Blue 0 0-0 0; Shequana Jackson 0 0-0 0; Elizabeth Critton 3 0-0 6; Anastacia Mickens 6 1-2 13; Desirae Devine 1 0-0 2; Totals: 22 12-22 61.
3-pointers: Cedar Valley 9 (Mosley 2, Patterson 2, Rusk 1, D. Williams 1, Johnson 1, A. Williams 1), McLennan 4 (White 1, Cleveland 1, Pettis 1, Nowlin 1); Total fouls: Cedar Valley 20, McLennan 16; Fouled out: Cedar Valley (Kelley); Halftime score: McLennan 28, Cedar Valley 24; Record: McLennan 2-0.
McLennan 90, Western Texas 60
Western Texas: McDougal 2 4-4 9; Kirkendoll 1 0-0 2; Diallo 0 0-0 0; Kelly 1 0-0 2; Allen 2 0-0 5; Brown 5 9-11 20; Allison 2 1-2 6; Thelisme 3 0-1 9; Jones 2 2-2 6; Johnson 3 1-2 7; Bikoi Yama 0 0-0 0; Wa Kabeya 0 0-0 0; Totals: 21 17-22 66.
McLennan: Javen Hedgeman 4 2-4 13; Creighton Avery 1 1-2 3; Jimmie Kelly 1 0-0 2; Mike Adewunmi 9 3-4 25; Xavier Armstead 2 6-7 10; Casey Armour 5 1-4 11; Garrett Shaw 0 0-0 0; Dayante McClellan 1 1-2 3; Willie Thomas 3 1-2 7; Jordan Skipper-Brown 7 2-4 16; Ja'Lyn Banks 0 0-0 0; Totals: 33 19-31 90.
3-pointers: Western Texas 7 (Thelisme 3, McDougal 1, Allen 1, Brown 1, Allison 1), McLennan 5 (Adewunmi 4, Hedgeman 1); Total fouls: Western Texas 26, McLennan 24; Fouled out: McDougal 2; Halftime score: McLennan 48, Western Texas 36; Record: McLennan 3-0.
