It was a rough and tough battle at The Highlands this afternoon between the McLennan Highlassies and Cisco Lady Wranglers. McLennan led for the majority of the contest but Cisco battled back to get the win, 68-60.
After struggling through the first round of conference play, the McLennan took the floor with an obvious desire to bounce back into the win column.
The Highlassies were fired up from the opening tip. Cisco's Keviona Barber drained a 3-pointer less than a minute into the first quarter to begin the scoring. McLennan responded with a 4-0 run from KeeKee Nowlin to give the Highlassies the early 4-3 lead. Cisco and McLennan traded baskets and the Lady Wranglers held the 11-10 lead with four minutes to play in the first quarter. The Highlassies used a 6-0 run over the next minute and a half to build a five-point lead, 16-11, and extended the lead to seven at the end of the quarter, 21-14. McLennan continued to hold the seven-point lead at 29-22 with 2:24 to play in the first half. Cisco made a late rally, cutting the lead to one, 29-28, with 1:13 remaining before the break. The Highlassies' Raveen Blue ended the period on a 5-0 run of her own to give McLennan the 34-28 halftime lead.
McLennan opened the third quarter on a 4-0 run to take the first double-digit lead of the game at 38-28. Cisco trimmed the lead back to six, 40-34, with 8:17 to play in the quarter. The Highlassies pulled away with a 5-0 run and extended the lead to 14, 50-36, with 3:30 on the clock. The Highlassies would hold the 11-point lead going to the final quarter, 56-45.
The Highlassies' offense went cold in the fourth quarter. Cisco outscored McLennan 23-4 in the final period to steal the win.
Kenidi White and KeeKee Nowlin led the Highlassies with 14 points each. Ny'Asia Goldman added 10.
McLennan returns to action Wednesday, traveling to Ranger. Women's action begins at 5:30 p.m., followed by the men's game at 7:30 p.m.
Cisco: Keviona Barber 5 7-9 21; Roberta Farris 0 0-0 0; Rebecca Farmer 0 0-0 0; Alexis Jones 4 1-4 10; Jayeida Neal 5 0-0 12; Kya Tarver 1 0-0 2; JaKeyia Morgan 0 0-0 0; Zoe Holmes 0 1-2 1; Traeli Calhoun 3 2-3 8; Jayla Jackson 7 0-2 14; Totals: 25 11-20 68.
McLennan: Jada McHenry 0 0-0 0; Ny'Asia Goldman 3 4-6 10; Kenidi White 4 4-4 14; KeeKee Nowlin 5 4-4 14; Raveen Blue 4 0-0 9; Shequana Jackson 0 1-2 1; Elizabeth Critton 0 0-0 0; Anastacia Mickens 2 0-2 4; Desirae Devine 4 0-1 8; Totals: 22 13-21 60.
3-pointers: Cisco 7 (Barber 4, Neal 2, Jones 1), McLennan 3 (White 2, Blue 1); Total fouls: Cisco 14, McLennan 21; Fouled out: McLennan (Mickens); Halftime score: McLennan 56, Cisco 45; Record: McLennan 10-12 (1-8).
