Lone Star College-Tomball was no match for the McLennan Highlanders on opening night at The Highlands as MCC crushed the Timberwolves 128-59. The win puts head coach Kevin Gill in a tie with former Highlander coach Ken DeWeese for the school record of 404 wins.
Javen Hedgeman began the scoring for McLennan with a steal and layup less than 20 seconds into the contest. Donald Richardson drained a trey ball from the elbow to give LSC-Tomball the early 3-2 lead, which would prove to be the Timberwolves only lead of the game. A Mike Adewunmi layup put McLennan back on top and ignited a 19-0 run for the Highlanders. McLennan built a 20-point lead, 25-5, with 13 minutes remaining in the half and extended it to 30, 42-12, with 6:42 to go. A Garrett Shaw 3-pointer from the corner at the buzzer would give the Highlanders the 66-26 advantage at the break.
McLennan didn't back off the accelerator in the second half, opening on a 20-0 run to put the game well out of reach for the Timberwolves. The Highlanders continued to pull away as all players saw ample playing time in the lop-sided victory.
Sophomore Garrett Shaw led the eight Highlanders in double figures with 21 points, and sophomore Xavier Armstead added 18. Fellow sophomore Dayante McClellan scored 14. Freshmen Jimmie Kelly and Willie Thomas scored 12 points each along with sophomore Jordan Skipper-Brown. Freshman Casey Armour and sophomore transfer Mike Adewunmi added 10 points each.
The Highlanders face the Fort Hood Phantom Warriors at 8 p.m. Friday to close out opening day of the MCC Classic. Tournament action begins at 4 p.m. with the Hill Rebels versus the Western Texas Westerners followed by the McLennan Highlassies against the Coastal Bend Lady Cougars at 6 p.m.
McLennan Highlanders 128, LSC-Tomball Timberwolves 59
LSC-Tomball: Carlos DeLaTorre 7 2-3 23; John Williams 1 0-0 3; Shaquille Barrett 1 0-0 3; Ravinell Lee 1 1-2 4; Martyn Norris 4 2-2 14; Jordan Bates 0 0-0 0; Thomas Williams 2 1-1 5; Donald Richardson III 1 0-0 3; Nathan Anthony 2 0-0 4; Totals: 19 6-9 59.
McLennan: Javen Hedgeman 3 0-0 6; Creighton Avery 0 0-0 0; Jimmie Kelly 4 0-0 12; Mike Adewunmi 4 1-4 10; Kameron Ivory 0 0-0 0; Xavier Armstead 8 0-3 18; Casey Armour 4 2-2 10; Garrett Shaw 8 3-5 21; Dayante McClellan 7 0-0 14; Willie Thomas 6 0-0 12; Jordan Skipper-Brown 5 2-3 12; Tevis Stukes Jr. 3 0-1 6; Ja'Lyn Banks 3 1-2 7; Totals: 55 9-20 128.
3-pointers: LSC-Tomball 15 (DeLaTorre 7, Norris 4, Williams 1, Barrett 1, Lee 1, Richardson 1), McLennan 9 (Kelly 4, Shaw 2, Armstead 2, Adewunmi 1); Total fouls: LSC-Tomball 19, McLennan 14; Fouled out: LSC-Tomball (Barrett); Halftime score: McLennan 66, Lone Star College-Tomball 26; Record: McLennan 1-0.
