The McLennan Highlanders plowed over Eastfield 91-60 tonight in Mesquite, handing the Harvesters their first loss of the 2018-19 season.
The teams kept it close through the first eight minutes of play, with the Highlanders leading 16-10 with 12 minutes to play in the first half. McLennan put together an 8-0 run over the next two minutes, capped off by a bucket and one by Willie Thomas, to begin pulling away. The Highlanders' defense held the Harvesters to just eight points in the final eight minutes of the half as they built a 25-point lead at the break, 43-18.
Eastfield emerged from the locker room fired up and ready to play. The Harvesters chipped away at the Highlanders' lead, cutting it to nine at 53-44 with 13:10 remaining in the game. McLennan stepped up with 10 consecutive points by Xavier Armstead igniting a 14-1 run to create some distance between the two squads again. The Highlanders continued to pull away down the stretch to what would appear on paper to be an easy win.
Xavier Armstead led the way for the Highlanders with 29 points, including six 3-pointers. Mike Adewunmi and Javen Hedgeman added 13 and 12, respectively.
The Highlanders will host the Concordia JV Monday at 7 p.m. in the final game before the holiday break.
McLennan: Javen Hedgeman 4 3-4 12; Jimmie Kelly 1 0-0 3; Mike Adewunmi 6 0-0 13; Kameron Ivory 0 2-2 2; Xavier Armstead 9 5-5 29; Casey Armour 0 0-0 0; Garrett Shaw 3 0-0 7; Devyn Brewton 4 0-0 8; Dayante McClellan 0 0-0 6; Willie Thomas 1 1-1 3; Jordan Skipper-Brown 3 0-0 6; Tevis Stukes Jr. 0 0-0 0; Ja'Lyn Banks 1 0-0 2; Totals: 35 11-12 91.
Eastfield: Salanah 5 4-6 16; Coleman 5 5-8 18; Smith 0 0-0 0; McGee 2 0-0 6; Pender 0 0-0 0; Brown 1 0-0 3; Butler 0 0-1 0; Haywood 5 1-3 12; Garriga 2 0-0 5; Edwards 0 0-0 0; Benson 0 0-0 0; Lauce 0 0-0 0; Allen 0 0-0 0; Totals 20 20-18 60.
3-pointers: McLennan 10 (Armstead 6, Hedgeman 1, Kelly 1, Adewunmi 1, Shaw 1); Eastfield 10 (Coleman 3, Salanah 2, McGee 2, Brown 1, Haywood 1, Garriga 1); Total fouls: McLennan 16, Eastfield 11; Halftime score: McLennan 43, Eastfield 18; Record: McLennan 11-2.
