The men got things started in Monday afternoon's doubleheader of hoops with the Highlanders defeating the Cedar Valley Suns 102-74.
Rayquan Brown began the scoring with a pair of free throws for the Highlanders. Both offenses started slow. McLennan built an early four-point lead but Cedar Valley tied the game at 10 with 12:56 to play in the first half. A Lorenzo Anderson free throw put McLennan up by one but a 3-pointer by the Suns gave them what would be their only lead of the game at 13-11. Back-to-back 3-pointers by Isaiah Wyatt gave the Highlanders a six-point lead. Cedar Valley rallied to pull within one with 1:42 to play in the first half, 37-36. McLennan ended the half on a 7-0 run including five points from Cameron Copeland to take the 44-36 lead at the break.
Cedar Valley cut the lead to eight several times early in the second half but was unable to pull any closer. The Highlanders continued to push the lead down the stretch as they cruised to an easy win.
Cameron Copeland led the scoring for the Highlanders with 25 points and Lorenzo Anderson added 17. Isaiah Wyatt and Akili Vining scored 15 and 14, respectively. Rayquan Brown chipped in 10.
McLennan: Akili Vining 6 1-3 14; Lorenzo Anderson 5 5-7 17; Rodrique Massenat 1 0-0 2; Cameron Copeland 11 0-0 25; Chris Pryor 1 0-0 2; Rayquan Brown 4 2-2 10;Tre Thomas 2 2-2- 6; Claven Wilson 3 1-5 7; Asare Otchere 0 0-0 0; Isaiah Wyatt 6 0-0 15; Tyrese Taylor 1 0-0 2; Scott Ator 1 0-0 2; Totals: 41 11-19 102.
Cedar Valley: Marcus Tate 0 0-0 0; Tyren Miller 1 2-2 4; Larry Rusk Jr. 6 2-3 16; Kameron Fitzpatrick 1 3-5 5; Jaqualin Franks 6 2-2 18; Kolby Greene 0 2-2 2; Donovan Ray 2 2-2 7; Amande Uchime 1 0-0 3; Curtis Jones Jr. 5 4-6 14; Austin Davis 0 0-0 0; Jake Palfy 1 0-0 3; Carmondre Davis 0 0-0 0; Steven Kimberling 1 0-0 2; Totals: 24 17-22 74.
3-pointers: McLennan 9 (Wyatt 3, Copeland 3; Anderson 2, Vining), Cedar Valley 9 (Franks 4, Rusk 2, Ray 1, Uchime 1, Palfy 1); Total fouls: McLennan 19, Cedar Valley 16; Halftime score: McLennan 44, Cedar Valley 36; Record: McLennan 6-6.
