McLennan throttles Temple
It was an exciting and intense game betwettn the rival Highlanders and Leoparads. Just like in the preceding women's game, McLennan began the scoring with a 3-pointer, this one from Tre Thomas. A hook shot by Carlton Linguard would put Temple on the board. The Leopards would then take the 6-5 lead early in the half. Temple began to pull away, extending the lead to double digits midway through the half. The Leopards would lead by 12, 27-15, with 9:10 to play in the first half. McLennan's Chris Pryor stepped up and drained a 3-pointer from the top of the key to spark the Highlander offense. The Highlanders narrowed the gap with a 9-0 run, pulling within three of the Leopards at 27-24. Temple would lead by six, 32-26, with 2:45 to play in the half. McLennan ended the half on a 10-0 run including five points from Thomas to take the 36-32 lead into the locker room.
The atmosphere was electric in the second half. The Highlanders led 57-53 with 8:40 remaining in the game. It was all McLennan from that point on. Once again Thomas stepped up, rattling off an 8-0 run all on his own to extend the Highlander led to 12 at 65-53. With 5:21 to go, the McLennan lead was 68-57. Another big run, this one of the 12-0 variety would put the game out of reach and secure the McLennan victory.
Tre Thomas led the Highlanders with 22 points and Chris Pryor scored 19. Rodrique Massenat rounded out the Highlanders in double figures with 15.
Temple: Kedarian Johnson 9 3-5 23; R.J. Mason 5 2-2 14; Khouri Perkins 0 2-2 2; Kortrijk Miles 3 4-4 10; Tariq Aman 0 0-0 0; Carlton Linguard 3 2-2 8; Josiyah Thorn 0 0-0 0; Hugo Florestedt 1 0-0 3; Aleu 2 0-1 4; Totals: 23 13-16 64.
McLennan: Akili Vining 2 4-4 9; Lorenzo Anderson 2 0-0 4; Rodrique Massenat 7 0-0 15; Cameron Copeland 0 0-0 0; Chris Pryor 5 7-8 19; Rayquan Brown 1 4-4 6; Tre Thomas 7 5-5 22; Asare Otchere 3 3-4 9; Isaiah Wyatt 0 0-0 0; Tyrese Taylor 0 0-0; Scott Ator 0 0-0 0; Totals: 84 23-25 84.
3-pointers: Temple 5 (Johnson 2, Mason 2, Florestedt 1), McLennan 7 (Thomas 3, Pryor 2, Vining 1, Massenat 1); Total fouls: Temple 18, McLennan 8; Fouled out: Temple (Miles); Halftime score: McLennan 36, Temple 32; Record: 11-9 (2-2).