The McLennan Highlanders held off a late rally by Grayson to get a 90-83 victory over the Vikings this evening at The Highlands.
The ball was bouncing McLennan's way at the start as the Highlanders opened on a 9-0 run including five points from Rayquan Brown. McLennan controlled the tempo early on and extended its lead to 11, 24-13, with 11:32 remaining in the first half. Grayson found their rhythm, using a 7-0 run to cut the lead to four midway through the half. The game would remain close for the remainder of the half. McLennan extended the lead to nine but the Vikings rallied again, pulling within one several times down the stretch. It would be the Highlanders holding the two-point lead at the break, 45-43.
Grayson tied the game at 45 with a Tyrone Williams layup to start the second half. The teams traded baskets before the Vikings took their first lead at 48-47 on a D.J. Thomas free throw with 18:10 remaining in the game. McLennan responded with an 8-0 run with book-end 3-pointers from Lorenzo Anderson and Cameron Copeland. The Highlanders extended the lead back to 14 with 8:45 left in the game, 77-63. Grayson rattled off a 9-0 run to begin chipping away at the lead and worked to tie the game at 79 with five minutes to go. The game would remain tied with a minute to play, 83-83. Chris Pryor drained a 3-pointer from the elbow to put McLennan up by three, 86-83. Tre Thomas added a bucket and foul shot, and Pryor added a free throw to secure the win.
Five Highlanders scored in double figures. Rayquan Brown led the way with 19 and Tre Thomas chipped in 16. Cameron Copeland scored 15 while Lorenzo Anderson and Asare Otchere scored 12 points each.
