The McLennan Highlanders cruised to an easy win 100-74 over Tribulation Prep in their final tune-up before the start of conference play next week.
The two teams kept the game close until midway through the first half. The game was tied at 15 with 11:28 to play in the half. An Asare Otchere bucket gave McLennan the 17-15 lead. Four points from Smith put Tribulation Prep up 21-17. The Highlanders rallied and took a one-point lead at 25-24 on a bucket and one from Diego Gonzalez. McLennan began to pull away and led by 12 at halftime, 44-36.
The Highlanders continued to pour in the points in the second half, cruising to yet another blowout victory.
Diego Gonzales led the Highlander charge with 17 points. Kirk Smith Jr recorded a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Amani Harris and Rayquan Brown scored 11 points each.
McLennan will open conference play Wednesday, Feb. 3, on the road at Southwestern Christian in Terrell. Women's action begins at 3 p.m., followed by the men's game at 5 p.m.
Tribulation Prep: Patcha 0 0-0 0; Matthews 2 2-3 8; Smith6 3-3 17; Murage 3 0-0 8; Barnes 1 0-0 3; Iniguez 5 2-5 16; Harris 6 1-3 18; Ballard 2 0-1 4; Totals: 25 8-15 74.
McLennan: Damarni Velinor-Schumann 1 0-0 2; Dillon Gooding2 0-2 4; Amani Harris 4 1-1 11; Maurice Harvey 4 0-0 8; Nehemiah Nuckolls 3 2-2 8; Chris Pryor 2 4-4 9; Rayquan Brown 5 1-2 11; Diego Gonzalez 6 5-6 19; Asare Otchere 3 1-2 7; Ja'Kyrie Robinson 1 0-0 3; Kirk Smith Jr. 7 2-3 24; Sudi McElroy 1 0-0 2; Jordan Okonji 0 0-0 0;
Totals: 39 16-22 100.
3-pointers: Tribulation Prep 16 (Harris 5, Iniguez 4, Matthews 2, Smith 2, Murage 2, Barnes 1), McLennan 6 (Gonzalez 2, Harris 2, Pryor 1, Robinson 1); Total fouls: Tribulation Prep 20, McLennan17; Fouled out: Tribulation Prep (Patcha, Harris); Halftime score: McLennan 44, Tribulation Prep 36; Record: McLennan 6-0.
