The McLennan Highlanders routed the Hill Rebels 83-48 on the road tonight in conference play.
It was a slow start for both teams. Hill led 9-8 with 15:29 to play in the first half. A 5-0 run by Allen Omana made it a six-point Rebel lead, 14-8 less than two minutes later. A drive in the lane by Ari Gooch started a 9-0 run for the Highlanders, giving McLennan the 17-14 lead midway through the half. Both teams struggled to score, an the Highlanders led 21-19 with 6:55 to go in the half. Another McLennan run, this one of the 11-0 variety highlighted by a pair of 3-pointers by Rontavious Blackshear extended the lead to 13, 32-19. The Highlanders held the Rebels at bay down the stretch and held the 39-25 lead at halftime.
Hill opened the second half with back-to-back 3-pointers from Kemauri Mellender and Omana, pulling the Rebels within nine, 39-31. McLennan responded with an 8-0 run including five points from Gooch to go up by 16, 47-31, with 16:30 remaining in the game. The Highlanders continued to pour it on with strong defense and high-flying dunks, putting the game far out of reach for the Rebels.
Ari Gooch led the way with 19 points, and Evan Chatman added 18. Rontavious Blackshear and Frederick Rogers, III scored 16 and 11, respectively.
McLennan: Rontavious Blackshear 6 2-2 16; Joseph Mayberry 3 0-0 6; Kardae Turner 4 0-0 8; Amare Banks 0 3-4 3; Ari Gooch 7 4-6 19; Keegan Rowell 1 0-0 2; Evan Chatman 6 6-7 18; Frederick Rogers, III 5 1-4 11; John Ateny 0 0-0 0; Totals: 32 16-23 83.
Hill: Andrew Robinson 2 0-0 4; Theodoros Panagiotopoulos 2 2-2 8; Derrick Morris 1 0-0 2; Christian Djemis 2 1-1 6; Joshua Campbell 0 2-2 2; Kemauri Mellender 5 4-6 15; Allen Omana 2 3-4 9; Quincy Owens Jr. 1 0-0 2; Totals: 16 12-15 48.
Halftime score: McLennan 39, Hill 25; 3-pointers: 4 (Blackshear 2, Gooch 1, Chatman 1), Hill 6 (Panagiotopoulos 2, Omana 2, Djemis 1, Millender 1); Total fouls: McLennan 15, Hill 18; Fouled out: Morris (Hill); Record: McLennan 18-3 (5-0).
