The McLennan Highlassies narrowly defeated the Texas Storm 71-69 Friday afternoon in the Budke & Serna Classic hosted by Trinity Valley Community College in Athens.
McLennan started slow, struggling to find an offensive rhythm. The Storm led 12-9 with 2:36 to play in the first quarter. The Highlassies ended the quarter on a 9-0 run to take the 18-12 lead. McLennan continued to pull away in the second quarter and led by 13, 31-18, with 6:29 remaining in the first half. The Storm used a 9-0 run of their own to cut the lead to four with 2:51 to go in the half and trailed by three at the break, 37-34.
The Highlassies increased the lead to nine midway through the third quarter but the Storm rallied to take the 56-55 lead heading into the fourth. McLennan took a one-point lead, 57-56, on a Caylinne Martin jumper less than a minute into the final quarter and led by as many as six down the stretch. The Highlassies led by four with 10 seconds to go. The Storm made one final lay up at the buzzer but it wasn't enough.
Martin led the Highlassies with 20 points. Ariana Sanders and Raven Ringo added 14 and 10, respectively.
McLennan 71, Texas Storm 69
Texas Storm: Erica Cray 6 5-7 17; Ashley Coria 5 3-4 17; Mika Singleton 9 1-2 19; Dominique Simmons 4 3-6 11; Tara Alexander 1 0-2 3; Aimee Longora 0 2-2 2; Totals: 25 14-23 69.
McLennan: Kiana Martin 2 2-4 6; Kyera Coleman 2 0-0 5; Diamond Ervin 3 0-0 7; Ariana Sanders 5 4-6 14; Raven Ringo 3 2-2 10; Tayla Taylor 4 1-2 9; Caylinne Martin 10 0-0 20; Totals: 29 9-14 71.
3-pointers: Texas Storm 5 (Coria 4, Alexander 1), McLennan 4 (Ringo 2, Ervin 1, Coleman 1); Total fouls: Texas Storm 18, McLennan 21; Fouled out: Texas Storm (Simmons); Halftime score: McLennan 37, Texas Storm 34; Record: 4-7.
