In an overtime thriller, the McLennan Highlassies defeated the Paris Lady Dragons 78-70 on opening day of the McLennan Shoot-out at The Highlands.
Paris opened the game on a 10-0 run to take the early lead as the Highlassies struggled to find their rhythm following the long holiday break. KeeKee Nowlin put the Highlassies on the board with 5:42 to play in the first quarter, starting a 9-0 run. Kenidi White's 3-pointer with 3:49 to go in the first pulled McLennan within one, 10-9. Paris used a 5-0 run late in the quarter to build a six-point lead but another White basket cut the Lady Dragon lead to four going into the second, 17-13. After trading baskets throughout the second quarter, Paris continued to lead by four, 27-23, with 1:46 to play in the first half. The Lady Dragons ended the period on a 5-1 run to extend the lead to eight at the break, 32-24.
McLennan made major adjustments in the locker room and stepped up its game in the third quarter. Paris led by six, 43-37, with 3:07 to go in the third. The Highlassies used a 5-0 run over the next minute to pull within one, 43-42. The Lady Dragons would lead by two going into the fourth, 46-44.
Paris opened the fourth on a 6-0 run to push the lead to eight, 52-44. McLennan didn't back down and began to chip away at the Lady Dragon cushion. Freshman Jada McHenry came off the bench and drained a 3-pointer from the top of the key for the Highlassies to tie the game at 59 with 41.3 seconds left in regulation. A KeeKee Nowlin layup with 24 seconds to go would give McLennan its first lead of the contest, 61-59. Mackenzie Tillman's bucket for Paris with 12 seconds to play would send the game to overtime tied at 61.
McLennan dominated the extra period, outscoring the Lady Dragons 17-9 to secure the victory.
Sophomore KeeKee Nowlin led McLennan with 20 points. Sophomore Desirae Devine and freshman Kenidi White added 13 and 11, respectively.
The Highlassies will face the Angelina Lady Roadrunners at 7 p.m. tomorrow in the final game of day two.
Paris: Dasja Ross 1 0-0 2; DyNeisha Bailey 1 0-0 2; Jaida Muhammed 1 0-0 2; Keuna Cummings 4 2-2 10; Tori Dotson 1 4-4 7; London Scott 1 0-0 2; DeLissa Crittenden 0 0-0 0; Mackenzie Tillman 6 6-8 19; Shaniyah Rankin 0 1-2 1; Lindsey Thorpe 6 2-2 17; Heaven Hawkins 3 0-0 8; Totals: 24 15-18 70.
McLennan: Jada McHenry 1 2-2 5; Ny'Asia Goldman 0 0-0 0; Kenidi White 4 2-4 11; Gabby Cleveland 2 3-6 7; Harmony Pettis 3 0-0 7; KeeKee Nowlin 7 5-7 20; Annya Moss 1 0-1 2; Raveen Blue 3 1-2 9; Shequana Jackson 0 1-2 1; Anastacia Mickens 2 0-0 4; Arial Elzie 0 0-0 0; Desirae Devine 5 2-4 12; Totals: 28 17-33 79
3-pointers: Paris 7 (Thorpe 3, Hawkins 2, Tillman 1, Dotson 1), McLennan 6 (Blue 2, Nowlin 1, Pettis 1, White 1, McHenry 1); Total fouls: Paris 29, McLennan 24; Fouled out: Paris (Cummings, Hawkins), McLennan (Mickens); Halftime score: Paris 32, McLennan 24; Record: McLennan 9-3.
