The 11th-ranked and second seed McLennan Highlassies opened the Region V Tournament with an exciting 67-50 victory over the Odessa Wranglers in the quarterfinal round.
Odessa controlled the game early on, opening on a 5-0 run with a 3-pointer by Isamery Agramonte and put-back basket by Khaniah Garner. A stop-and-pop 3-pointer by Saneea Bevley put McLennan on the board with 6:10 to go in the first, 5-3. The Wranglers pushe the lead to six, 15-9 with 1:45 remaining. A Bevley 3-pointer cut the lead in half less than 20 seconds later, 15-12. Odessa added a jumper by Ivana Krajina to put the Wranglers back up by five but Chelsea Wooten added a 3-pointer on the Highlassies' final possession of the quarter to cut the Odessa lead two going to the second, 17-15.
McLennan came out on fire to start the second quarter. A pair of Bineta Diatta free throws tie the game at 17 and another Bevley 3-pointer gave the Highlassies their first lead at 20-17 with 8:46 to go before the half. Those five points were part of a 17-0 McLennan run that put the Highlassies in control. The McLennan defense held Odessa to just one 3-pointer in the quarter, building a 20-point lead at the half, 40-20.
Odessa had the momentum early in the third, opening on a 8-2 run. The Wranglers rallied, cutting the lead to 12 several times late in the quarter. McLennan led 48-36 with 3:39 to go in the quarter. A Wooten 3-pointer from the wing followed by a jumper by Jaydyn Bullard put the Highlassies back up by 17. Odessa ended the quarter on a 7-2 run to trim the McLennan lead to 12 going into the final quarter, 55-43.
The Highlassies opened the fourth on a 7-0 run to extend the lead to 19 as they held Odessa scoreless for almost five minutes of play. McLennan cruised the rest of the way, punching its ticket to Friday's semifinal round.
Saneea Bevley led the Highlassies with 23 points, including seven 3-pointers. Bineta Diatta and Chelsea Wooten scored 12 points each, and Miannah Little added 10.
McLennan: Aysia Ward 0 0-0 0; Chelsea Wooten 4 2-3 12; Miannah Little 5 0-0 10; Saneea Bevley 8 0-0 23; Jaydyn Bullard 2 2-4 6; Bineta Diatta 5 2-2 12; Aniya Williams 1 2-2 4; Bailee St. Romain 0 0-0 0; Totals: 25 8-13 67.
Odessa: Chloe Dallas 0 0-0 0; Nahawa Diarra Berthe 5 3-4 13; Kaleah Toran 0 0-0 0; Tia Shelling 0 0-0 0; Khaniah Garner 4 1-3 11; Natalie Lara 1 0-0 2; Chelsy Bautista 3 0-0 6; Ivana Krajina 3 7-8 14; Tanila Marshall 0 0-0 0; Isamery Agramonte 2 0-0 6; Fanta Daffe 0 0-2 0; Totals: 18 11-17 50.
3-pointers: McLennan 9 (Bevley 7, Wooten 2), Odessa 3 (Agramonte 2, Krajina 1); Total fouls: McLennan 15, Odessa 16; Fouled out: Krajina (Odessa); Halftime score: McLennan 40, Odessa 20; Record: McLennan 27-3 (14-2).
