It was an NJCAA Top-20 women's basketball showdown tonight at The Highlands with the 10th-ranked McLennan defeating the 18th-ranked Kilgore Lady Rangers 71-62. The win moves McLennan to 10-0 on the season.
McLennan opened on a 4-0 run with buckets by Jalayah Ingram and Amerie Flowers. Kilgore got on the board with a drive by Jarahle Daniels and trailed 6-4 with 7:08 to play in the first. McLennan began to create some distance with a 5-0 run comprised of a 3-pointer from the corner by Tajenae Gooden followed by a drive by Ingram, 11-4. Kilgore pulled within four at 13-9 with 3:16 to go but McLennan ended the period on a 6-0 run with an old-fashioned three-point play from Charnelle Hoof and another Gooden 3-pointer to lead by double digits going into the second, 19-9.
McLennan pushed the lead to 12 early in the second, 25-13, before a 5-0 Kilgore run pulled the Lady Rangers within seven with 7:02 to play before the half. McLennan responded with a 6-0 run including four points from Gooden to extend the lead back to 13, 31-18. McLennan led by 12, 37-25, before Charnelle Hoof banked a 3-pointer off the glass at the buzzer to make it a 15-point lead at the break, 40-25.
It was a 14-point McLennan lead midway through the third quarter, 46-32, when Kilgore made a small run to pull within eight, 46-38. Kennedi Ard's jumper stopped the Lady Rangers progress and ignited a 6-2 run to end the period with McLennan holding the 12-point advantage, 52-40.
The fourth quarter began as a series of runs. Kilgore opened the fourth on a 5-0 run to once again pull within seven, 52-45. Then it was McLennan's turn with a 7-0 run to take the 59-45 lead with 6:10 remaining in the game. The Lady Rangers began to rally, cutting the lead to six with just under four minutes to go, 61-55. Five points from Flowers put McLennan back up by 10 but Kilgore continued to fight. The Lady Rangers cut the lead to five with 43 seconds to play, 65-60 but was unable to get any closer.
Tajenae Gooden led McLennan with 23 points. Jalayah Ingram and Charnelle Hoof added 20 and 16, respectively.
The Dec. 14 game against Western Gulf has been cancelled. McLennan returns to action Jan. 2 at the Kilgore Classic, facing Tyler at 1 p.m.
Kilgore: Madison Bob 3 2-2 9; Alana Trail 1 2-2 5; Jarahle Daniels 4 0-0 9; Rhyeli Hendrick 1 1-2 3; Rhianna Battles 1 1-1 3; Camryn Beck1 1-2 3; Tylissa Henderson 1 0-0 2; Brooklyn King 3 0-0 6; Anyla Herbert 5 1-1 11; Kamari Forrest 0 0-0 0; Nakiyah Allen 2 1-2 5; Ja'Sani Green 3 0-0 6; Totals: 25 9-12 62.
McLennan: Hannah Mouton 1 0-0 2; Jalayah Ingram 5 10-10 20; Kennedi Ard 1 0-0 2; Charnelle Hoof 6 3-3 16; Tajenae Gooden 7 4-4 23; Taylor Craver 0 0-0 0; Tyla Roberts 0 0-0 0; Amerie Flowers 2 4-4 8; Danai Lewis 0 0-0 0; Pauline Maccarthy 0 0-0 0; Totals: 22 21-21 71.
First Quarter score: McLennan 19, Kilgore 9; Halftime score: McLennan 40, Kilgore 25; Third quarter score: McLennan 52, Kilgore 40; 3-pointers: Kilgore 3 (Bob 1, Trail 1, Daniels 1), McLennan 6 (Gooden 5, Hoof 1); Total fouls: Kilgore 17, McLennan 17;
Record: McLennan 10-0.
