It was a low-scoring affair between the McLennan Highlanders and the Grayson Vikings tonight at The Highlands with the Highlanders coming away with 67-55 victory.
CJ Hall put on a show to start the game. Hall drained three consecutive 3-pointers followed by a pair of free throws to open the game on a solo 11-0 run. Omarion Smith followed with three consecutive buckets for the Highlanders for a 6-2 run to put McLennan up 17-2 with 15:33 to go in the first half. The Highlanders led by 16, 20-4, with just under 14 minutes remaining before the Vikings began to rally. Grayson cut the lead in half three minutes later, 22-14. A 5-0 run by Dayvaughn Froe put the Highlanders back up by 13 and they led 34-22 at the half.
McLennan held Grayson at bay in the second half. The Vikings trailed by nine, 44-35, with 11:46 to play in the game. That would be as close as they could get. McLennan extended the lead to 18, 64-46, with just under four minutes to play and Grayson couldn't respond.
Omarion Smith and CJ Hall led McLennan with 13 points. AJ Barnes added 10.
Grayson: Shakur Smith 1 0-0 2; Anthony Williams 5 2-4 12; Clifton Robinson 2 0-0 11; Kye Dickson 7 3-4 19; Henry Makeny 3 0-0 9; Bryon Armstrong 0 0-0 0; Kamrohn Roundtree 1 0-0 2; Totals: 22 5-8 55.
McLennan: Nick Shogbonyo 3 1-1 9; CJ Hall 3 4-7 13; Dayvaughn Froe 2 0-0 5; Jaylen Thompson 0 0-0 0; A.J. Barnes 4 3-4 12; Jared Clawson 3 0-0 9; Jahmar Brown 0 2-2 2; Omarion Smith 6 1-2 13; Mason Lockhart 1 0-0 2; Khalif Allim 1 0-2 2; Totals: 23 11-18 67.
3-pointers: Grayson 6 (Makeny 3, Williams 2), McLennan 10 (Hall 3, Clawson 3, Shogbonyo 2, Froe 1, Barnes 1); Total fouls: Grayson 14, McLennan 7;
Halftime score: McLennan 34, Grayson 22; Record: McLennan 17-4 (4-1).
Next up: McLennan travels to Ranger Saturday to face the Rangers at 4 p.m.
