The 22nd-ranked McLennan Highlanders defeated the Collin Cougars 73-57 this afternoon at The Highlands.
The first half appeared much like a 3-point contest with the two teams combining to hit 12 from behind the arc. CJ Hall began the scoring for the Highlanders but Collin scored the next 10 to take the 10-2 lead with 15:28 to go in the first half. McLennan came roaring back, tying the game at 13 with a Jaylen Thompson 3-pointer with 11:31 to play. A Jared Clawson 3-pointer followed by a Thompson put-back basket made it a five-point Highlander lead at 18-13 with just over eight minutes to play before the half. Collin quickly took the lead after back-to-back 3-pointers from TJ Thomas and Willie Wilson Jr, 19-18. The Highlanders responded with a 5-0 run. McLennan extended the lead to six at the break, 35-29.
Collin closed the gap early in the second half, cutting the lead to one at 37-36. McLennan used an 11-0 run, including six points from Hall, to extend the lead to double figures, 48-36. The Cougars rallied late in the game, cutting the lead to eight at 59-51 with 5:11 to play but that would be as close as they could get. The Highlanders pulled away, leading by as many as 16.
CJ Hall led the Highlanders with 21 points. Omarion Smith recorded the double-double with 2 points and 12 rebounds. Nick Shogbonyo scored 13 while Jaylen Thompson and Jared Clawson added 11 and 10, respectively.
Collin: Ben Joelson 1 1-1 3; Chris Ferguson 0 0-1 0; Jay Wilson 0 0-0 0; Robby Williams 6 0-0 17; TJ Thomas 3 0-0 7; Willie Wilson Jr 2 2-2 7; Lav Cvetkovic 6 2-2 16; Jarron Drayton 1 0-0 3; Jack Watkins 1 0-0 2; Isaiah Washington 0 0-0 0; Xavier Williams 0 0-0 0; Connor Redrow 1 0-0 2; Totals: 21 5-6 57.
McLennan: Nick Shogbonyo 2 8-8 35; CJ Hall 6 4-6 21; Dayvaughn Froe 0 0-0 0; Jaylen Thompson 5 0-0 11; A.J. Barnes 1 0-0 2; Jared Clawson 3 2-2 10; Omarion Smith 5 3-5 13; Mason Lockhart 0 0-0 0; Kaleb Pouncy 1 1-2 3; Khalif Allim 0 0-0 0; Totals: 23 18-25 73.
3-pointers: Collin 10 (Williams 5, Cvetkovic 2, Thomas 1, Wilson Jr. 1, Drayton 1), McLennan 9 (Hall 5, Clawson 2, Shogbonyo 1, Thompson 1); Total fouls: Collin 22, McLennan 8; Fouled out: Wilson Jr. (Collin); Halftime score: McLennan 35, Collin 29; Record: McLennan 21-5 (8-2).
