In an exciting Top-25 matchup, the No. 19 McLennan Highlassies squeaked by the No. 24 Angelina Roadrunners 54-52 on the opening day of the McLennan Classic at The Highlands.
It was a low-scoring first quarter for both squads McLennan controlled the game early on, opening on a 6-0 run. Angelina tied the game with 2:20 to play in the quarter, and the Highlassies led 9-8 going into the second period.
Both teams picked up the scoring pace in the second and traded buckets for the first five minutes. McLennan led 18-17 when Angelina took the lead on a bucket by Matilda Gordon with 4:34 to play before the half. The Gordon bucket started a 6-0 Angelina run, giving the Roadrunners the 23-18 lead with 3:42 to go. A Saneea Bevley 3-point from the top of the key pulled McLennan within two but Angelina increased the lead back to seven at the break, 30-27.
McLennan emerged from the locker room with a new focus. Jaydyn Bullard sank a pair of free throws and back-to-back 3-pointers from Bevley gave the Highlassies the 31-30 lead less than two minutes into the quarter. The game was tied at 34 with 6:49 remaining in the period. Miannah Little's put back off a missed 3-pointer put McLennan back on top. Alicia Mills followed with 3-pointer to put the Highlassie lead to five, 39-34, two minutes later. Angelina was able to close the gap a little and trailed McLennan 41-39 at the end of the third.
The Highlassies heated up from 3-point range in the fourth with Little, Diatta and Bevley all hitting from behind the arc early in the frame. Tied at 50 with 4:43 to play, Aniya Williams hitter a mid-range jumper followed by a driving bucket from Chelsea Wooten gave McLennan a four-point cushion, 54-50. The Highlassie defense held the Roadrunners to just one basket in the final tow and a half minutes to secure the win.
Saneea Bevley led McLennan with 14 points, and Miannah Little added 11.
McLennan 54, Angelina 52
Angelina: Matilda Gordon 3 1-2 7; Jada Stewart 0 0-0 0; Teniola Kuyinu 1 1-2 4; Aaliyah Campbell 4 5-6 14; Makenzie Paul 0 1-2 1; Marie Kenembeni 4 1-2 10; Shandbriah Rule 2 0-0 5; Makayla Williams 1 0-0 3; Jakayla Parks 1 1-2 3; Taylor Jarrels 2 0-0 5; Totals: 18 10-16 52.
McLennan: Aysia Ward 2 1-2 6; Alicia Mills 1 0-0 2; Chelsea Wooten 2 1-2 5; Miannah Little 5 0-0 11; Kennedi Rowland 0 0-0 0; Saneea Bevley 5 0-0 14; Jaydyn Bullard 1 2-5 4 ; Niamh Heath 0 0-0 0; Bineta Diatta 2 0-0 5; Aniya Williams 1 0-0 2; Cynaye Bobbitt 1 0-0 2; Aaliyah Holmes 0 0-0 0; Bailee St. Romain 0 2-4 2; Favour Mbeledeogu 0 1-2 1; Totals: 20 7-15 54.
3-pointers: Angelina 6 (Kuyinu 1, Campbell 1, Kenembeni 1, Rule 1, Williams 1, Jarrels 1), McLennan 7 (Bevley 4, Mills 1, Little 1, Diatta 1); Total fouls: Angelina 11, McLennan 14; Halftime score: Angelina 30, McLennan 23; Record: McLennan 1-1.
