Highlassies coast to victory over LSU-Eunice
The No. 19 McLennan Highlassies smashed the LSU-Eunice Bengals 80-56.
Energy was in the air as the Highlassies and Bengals tipped off. LSU-Eunice lead 2-1 early on when the 3-pointers began to rain for both squads as they exchanged long balls. LSU-Eunice hit a pair while Saneea Bevley added two for McLennan and Cynaye Bobbitt hit one to give the Highlassies the 10-9 lead with 6:12 to go in the first. Aniya Williams added a pair of buckets to extend the Highlassie lead go five, 14-9. McLennan led 22-18 with 2:20 to play in the quarter and ended the half on a 9-0 run to push the lead to 13 going into the second quarter, 31-18.
The McLennan run continued into second with a 3-pointer from Chelsea Wooten followed by a bucket from Bineta Diatta to make it 36-18. The Highlassie defense held the Bengals to a pair of field goals and six free throws in the quarter as they extended the lead to 21 at the break, 49-28.
Offense was slow for both teams to start the third as both teams combined to score just nine points in the first five minutes of the period. Already leading by 20, 55-35, with just under four minutes to go in the quarter, the Highlassies went on another 9-0 run with strong shooting from Aaliyah Holmes to increase the lead to 29, 64-35. McLennan would then hold the 26-point advantage heading into the final quarter, 67-41. McLennan led by as many as 31 in the fourth en route to the victory.
Saneea Bevley led McLennan with 18 points, and Cynaye Bobbitt added 9. Bineta Diatta, Aniya Williams and Aaliyah Holmes scored eight points each.
McLennan 80, LSU-Eunice 56
LSU-Eunice: Brooklyn Fontenot 2 4-6 10; Kinsley Batiste 1 1-2 3; Shamira Jerrels 1 0-0 3; Princis Goff 3 2-2 9; Zoey Fee 0 0-0 0; Tierra Sylvas 2 2-3 8; Shayla Hickerson 0 1-2 1; Dayla Simon 1 0-0 2; Braille Washington 2 4-7 9; Gabrielle Huetter 0 0-0 0; Taylor Farris 0 0-0 0; Kaylan Jack 2 1-2 5; Deja Tanks 1 1-2 4; Vanessa Duhe 0 2-4 2; Totals: 15 18-31 56.
McLennan: Alicia Mills 1 0-0 2; Aysia Ward 1 0-0 2; Chelsea Wooten 2 1-1 6; Miannah Little 2 0-0 4; Esther Kwagala 1 0-0 2; Kennedi Rowland 1 3-3 5; Saneea Bevley 7 0-0 18; Jaydyn Bullard 0 0-0 0; Niamh Heath 1 0-0 2; Bineta Diatta 3 2-2 8; Aniya Williams 3 2-4 8; Cynaye Bobbitt 3 1-2 9; Aaliyah Holmes 2 2-4 8; Bailee St. Romain 0 0-0 0; Favour Mbeledeogu 2 0-0 4; Capri Garrett 1 0- 2; Totals: 20 11-16 80.
3-pointers: LSU-Eunice 5 (Fontenot 2, Jarrels 1, Goff 1, Washington 1), McLennan 8 (Bevley 3, Bobbitt 2, Holmes 2, Wooten 1); Total fouls: LSU-Eunice19, McLennan 20; Halftime score: McLennnan 49, LSU-Eunice 28; Record: McLennan 2-1.