The McLennan Highlassies traveled to Kilgore and squeaked out a 57-55 win over the Lady Rangers.
Offense was hard to find for both teams in the first quarter. After both teams went scoreless for the first four minutes of play. Chelsea Wooten began the scoring with a 3-pointer and ensuing free throw to give McLennan the 4-0 lead with 6:01 to go in the first quarter. Kilgore responded with a 5-0 run to take its first lead at 5-4 with just over four minutes remaining in the quarter. The teams traded baskets down the stretch and were tied at 11 following one quarter of play.
The second quarter was a series of alternating runs. McLennan opened on a 5-0 run to build the 16-11 lead but Kilgore came back with an 11-0 run to take the 22-16 lead with four minutes remaining in the half. The Highlassies pulled within three in the final minute of the quarter but the Lady Rangers would hold the five-point advantage at the break, 26-21.
McLennan quickly erased the Kilgore lead in the third with a long 3-pointer from Saneea Bevley to pull the Highlassies within two and a driving basket by Chelsea Wooten to tied the game at 26. The Lady Rangers began to pull away and held the 38-33 lead midway through the third. An Aaliyah Holmes 3-pointer ignited a 10-0 Highlassie run, giving McLennan the 43-38 lead with 1:38 to play in the third. A late Kilgore rally including a 3-pointer at the buzzer by Nyla Inmon cut the Highlassie lead to one going into the final period, 45-44.
The Lady Rangers took the one-point lead in early in the fourth but a quick Bevley 3-pointer put McLennan back on top. The Highlassies led by as many as six in the quarter, 53-47. Kilgore found the momentum and rallied to tie the game at 55 with 3:29 to play before the shooting for both squads went cold for over two minutes of play. McLennan's Bineta Diatta snagged a steal with just over 40 seconds left and drained the ensuing layup to give the Highlassies the narrow victory.
Saneea Bevley led McLennan with 16 points. Bineta Diatta and Chelsea Wooten added 14 and 11, respectively.
McLennan: Aysia Ward 0 0-0 0; Chelsea Wooten 4 1-1 11; Miannah Little 2 2-4 6; Saneea Bevley 4 4-5 16; Jaydyn Bullard 1 0-0 2; Niamh Heath 0 0-2 0; Bineta Diatta 6 2-2 14; Aniya Williams 0 0-0 0; Cynaye Bobbitt 0 0-0 0; Aaliyah Holmes 2 0-0 6; Bailee St. Romain 1 0-0 2; Capri Garrett 0 0-2 0; Totals: 20 9-16 57.
Kilgore: Aaliyah Davis 0 1-2 1; Jakiyah Bell 2 0-0 4; Kamryn Gibson 4 1-2 11; Jazmyn Sostand 2 2-2 6; Nyla Inmon 1 2-4 5; Aylanna Winn 3 0-0 6; Alyssia Thorne 2 0-3 4; Ma'Kaila Lewis 7 4-6 18; Totals: 21 10-19 55.
3-pointers: McLennan 8 (Bevley 4, Wooten 2, Holmes 2), Kilgore 3 (Gibson 2, Inmon 1); Total fouls: McLennan 16, Kilgore 15; Halftime score: Kilgore 26, McLennan 21
Record: McLennan 8-1.
Next Up: McLennan travels to Brenham Monday to face the No. 2 Blinn Buccaneers at 5:30 p.m.
