Highlanders pummel Concordia J.V.

The McLennan Highlanders basketball squad traveled south Sunday afternoon to face the Concordia University J.V. Tornadoes. The team didn't miss a beat in their return to the court following the Thanksgiving holiday, leading from start to finish as they pummeled the Tornadoes 107-70.

McLennan's Xavier Armstead drained a 3-pointer from the corner to start the scoring. Concordia's Robinson responded with one of his own from the top of the key less than a minute later to tie the game at three. That would prove to be the only tie in the contest and the only time the score would be close.

Armstead got open for another three that ignited the McLennan onslaught of a 13-0 run to break the game open. The Tornadoes didn't go quietly. Concordia trimmed the lead to seven, 23-16, with 11:38 remaining in the first half. The Highlanders quickly returned the lead to double figures with back-to-back buckets by Marquez Cooper. McLennan never looked back from that point on as they extended the lead to 25 at the break, 56-31.

The second half was much the same. The Tornadoes did cut McLennan's lead to 16 points early on, but that was as close as they could get as the Highlanders continued to pour it on with sharp shooting and punishing defense.

Xavier Armstead led the Highlanders with 18 points. Aaron Gregg and Jashawn Talton scored 14 points each. Sasa Vuksanvic and Dayante McClellan added 13 and 12, respectively. Antoine Banks rounded out the Highlanders in double figures with 11. Armstead and Talton both recorded double-doubles, pulling down 10 and 12 rebounds respectively.

McLennan 101, Concordia JV 70
McLennan: Aaron Gregg 5 4-7 14; Javen Hedgeman 3 1-1 7; Marquez Cooper  2 0-0 4; Xaiver Armstead 7 0-0 18; Antoine Banks 4 3-4 11; Garrett Shaw 2 0-1 5; Jashawn Talton 6 2-2 14; Dayante McClellan 6 0-0 12; Daniel Pinho Severo 2 0-0 4; Jordan Skipper-Brown 2 -12 5; Sasa Vuksanvic 5 3-5 13; Malachi Barron 0 0-0 0; Totals: 44 14-23 107.

Concordia J.V.: James 2 1-1 6; Robinson 2 0-0 6; Simmons 2 0-0 6; Deng 3 4-8 12; Pendergrass 3 2-2 11; Traore 1 5-6 7; White 3 2-2 8; Jackson 4 0-0 8; Stubbs 1 2-2 4; Hearn 0 2-2 2; Totals: 21 18-24 70.

3-pointers: McLennan 5 (Armstead 4), Concordia J.V. 10 (Pendergrass 3, Robinson 2, Simmons 2, Deng 2, James 1); Total fouls: McLennan 16, Concordia J.V. 18; Halftime score: McLennan 56, Concordia J.V. 31; Record: McLennan 10-1.