It was a legendary night for McLennan coach Kevin Gill at The Highlands as his Highlanders picked up a 102-62 victory over the Fort Hood Phantom Warriors to give him the record for most wins in program history with 405.
It was the second lop-sided game in as many days for the Highlanders. McLennan came out fired up, opening on a 10-0 run highlighted by a steal and bucket by Xavier Armstead, and high-flying offensive rebound and slam by Jordan Skipper-Brown. Fort Hood got on the board with a free throw by Harris with 16:13 to play in the first half. The Phantom Warriors pulled within seven, 16-9, with 13:07 on the clock but that would be as close as they would get. McLennan responded with an 11-0 run to break the game open. McLennan put on a 3-point clinic down the stretch in the first half with four Highlanders combining to drain seven shots from beyond the arc over a four minute period. That put the game well out of reach for Fort Hood. McLennan led by as many as 31 in the first half and held the 53-27 lead at the break.
McLennan started the second half at a much more relaxed pace but it didn't take long for the Highlanders to find their rhythm once again. The team continued to pull away, extending its lead on the way to its second blowout of the young season.
Sophomore Jordan Skipper-Brown led the Highlanders with 19 points and Xavier Armstead had 18. Jimmie Kelly and Mike Adewunmi rounded out the Highlanders in double figures with 15 points each.
The Highlanders will face their toughest competition of the short season Saturday as they close out the McLennan Classic at 8 p.m. against Western Texas. The matchup will pair coach against former player with Andre Owens, a member of Gill's Highlander squad in 2002, holding the head coaching duties for the Westerners.
McLennan 102, Fort Hood 62
Fort Hood: Tardy 0 0-0 0; Pittman 1 1-2 4; Harris 7 4-6 20; Buchanan 1 0-0 2 Xavier 0 0-0 0; Mathis 2 1-1 5; Ruffin 0 0-0 0; Lunsford 3 13-13 20; Little 2 3-4 7; Francis 0 0-0 0; Trigger 1 0-0 3; Rodriguez 0 1-2 1; Totals: 17 23-28 62.
McLennan: Javen Hedgeman 1 1-2 4; Creighton Avery 3 2-4 8; Jimmie Kelly 5 1-2 15; Mike Adewunmi 6 0-0 15; Kameron Ivory 1 0-0 2; Xavier Armstead 5 5-6 18; Casey Armour 3 1-2 8; Garrett Shaw 0 1-2 1; Dayante McClellan 1 0-0 2; Willie Thomas 2 2-2 6; Jordan Skipper-Brown 8 3-4 19; Tevis Stukes Jr. 0 0-2 0; Ja'Lyn Banks 1 2-2 4; Totals: 37 17-27 102.
3-pointers: Fort Hood 5 (Lunsford 2, Pittman 1, Harris 1, Willie), McLennan 11 (Kelly 4, Adwunmi 3, Armstead 3, Armour 1); Total fouls: Fort Hood 20, McLennan 23; Fouled out: McLennan (Skipper-Brown); Halftime score: McLennan 53, Fort Hood 27; Record: McLennan 2-0.
