The McLennan Highlanders knocked off the holiday break cobwebs with a 94-66 thumping of Tribulation Prep tonight at The Highlands.
Avion Jackson went 1-2 from the free throw line less than minute into the game to put the Highlanders on the board. Tribulation Prep responded with a jumper from Damajay Richardson to take the lead. The teams traded baskets with the game tied at eight with 16:04 to go in the first half. Tribulation Prep with took a five-point lead at 15-10 before the Highlanders put together a 9-0 run highlighted by five points from Katayvon Jefferies to go ahead 19-15. A bucket by Sire Mauvis briefly paused the McLennan run but the Highlanders took control again. The squad went on an 8-0 run to take the first double-digit lead at 27-17 with seven minutes to play in the half. McLennan continued to push down the stretch and led 49-32 at the half.
The Highlander continued to roll in the second half. McLennan led 52-36 with 16:51 to play when Joseph Mayberry III went on a 6-0 run of his own to push the lead to 22, 58-36. Tribulation Prep cut the lead to 20 a couple times but was unable to get any closer Julian Cuillier's strong shooting helped the Highlanders to lead by as many as 28 down the stretch as they cruised to victory.
Julian Cuillier led McLennan with 23 points. Aiden Law and Joseph Mayberry III scored 16 and 14, respectively. Joe Burgess rounded out the Highlanders in double figures with 12.
Tribulation Prep: Zacchaeus Bowen 5 1-3 14; Damajay Richardson 6 1-2 14; Dane Vardiman 0 0-0 0; Kelvin Ihekire 2 0-0 6; Canyon Collier 0 1-2 1; Sabien McGraw 4 2-2 12; Sire Mauvis 5 0-1 11; Zyion Cato 2 4-7 8; Totals: 24 9-17 66.
McLennan: Julian Cuillier 10 1-2 23; Aiden Law 6 0-0 16; Joseph Mayberry III 7 0-1 14; Kardae Turner 0 0-0 0; Amare Banks 1 1-2 3; Katayvon Jefferies 1 2-2 5; Austin Omondi 0 0-0 0; Avion Jackson 1 4-6 6; Timi Ibikunle 4 0-0 8; Habeeb Yusuf 0 0-0 0; Howard Gaskins Jr. 2 3-5 7; Joe Burgess 5 2-3 12; Maximilian Blank 0 0-0 0; Totals: 37 13-21 94.
Halftime score: McLennan 49, Tribulation Prep 32; 3-pointers: Tribulation Prep 9 (Bowen 3, Ihekire 2, McGraw 2, Richardson 1, Mauvis 1), McLennan 7 (Law 4, Cuillier 2, Jefferies 1); Total fouls: Tribulation Prep 16, McLennan 18; Record: McLennan 13-1.
