The McLennan Highlanders completed the first half of conference play undefeated with a 76-57 victory over the Southwestern Christian Rams 76-57.
It was all McLennan at the start. The Highlanders opened on a 9-0 run including four points from Joseph Mayberry III. A jumper by Amir McMillian put Southwestern Christian on the board almost four minutes into the contest. McLennan took the first double digit lea on a three-point play by Avion Jackson at 12-2 and would continue to lead by 10 at 18-8. A 4-0 run by Maximillian Blank for the Highlanders gave McLennan the 14-point lead at 22-8. Southwestern Christian began to chip away at the lead late in the half, cutting it to four with 2:34 to go, 29-25. A 3-pointer from the corner by Amare Banks quickly put the Highlanders on top by seven, and they would hold that into intermission, 34-27.
McLennan broke the game open in the second half. The Highlanders led by eight at 39-31 with 17:16 remaining in the game and held the Rams scoreless for six minutes while pouring in 18 points. The run was capped with back-to-back dunks by Banks and Timi Ibikulne, and put McLennan up by 26 with 11 minutes to play. The Highlanders would lead by as many as 28 as the cruised the remainder of the way to the victory.
Amare Banks led the Highlanders with 16 points, and Aiden Law added 14. Joe Burgess added 10.
McLennan: Aiden Law 6 0-0 14; Joseph Mayberry III 2 1-2 5; Kardae Turner 1 0-0 2; Amare Banks 6 1-2 16; Katayvon Jefferies 1 0-0 2; Austin Omondi 0 0-0 0; Avion Jackson3 1-3 7; Timi Ibikunle 4 0-1 8; Habeeb Yusuf 0 0-0 0; Howard Gaskins Jr. 3 0-0 6; Joe Burgess 5 0-0 10; Maximilian Blank 2 2-2 6; Totals: 34 3-10 76.
Southwestern Christian: Jayden Gordon 1 0-0 2; Donny Thomas 2 0-0 8; Dominic Samuel 1 3-4 5; Niko Smith 0 2-2 2; Elijah Clemons 0 0-0 0; Sebastian Mackey 2 0-0 5; JaCorie Bradley 4 0-0 9; Amir McMillian 1 1-2 3; Ayden Rashada 0 0-0 0; CJ Black 5 3-4 14; Daryl Banks 2 00- 6; Totals: 19 9-12 53.
Halftime score: McLennan 34, Southwestern Christian 27; 3-pointers: McLennan 5
(Banks 3, Law 2), Southwestern Christian 6 (Rose 2, Black 1, Bradley 1, Mackey 1, Thomas 1) Total fouls: McLennan 15, Southwestern Christian 13; Record: McLennan 22-1 (7-0).
