Highlanders claim conference championship

The No. 18 McLennan Highlanders secured the North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference Championship with a 75-41 thumping of the Collin Cougars tonight at The Highlands. The win also serves as the 750th career victory for head coach Kevin Gill including his victories at Hubbard, La Vega and McLennan. 

The ball was bouncing McLennan's way from the start. The Highlanders opened on a 5-0 run as they held the Cougars scoreless for over three and a half minutes of play. McLennan led 8-3 with 13:24 to go in the first half and broke the game open with a 10-0 run, 18-3. A Chris Jones Jr. 3-pointer for Collin paused the Highlander momentum but the Cougars couldn't halt the Highlanders. McLennan continued to dominate on both ends of the court and led 41-15 at the break. 

Collin picked up the scoring pace slightly in the second half but couldn't overpower the Highlanders. 

Joseph Mayberry III led McLennan with 12 points, and Aiden Law added 11. Maximilian Blank and Amare Banks scored 10 each. 

Collin: Chris Jones Jr. 1 0-0 3; David Chong 1 0-0 2; Jayden Ramnanan 0 0-0 0; Fabian Pommells 0 2-2 2; Kevin Paul 3 3-6 9; Cortlin Siska 5 0-0 10; Tyreese Perry-Huggins 1 5-10 7; David Emelife 1 1-2 3; Travis Fralin 1 0-0 2; Kai Bryant 1 0-0 3; Totals: 14 11-22 41.

McLennan: Julian Cuillier 1 0-0 2; Aiden Law 3 3-4 11; Joseph Mayberry III 5 1-1 12; Kardae Turner 2 2-2 6; Amare Banks 4 0-0 10; Katayvon Jefferies 1 3-4 5; Austin Omondi 0 2-4 2;  Timi Ibikunle 4 0-02 8; Habeeb Yusuf 0 0-0 0; Howard Gaskins Jr. 0 4-4 4; Joe Burgess 2 1-2 5; Maximilian Blank 5 0-0 10; Totals: 27 16-23 75.

Halftime score: McLennan 41, Collin 15; 3-pointers: Collin 2 (Jones 1, Bryant 1), McLennan 5 (Law 2, Banks 2, Mayberry III 1); Total fouls: Collin 17, McLennan 13; Record: McLennan 26-1 (11-0).