Highanders top Trinity Valley, remain undefeated

The McLennan Highlanders kept their winning streak alive with a narrow 75-68 victory over the Trinity Valley Cardinals Thursday night in the Lewis Orr Classic at Navarro College.

McLennan opened the game on a 9-0 run and built a 13-1 lead as they held the Cardinals without a field goal for the first nine minutes of play. The Highlanders led by 18, the largest lead of the game at 23-5 with 8:43 to play in the first half. Trinity Valley found their rhythm and cut the lead to six at the break, 39-25.

The Cardinals continued to chip away in the second half, pulling within one, 48-47, with just under 11 minutes remaining in the game. McLennan increased the lead back to double digits, 63-53, with five minutes to go. Trinity Valley pulled within three, 71-68, with 35 second remaining but the Highlanders Aundre Jackson and Jerami Grace combined to go 4-4 from the free throw line on the deliberate fouls by the Cardinals to secure the win. 

Grace led the Highlanders with 17 points and Shannon Bogues added 16. Jackson and Zach Charles scored 12 points each.

McLennan 75, Trinity Valley 68
McLennan: Ben Nakwaasah 1 0-0 2; Jerami Grace 4 7-8 17; Kaelen Malone 1 2-2 5; Shannon Bogues 6 4-5 16; Alex Mills 2 1-2 7; DeAnte Robinson 1 0-0 2; Aundre Jackson 4 4-4 12; Zach Charles 1 10-10 12; Fred Jackson 0 2-2 2; Totals: 20 30-33 75.

Trinity Valley: Stephen Edwards 2 0-2 4; Melvin Swift 2 0-04; Leon Gilmore 4 2-2 12; Brandon Holley 3 2-2 9; J.C. Washington 2 0-0 4; Ryan Preston 3 2-2 8; Hyron Edwards 1 9-9 11; Shamiek Sheppard 1 2-2 4; Isaac Allen 0 1-2 1; Josh Robinson 4 0-0 11; Totals: 22 18-21 68.

3-pointers: McLennan 5 (Grace 2, Mills 2, Malone 1), Trinity Valley 6 (Robinson 3, Gilmore 2, Holley 1); Total fouls: McLennan 16, Trinity Valley 24; Halftime score: McLennan 35, Trinity Valley 29; Record: McLennan 7-0.