Highlanders beat Temple, Highlassies come up short

The McLennan Highlanders moved to 4-1 in conference play with a 98-89 victory over the Temple Leopards in Temple.

The two teams traded baskets for the first six minutes of play, keeping the game close. McLennan began to pull away late in the half, taking a 12-point lead, 44-32, with three minutes remaining. Temple rallied to cut the Highlander lead to eight at halftime, 50-42.

McLennan kept the Leopards at arm's length for the majority of the second half, never letting them pull closer than six points. The Highlanders pulled away midway through the period and led by as many as 18, 90-72, with 6:21 to go. Temple rallied late in the game but it wasn't enough. 

Shannon Bogues led the Highlanders with 25 points and Jerami Grace added 24. Aundre Jackson rounded out the Highlanders in double figures with 17 points.

In women's action, the Highlassies fell to the Lady Leopards 68-63.

The first half quarter was a series of runs. McLennan opened the game on a 4-0 run and Temple responded with 5-0 run. The game was tied at 10 with 4:58 remaining in the first quarter. The Lady Leopards used a 7-0 run over the next two minutes to take the 17-10 lead with 2:30 to play in the first. The Highlassies cut the lead to four, 17-13, with 1:20 to go. Temple ended the quarter on a 6-0 run to take the first double-digit lead, 23-13. McLennan cut the lead to five early in the second quarter. The Lady Leopards extended the lead back to 10, 33-23, with 6:31 remaining in the second. The Highlassies ended the first half on a 15-3 run to take the 38-36 lead at the break.

McLennan increased the lead to six, 45-39, with 6:12 to play in the third. Temple rallied to take the 47-45 lead with just over three minutes remaining in the quarter and extended the lead to seven heading into the final period, 56-49.  The Lady Leopards extended the lead back to 10, 59-49 less than a minute into the fourth. McLennan rallied to cut the lead to one with 2:15 remaining in the game but was unable to complete the comeback.

Ariana Sanders led the Highlassies with 16 points and Caylinne Martin added 11.

McLennan 98, Temple 89
McLennan: Ben Nakwaasah 2 3-3 7; Antonio Wade 2 0-0 4; Jerami Grace 9 4-4 24;
Shannon Bogues 10 4-5 25; Brian Long 2 0-0 4; Aundre Jackson 8 0-4 17; Zach Charles 3 1-4 7; Fred Jackson 3 1-2 7; Ricky Curry 1-2 3; Totals: 40 14-24 98.

Temple: Cameron Martin 9 5-6 24; Chris West 0 1-2 1; Damien Day 1 0-3 2; Malk Malone 2 2-5 7; Teesean Patterson 1 2-2 4; Sterlton Wenner 1 1-3 3; Eric Terry 6 5-6 17; Cole Price 3 4-4 11; Max Portmann 9 2-3 20; Totals: 32 22-31 89.

3-pointers: McLennan 4 (Grace 2, Bogues 1, A. Jackson 1), Temple 3 (Martin 1, Malone 1, Price 1); Total fouls: McLennan 25, Temple 24; Fouled out: McLennan (Grace), Temple Price); Halftime score: McLennan 50, Temple 42; Record: McLennan 20-3 (4-1).

Temple 68, McLennan 63

McLennan: Kiana Martin 1 0-0 3; Kyera Coleman 3 1-2 6; Dariel Johnson 1 2-2 4; Victoria Seay 1 0-0 2; Diamond Ervin 0 2-2 2; Ariana Sanders 6 4-7 16; Raven Ringo 1 0-0 2; Tayla Taylor 3 2-6 8; Tori Thompson 4 1-2 9; Caylinne Martin 5 1-1 11; Totals: 25 13-22 63.

Temple: Shayla Pollard 2 1-2 5; Kryshona Carter 3 7-8 15; Mikayla Blount 9 2-2 24; Samantha Allen 1 0-0 2; Shatarah Brown 1 0-0 3; Desiree Lampkin 0 1-2 1; Mckenzie Lunkin 1 0-0 2; Mackenzie West 3 1-2 9; Mykel Costley 3 1-2 7; Totals: 23 13-18 68.

3-pointers: McLennan 2 (K. Martin 1, Coleman 1), Temple 9 (Blount 4, Carter 2, West 2, Brown 1); Total fouls: McLennan 20, Temple 17; Halftime score: McLennan 38, Temple 36; Record: McLennan 9-12 (4-2).