Highlanders cruise past El Centro, Houston in McLennan Classic

In their second game in as many days, the McLennan Highlanders defeated El Centro 112-71 Friday afternoon on the opening day of the McLennan Classic.

Jashawn Talton put the Highlanders on the board with a layup less than 20 seconds into the game. Xaiver Armstead followed with a 3-pointer, and Daniel Pinho Severo added a bucket in the lane to give McLennan the early 7-0 lead. The Highlanders dominated from the tip. El Centro trimmed the lead to four, 10-6, with 17:10 to go in the first. McLennan exploded for a 13-0 run over the next three minutes to extend the lead to 17. The Highlanders continued to pull away, leading by as many as 25 in the half, and held the 50-34 advantage at the break.

El Centro stepped up their game in the second half, opening on a 14-4 run to trim the lead to six. McLennan responded with an 11-0 run to put the game out of reach.

Sasa Vuksanvic and Armstead led the Highlanders with 16 points each while Marquez Cooper and Antoine Banks added 15 each, and Talton added 14. Javen Hedgeman, Garrett Shaw and Dayante McClellan all chipped in 10.

On Saturday, the Highlanders hammered the Houston Eagles 111-45. Armstead buried a 3-pointer from the corner less than a minute into the contest to start the deluge. McLennan opened the game on a 21-2 run and never looked back. Armstead hit five of the Highlanders' 13 3-pointers in the contest.

Pinho Severo led McLennan with 22 points and Armstead had 19. Hedgeman scored 17 while Banks and Talton added 13 each. Cooper rounded out the Highlanders in double digits with 10.

McLennan 112, El Centro 71
El Centro: Horn 64-4 19; Sing 0 2-2 2; McDonald 4 13-16 23; Francisco 1 1-2 4; Cousby 1 0-0 2; Simon 4 5-10 13; McGee 23-4 8; Totals: 18 28-38 71.

McLennan: Aaron Gregg 0 1-2 1; Javen Hedgeman 4 2-3 10; Marquez Cooper 5 3-3 15; Xaiver Armstead 6 0-0 16; Antoine Banks 5 4-4 15; Garrett Shaw 4 0-0 10; Jashawn Talton 5 4-4 14; Dayante McClellan 3 4-6 10; Daniel Pinho Severo 1 2-4 4; Sasa Vuksanvic 6 4-4 16; Malachi Barron 0 1-2 1; Totals: 39 25-32 112.

3-pointers: El Centro 7 (Horn 3, McDonald 2, Francisco 1, Simon 1), McLennan 9 (Armstead 4, Cooper 2, Shaw 2, Banks 1); Total fouls: El Centro 23, McLennan 27; Fouled out: El Centro (Cousby), McLennan (Talton); Halftime score: McLennan 50, El Centro 34; Record: McLennan 2-0.

McLennan 111, Houston 45
Houston: Jackson 1 1-2 4; Hunter 5 0-0 13; Harrison 5 0-0 12; Adam 3 7-8 14; Sash 1 0-0 3; Kirkey 0 0-2 0; Totals: 15 8-12 45.

McLennan: Aaron Gregg 1 0-0 3; Javen Hedgeman 7 0-0 17; Marquez Cooper 4 2-2 10; Xaiver Armstead 7 0-0 19; Antoine Banks 5 0-0 13; Garrett Shaw 1 0-0 3; Jashawn Talton 6 1-1 13; Dayante McClellan 1 2-2 4; Daniel Pinho Severo 8 6-9 22; Jordan Skipper-Brown 1 0-0 2; Sasa Vuksanvic 2 1-2 5; Totals: 43 12-16 111.

3-pointers: Houston 8 (Hunter 3, Harrison 2, Jackson 1, Adam 1, Sash 1); McLennan 13 (Armstead 5, Hedgeman 3, Banks 3, Gregg 1, Shaw 1); Total fouls: Houston 14; McLennan 10; Fouled out: Houston (Harrison); Halftime score: McLennan 52, Houston 23; Record: McLennan 3-0.