In a game that came down to the final minute, the McLennan Highlanders fell to the Bossier Parish Cavaliers 64-58 in Bossier City, Louisiana.
It was an up-tempo game from the opening tip. The Highlanders opened on a 4-0 run compiled of a fade away jumper in the lane from Xavier Armstead and a layup by Jordan Skipper-Brown. Bossier Parish tied the game at six with 16:46 to play in the first half. Eric Parrish drained a 3-pointer from the elbow for the Cavaliers to take the lead at 9-6 with 15:28 to go. Bossier Parish extended the lead to eight, 27-19, with 3:47 remaining before the half. McLennan didn't back down and used a 5-0 run capped off with a steal by Javen Hedgeman and ensuing slam by Skipper-Brown to trim the lead to three, 30-27. The Cavaliers ended the half on a 4-0 run to take the 34-27 advantage at the break.
Bossier Parish's run continued into the second half as the Highlanders fell behind by 12, 41-29, with 18:01 to go in the game. McLennan pulled within seven several times and trailed 45-38 with 13:04 on the clock. The Cavaliers pulled away again, using 7-0 run to build a 14-point lead, the largest of the game, midway through the half. The Highlanders' stepped up their game and their defense, responding with 13-0 run to pull within one, 52-51. Bossier Parish extended the lead back to three with a Lane Hartley 3-pointer. Javen Hedgeman drained a trey ball from the elbow for the Highlanders to tie the game and sank a pair of free throws with 4:35 to go to give McLennan its first lead since the 17:38 mark of the first half. Another Hartley 3-pointer put Bossier Parish back on top. The Highlanders trailed 59-58 with just over two minutes remaining in the game. The Cavaliers ended the game with another Hartley long ball and a pair of Eric Parrish free throws to steal the win.
Jordan Skipper-Brown led McLennan with 16 points. Xavier Armstead and Javen Hedgeman scored 15 and 11, respectively.
The Highlanders travel to Fort Hood tomorrow to face the Phantom Warriors at 7 p.m.
McLennan: Javen Hedgeman 2 6-6 11; Jimmie Kelly 1 0-0 3; Mike Adewunmi 2 1-3 5; Xavier Armstead 7 0-1 15; Casey Armour 1 0-0 2; Garrett Shaw 2 0-0 4; Devyn Brewton 0 0-0 0; Dayante McClellan 0 0-2 0; Willie Thomas 0 0-0 0; Jordan Skipper-Brown 7 2-3 16; Ja'Lyn Banks 0 2-2 2; Totals: 22 11-17 58.
Bossier Parish: E.J. Clark 0 0-0 0; Erie Olonade 2 1-2 7; Jason Holliday 1 8-9 10; Lane Hartley 3 2-2 11; David Williams 0 0-0 0; Mikail Simmons 2 0-0 4; Eric Parrish 9 5-5 24; Paris Harris 2 1-2 6; Totals: 20 17-20 64.
3-pointers: McLennan 3 (Hedgeman 1, Kelly 1, Armstead 1), Bossier Parish 7 (Hartley 3, Olonade 2, Parrish 1, Harris 1); Total fouls: McLennan 19, Bossier Parish 18; Halftime score: Bossier Parish 34, McLennan 27; Record: McLennan 6-1.
