The McLennan basketball squads swept Southwestern Christian on the road this afternoon in Terrell.
The Highlassies picked up the 72-51 win over the Lady Rams in the early game.
The game was close through the first quarter. Southwestern Christian led 14-7 with just a few ticks under three minutes to play in the first. McLennan closed the gap with a 6-0 run highlighted by a steal and bucket from Raveen Blue. It would be the Lady Rams holding the 16-13 lead after one period of play. The Highlassies took control and broke the game open at the start of the second period. McLennan opened on a 13-0 run to build a 10-point lead midway through the second. The Highlassies held Southwestern Christian to just seven points in the frame to take the 38-23 lead at halftime.
McLennan opened the third on another 6-0 run to continue pulling away and led 60-37 going to the final period. Southwestern Christian rallied midway through the fourth quarter. With the Highlassies leading 67-40, the Lady Rams put together a 7-0 run to cut the lead to 20 but that would be as close as they would get.
KeeKee Nowlin led McLennan with 21 points. Ny'Asia Goldman and Anastacia Mickens scored 16 and 10, respectively.
In men's action, the Highlanders held off a late charge by the Rams to pick up the 82-74 victory.
Casey Armour put McLennan on the board with a pair of free throws less than 30 seconds into the contest. Southwestern Christian responded with a 7-0 run to take the early five-point lead and led 10-7 with 15:10 to play in the half. The Highlanders began to pull away, using a 13-0 run highlighted by five points from Garrett Shaw. McLennan would lead by 10, 20-10, midway through the half and led 25-19 with just under five minutes before the break. The Highlanders put together another run, this one of the 11-0 variety to extend their lead to 17, 36-19, and it would be McLennan with the 42-26 advantage at the break.
McLennan continued to hold the momentum through the majority of the second half and led by as many as 24, 62-38 with 12:34 to play. Southwestern Christian wasn't going down without a fight though. Brooks heated up from behind the arc and the Rams slashed the Highlanders' lead to six with three minutes to go, 73-67. A Xavier Armstead 3-pointer put McLennan back on top by nine but Southwestern Christian continued to battle. The Rams pulled within four, 78-74, with 50 seconds to play. Javen Hedgeman and Xavier Armstead drained a pair of free throws each in the final seconds to secure the win.
Xavier Armstead led the Highlanders with 23 points and Garrett Shaw added 20.
McLennan will host Grayson Saturday for the final home games of the season. The women's game will begin at 2 p.m., followed by the men's game at 4 p.m.
McLennan 72, Southwestern Christian 51
McLennan: Jada McHenry 2 0-0 4; Ny'Asia Goldman 6 3-5 16; Kenidi White 2 0-0 5; Gabby Cleveland 1 0-0 2; Harmony Pettis 0 0-0 0; KeeKee Nowlin 7 6-7 21; Annya Moss 1 0-0 3; Raveen Blue 1 0-0 2; Shequana Jackson 0 0-0 0; Elizabeth Critton 0 0-0 0; Anastacia Mickens 4 2-4 10; Arial Elzie 0 2-2 2; Desirae Devine 2 2-3 6; Totals: 26 16-26 72.
Southwestern Christian: Johnson 5 0-2 11; Griffin 5 1-2 15; Cobbs 3 4-6 10; Bishop 1 4-6 7; Brown 3 0-4 6; Hill 1 0-0 2; Ellis 0 0-0 0; Jones 0 0-0 0; Douhitt 0 0-0 0; Totals: 18 9-20 51.
3-pointers: McLennan 4 (Goldman 1, Nowlin 1, Moss 1, White 1), Southwestern Christian 6 (Griffin 4, Johnson 1, Bishop 1); Total fouls: McLennan 18, Southwestern Christian 20; Halftime score: McLennan 38, Southwestern Christian 23; Record: 12-15 (3-11).
McLennan 82, Southwestern Christian 74
McLennan: Javen Hedgeman 1 6-8 9; Creighton Avery 2 1-3 5; Jimmie Kelly 0 0-0 0; Mike Adewunmi 1 0-0 2; Xavier Armstead 7 4-4 23; Casey Armour 1 6-8 8; Garrett Shaw 6 3-3 20; Devyn Brewton 0 0-0 0; Dayante McClellan 3 1-2 7; Willie Thomas 1 2-2 4; Jordan Skipper-Brown 1 2-6 4; Totals: 23 25-36 82.
Southwestern Christian: Cooper 3 3-4 11; Dorsey 2 9-10 14; Brooks 7 6-7 26; Byrd 0 0-0 0; Davis 1 1-5 4; Hall 2 2-2 6; Graves 1 0-0 2; Everson 3 3-3 11; Davis 0 0-0 0; Totals 19 24-31 74.
3-pointers: McLennan 11 (Armstead 5, Shaw 5, Hedgeman 1), Southwestern Christian (Brooks 6, Cooper 2, Everson 2, Dorsey 1, Davis 1); Total fouls: McLennan 20, Southwestern Christian 26; Fouled out: Southwestern Christian (Dorsey); Halftime score: McLennan 42, Southwestern Christian 26; Record: McLennan 20-8 (6-6).
