Highlanders sprint by Roadrunners

Highlanders sprint by Roadrunners
December 1, 2025

The McLennan Highlander sprinted by the Angelina Roadrunners 51-37 tonight in Lufkin.
 
Max Blank got the scoring starting for the Highlanders with a bucket-and-one on the first possession. Angelina tied the game with Clarence Payia 3-pointer from the corner. A pair of free throws from Avion Jackson followed by a jumper by Joseph Mayberry III gave McLennan the four-point lead, 7-3. The Highlanders continued to lead by four at 9-5 with 15:23 in the first half. The Roadrunners tied the game at nine three minutes later. The teams traded the lead with Angelina leading 17-15 with 5:20 to go. A pair of free throws from Blank followed by a three-point play by Katayvon Jefferies put McLennan up 20-17 at the final media timeout. The Roadrunners tied the game at 20 before a Howard Gaskins Jr. with 54 seconds left put the Highlanders back up by two, 22-20, and they carried it into the locker room.
 
The tables turned for the Highlanders in the second half. McLennan led 27-26 with 14 minutes remaining in the game. A basket by Gaskins Jr. ignited a Highlander 19-0 run that lasted eight minutes, putting McLennan up 46-26 with 6:40 on the clock. The Highlanders held off the Roadrunners the rest of the way for the lop-sided win.
 
Howard Gaskins Jr. led the Highlanders with 13 points, and Joseph Mayberry III scored 10.
 
McLennan: Julian Cuillier 0 0-0 0; Aiden Law 0 0-0 0; Joseph Mayberry III 3 3-4 10; Kardae Turner 0 0-0 0; Amare Banks 4 0-0 9; Katayvon Jefferies 2 1-1 6; Avion Jackson 2 2-2 6; Timi Ibikunle 0 0-0 0; Habeeb Yusuf 0 0-0 0; Howard Gaskins Jr. 3 6-6 13; Joe Burgess 1 0-0 2; Maximilian Blank 1 3-3 5; Totals: 16 15-16 51.
 
Angelina: Kai'Ree Murray 1 4-4 7; Cedric Jones 0 0-1 0; Milton Rice III 0 0-0 0; Julius Crosby 1 2-2 4; Zacchae'Us Sells 0 0-0 0; Clarence Payia 4 0-0 9; Jordan Mathews 0 0-0 0; Daemon Ely 2 4-6 8; Jaden Spears 3 0-0 8; Cheikh Diebakhate 0 0-0 0; Ronald Durham 0 1-2 1; Totals: 11 11-15 37.
 
Halftime score: McLennan 22. Angelina 20; 3-pointers: McLennan 4 (Mayberry III 1, Banks 1, Jefferies 1, Gaskins Jr. 1), Angelina (Spears 2, Payia 1, Murray 1); Total fouls: McLennan 13, Angelina 13; Record: McLennan 8-1.