Highlanders darken Suns

The McLennan Highlanders eclipsed the Cedar Valley Suns at The Highlands tonight.
 
McLennan was on fire to start the game. An Amare Banks layup followed by three consecutive buckets by Joe Burgess put the Highlanders up 8-0 early. McLennan le by 10, 29-19 with 8:30 to go in the first half. The Suns slowly chipped away, pulling within . three at 31-28. That's when the Highlanders began to break away. Already up four, 34-30, McLennan went on a 13-0 run capped by a tip-in by Maximilian Blank to lead by 17, 47-30 with 35 seconds to play. The Suns hit a 3-pointer with 12 seconds to play but McLennan responded with a long ball from Katayvon Jefferies along the sideline just before the buzzer to lead 50-33 at intermission.
 
McLennan carried the momentum from the buzzer beater into the second half. The Highlanders cruised, extending the lead to 27 midway through the half. The reserves saw ample playing time, giving them some valuable experience.
 
Joe Burgess led the Highlanders with 16 points. Joseph Mayberry III scored 12 and Aiden Law added 11.
 
Cedar Valley: Jeremy Taylor 3 0-0 6; Matt Lawrence 1 0-0 3; J'Ylon Nobles 6 2-2 16; Marcel Hurst 4 0-0 10; Diego Hernandez 3 0-0 8; Elijah Rouse 0 0-0 0; Larry Lyons 6 8-9 21; Abdul Deby 0 0-0 0; John Champine 0 2-2 2; Emmitt Blevins 0 0-0 0; Totals: 23 12-13 66.
 
McLennan: Julian Cuillier 3 0-0 6; Aiden Law 4 0-0 11; Joseph Mayberry III 4 4-4 12; Kardae Turner 2 2-2 6; Amare Banks 4 0-1 8; Katayvon Jefferies 1 5-6 8; Austin Omondi 0 1-2 1; Avion Jackson 1 2-3 4; Timi Ibikunle 3 1-2 7; Habeeb Yusuf 2 1-2 5; Howard Gaskins Jr. 1 0-0 2; Joe Burgess 8 0-0 16; Maximilian Blank  2 0-0 4; Totals: 36 16-22 90.
 
Halftime score: McLennan 50, Cedar Valley 33; 3-pointers: Cedar Valley 8 (Nobles 2, Hurst 2, Hernandez 2, Lawrence 1, Lyons 1), McLennan 5 (Law 3, Mayberry III 1, Jefferies 1); Total fouls: Cedar Valley 16, McLennan 14;
Record: McLennan 9-1.