The McLennan Highlanders put the explanation point on their undefeated conference season with a 103-76 victory over the Southwestern Christian Rams this afternoon in the regular season finale.
The first half was a back-and-forth battle between the Highlanders and Rams. Southwestern Christian led 17-15 with 11:59 to play in the first half. That's when McLennan began to pull away. A jumper by Timi Ibikunle tied the game and started a 6-0 run that put the Highlanders up by four at 21-17. McLennan turned up the heat and took the first double-digit lead at 31-20 on a pair of Joseph Mayberry III free throws with 7:16 to go before the half. Niko Smith led the Rams charge as the squad cut the lead back to four at 33-29 with just under five minutes left. A 5-0 run by Ibikunle put McLennan back up by nine, 38-29 at the last media timeout. The Highlanders pushed down the stretch and led 48-36 at the break.
The Highlanders put the game away midway through the second half. Already lead by 12 at 62-50, McLennan broke the game open with a 12-0 run , including four points from Ibikunle and six from Joe Burgess. The Highlanders led by as many as 30 as they cruised to victory.
Timi Ibikunle led McLennan with 23 points. Avion Jackson and Joseph Mayberry III scored 17 and 16, respectively.
Southwestern Christian: Donny Thomas 3 0-0 7; Dominic Samuel 4 1-2 9; Niko Smith 5 5-6 16; Elijah Clemons 0 1-2 1; Sebastian Mackey 3 0-0 8; JaCorie Bradley 0 0-0 0; Ayden Rashada 1 2-2 5; CJ Black 0 0-2 0; Ahmare Rose 6 5-9 17; Daryl Banks 2 0-1 6; Totals: 23 16-26 76.
McLennan: Julian Cuillier 2 0-0 5; Aiden Law 2 5-5 9; Joseph Mayberry III 7 2-2 16; Kardae Turner 3 0-0 6; Amare Banks 1 0-0 2; Katayvon Jefferies 3 2-4 9; Austin Omondi 1 0-0 2; Avion Jackson 7 3-4 17; Timi Ibikunle 10 3-3 23; Habeeb Yusuf 0 0-0 0; Howard Gaskins Jr. 3 0-0 6; Joe Burgess 3 0-0 6; Maximilian Blank 1 0-0 2; Totals: 43 15-18 103.
Halftime score: McLennan 48, Southwestern Christian 36; 3-pointers: Southwestern Christian 8 (Mackey 2, Banks 2, Thomas 1, Smith 1, Rashada 1, Rose 1); McLennan 2 (Cuillier 1, Jefferies 1); Total fouls: Southwestern Christian11, McLennan 14; Record: McLennan 29-1 (14-0).
