The McLennan Highlassies defeated the Southern-Shreveport Lady Jaguars 71-57 on Saturday night in the McLennan Shoot-out.
McLennan came out rusty following the month-long holiday break, struggling to find a rhythm on both the offensive and defensive ends of the court. The Highlassies opened the game on a 3-0 run and led 7-4 with 13:32 to play in the first half. Southern took a one-point lead, 8-7, with 11:15 to go. The Lady Jaguars led 27-20 with just over two minutes remaining in the half. McLennan's Kaylin Roher nailed a 3-pointer at the buzzer to cut the lead to three at the break, 27-24.
The Highlassies were on fire in the second half, opening on an 11-0 run. McLennan began to pull away, taking the first double-digit lead at 42-31 with 12:39 to play in the game. The Highlassies led by as many as 19 down the stretch. Southern cut the lead to 10 twice but was unable to pull any closer.
Roher led McLennan with 18 points and Re'Elle Miller added 12. Demi Cumby and Amani Davis scored 11 points each.
On Saturday, the Highlassies fell to the San Jacinto Gators 99-79 in the final tune up before the start of conference play.
The teams kept it close for the majority of the first half. McLennan led 36-30 with 2:45 remaining in the half. The Highlassies extended the lead to 12, 43-31, with 1:54 on the clock. San Jacinto ended the half on an 8-4 run, cutting the lead to eight at the break, 47-39.
It was all Gators to start the second half, coming out on a 9-1 run to tie the game at 48 with 17:25 to play. San Jacinto pulled away, taking the 68-49 lead with 14:12 remaining in the game, and the Highlassies were unable to recover.
Miller led McLennan with 20 points. Caylinne Martin and Roher scored 17 and 13, respectively.
McLennan opens conference play on Saturday at Temple. The women's game begins at 2 p.m., followed by the men's game at 4 p.m.
Southern-Shreveport: Chaterra Cage 1 4-5 6; Ceddricka Smith 4 3-7 11; Pedrica Bain 2 0-0 4; Shatonia Evans 4 0-2 8; Savonya Robinson 2 1-1 5; Travon Williams 5 0-2 14; Dominique Smith 1 0-0 2; LaParis Robinson 2 2-2 7; Aalyah Robinson 0 0-2 0; Totals: 21 10-18 57.
McLennan: Kaylin Roher 5 6-6 18; Macy Lozen 1 0-0 2; Kendra Wynn 1 2-4 4; Demi Cumby 5 0-0 11; Re'Elle Miller 2 8-12 12; Sha'de Adedapo 0 2-4 2; Amani Davis 4 1-3 11; Adrienne Drake 0 2-4 2; Caylinne Martin 3 3-4 9; Totals: 21 24-37 71.
3-pointers: Southern-Shreveport 5 (Williams 4, L. Robinson 1), McLennan 5 (Roher 2, Davis 2, Cumby 1); Total fouls: Southern-Shreveport 27, McLennan 22; Fouled out: Southern Shreveport (Bain); Halftime score: Southern-Shreveport 27, McLennan 24; Record: McLennan 5-7.
San Jacinto: Miranda Lejune 4 2-4 13; Kristel Reid 4 3-4 11; Nekeita Bailey 5 2-2 12; Ankia Nottingham 5 4-7 14; Jazmin Nelson 5 2-2 12; Vanessa Jones 3 0-1 6; Kendra Howard 6 6-9 19; Kaelynn Wilson 4 4-4 12; Totals: 36 23-33 99.
McLennan: Kaylin Roher 4 3-4 13; Kendra Wynn 3 1-5 7; Demi Cumby 3 0-2 8; Re'Elle Miller 6 8-12 20; Sha'de Adedapo 3 0-0 7; Amani Davis 1 1-2 3; Adrienne Drake 2 0-0 4; Caylinne Martin 6 5-6 17; Totals: 28 18-29 79.
3-pointers: San Jacinto 4 (Lejune 3, Howard 1), McLennan 5 (Roher 2, Cumby 2, Adedapo 1); Total fouls: San Jacinto 26; McLennan 28; Fouled out: McLennan (Martin, Drake); Halftime score: McLennan 47, San Jacinto 39; Record: McLennan 5-8.
