The McLennan Highlanders defeated the Collin Cougars 77-59 tonight in Plano.
It was a slow start offensively for both teams. Collin took the early 6-0 lead before McLennan used a 6-0 run including four points by Frederick Rogers III to tie the game at six with 14:29 to go in the first half. Ari Gooch lit up from the arch for the Highlanders, draining three in a row to lead 15-6 midway through the half. A Jacob Stewart bucket for the Cougars momentarily pause the McLennan momentum. The Highlanders' Keegan Rowell came off the bench to drain back-to-back 3-pointers and push the lead to 13, 21-8. Collin also heated up from 3-point range and cut the lead back to five, 27-22 with just under four minutes to play in the half. Another Gooch 3-pointer from the top of the key started a 7-0 run by McLennan highlighted by a dunk and block by Evan Chatman pushed the lead back to 12, and the team would lead by 13 at halftime, 38-25.
The Highlanders kept the Cougars at arm's distance throughout the second half, pushing the lead to 18 with 6:07 to play, 62-44. Collin wasn't going down without a fight and rallied to cut the lead to 11 with five minutes on the clock. McLennan took control and cruised to the win.
Ari Gooch led McLennan with 30 points. Evan Chatman and Frederick Rogers III added 17 and 13, respectively.
McLennan: Rontavious Blackshear 1 0-0 2; Joseph Mayberry 2 0-0 4; Kardae Turner 1 0-0 2; Amare Banks 1 1-2 3; Ari Gooch 10 2-2 30; Keegan Rowell 2 0-0 6; Evan Chatman 7 00 17; Frederick Rogers, III 5 3-6 13; Joe Burgess 0 0-2 0; Maximilian Blank 1 0-0 2; Totals: 30 6-12 77.
Collin: Amanni Koutsakis 0 0-0 0; Vinny Sigona 4 6-7 15; Brady Kennison 3 1-1 10; Fabian Pommells 0 0-0 0; Tim Mikhailov 4 1-2 11; Jacob Stewart 2 0-0 4; David Emelife 3 1-2 8; Vladislav Karasev 0 0-0 0; Geancarlo Peguero 2 4-4 9; Lucciano Basile0 0-2 2; Totals: 18 13-18 57.
Halftime score: McLennan 38, Collin 2; 3-pointers: McLennan 11 (Gooch 6, Chatman 3, Rowell 2), Collin 8 (Kennison 3, Mikhailov 2, Sigona 1, Emelife 1, Peguero 1); Total fouls: McLennan 15, Collin 99; Record: McLennan 23-5 (10-2).
