The McLennan Highlanders bounced back into the win column with a 56-39 victory over the Weatherford Coyotes.
The first game was a tight battle between the two squads. Frederick Rogers III's turnaround jumper in the lane began the scoring for the Highlanders. The Coyotes used a 6-0 run over the next two minutes to take the early lead. McLennan responded with 9-0 run highlighted by a 3-pointer from Evan Chatman to lead 11-6 with 13 minutes to play in the first half. The Highlander held the Coyotes at arm's length until late in the half. Weatherford chipped away, tying the game at 22 with three minutes to go. McLennan ended the half on a 6-0 run with two points each from Rogers, Chatman and Kardae Turner to lead 28-22 at the break.
The Highlanders' momentum continued into the second half as the squad opened on an 11-2 run, holding the Coyotes to a pair of free throws in over seven minutes of play. McLennan led by 15, 39-24 with 12:54 remaining in the game. Weatherford rallied again, cutting the lead back to 10, 42-32. The Highlanders began to create some distance, pushing the lead back to 15 on a Rontavious Blackshear 3-pointer from the top of the key with 4:28 to go, 49-34. McLennan continued to pull away, leading by as many as 19 down the stretch.
Rontavious Blackshear led the Highlanders with 18 points. Evan Chatman and Frederick Rogers III scored 13 each.
McLennan: Rontavious Blackshear 5 4-5 18; Joseph Mayberry 1 4-4 6; Kardae Turner 2 0-0 4; Amare Banks 1 0-0 2; Evan Chatman 3 6-8 13; Frederick Rogers, III 5 3-4 13; Joe Burgess 0 0-0 0; Totals: 17 17-21 56.
Weatherford: Melvin Quennecart 2 2-4 6; Adrian Shackleton 2 2-2 6; Antwan Wilson 2 2-2 6; Braylon Crosby 1 0-0 2; Larry Elting Jr. 1 0-0 2; Acuel Deng 0 0-0 0; Gordon Magok 0 0-0 0; Tyson Whybrew 3 3-3 9; Marcus-Myen King-Danchie 3 0-0 6; Totals: 14 9-11 39.
Halftime score: McLennan 28, Weatherford 22; 3-pointers: McLennan 5 (Blackshear 4, Chatman 1; Total fouls: McLennan 10, Weatherford 13; Record: McLennan 20-4 (7-1).
