The McLennan Highlanders walloped the Southwestern Christian Rams on the road this afternoon in Terrell.

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The teams traded the lead for the first seven minutes of play and were tied at 10 with 12:52 to go in the first half. Southwestern Christian took a four-point lead at 14-10 off back-to-back buckets by Claven Wilson. McLennan responded with a 12-0 run highlighted by seven points from Dillon Gooding to take the 22-14 lead with 7:37 to go in the first half. The Highlanders continued to dominate as they held the Rams to just three free throws over the next four plus minutes of play to build a 13-point lead at 30-17 with 3:1 to go in the half. Southwestern Christian cut the lead back to 11 but four free throws from Chris Pryor closed out the half giving McLennan the 15-point advantage, 36-21.

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McLennan led by 18, 44-26, with 16:30 remaining in the game. The Rams’ Isaiah Wyatt hit back-to-back 3-pointers and tacked on a pair of free throws to pull Southwestern Christian within 10 with 14:01 to go, 44-34. The Highlanders found their rhythm again and rattled off a 15-0 run to extend the lead to 25 at 59-34 with 8:47 to play. McLennan continued to roll down the stretch to secure the easy victory.

Chris Pryor led the Highlanders with 14 points. Dillon Gooding and Forte Prater added 13 and 11, respectively.

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In women’s action, the Highlassies routed the Lady Rams 73-36.

It was close through the first quarter. Southwestern Christian opened on a 4-0 run to take the early lead but McLennan quickly erased it with 3-pointer by Miannah Little and jumper by Gabby Owens, 5-4. The Lady Rams retook the lead on a Ja’Neicia Kendrick 3-pointer from the elbow and pushed the lead to five, 13-8, with 1:22 to go in the first. Mariona Garcia added a free throw with just under a minute to go in the quarter to cut the lead to four after one quarter of play, 13-9.

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McLennan took control in the second quarter. Mersadez Nephew drained a long 3-pointer less than a minute into the period, starting a 12-0 run that broke the game open, 21-13. The Highlassies continued to push the offense and extended the lead to 17 at the break, 40-23.

It was all McLennan in the third. The Highlassies held the Lady Rams to just four points in the quarter while adding 19 of their own to take the 59-27 advantage going into the fourth. McLennan then cruised in the final period to the blow-out victory.

Mersadez Nephew lead the Highlassies with 17 points and Jaydyn Bullard added 16.

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The Highlassies return to action Wednesday, traveling to Cisco for a 5:30 p.m. game against the Lady Wranglers. The Highlanders return to action Saturday, hosting Grayson at 4 p.m.

McLennan 73, Southwestern Christian 36
McLennan: Valisa Millhouse 2 0-2 4; Miannah Little 2 1-1 6; Demetrius Lewis 0 0-0 0; Jaydyn Bullard 7 2-3 16; Pryia Thompson 1 0-2 3; Mersadez Nephew 6 0-0 17; Gabby Owens 1 2-2 4; Kinley Brown 0 1-2 1; Brielle Dorsey 3 2-3 8; Kai Finister 2 1-1 5; Mariona Garcia 1 5-8 7; Totals: 26 14-24 73.

Southwestern Christian: Ja'Neicia Kendrick 0 0-2 0; Lakeycia Bables 2 0-0 6; Jamyah Eugene 0 2-2 2; Kyara Reynoso 5 4-4 14; Aliyah Roberson 1 1-1 3; Tatiana Davis 0 0-0 0; Taelor Williams 0 0-0 0; Jimena Munoz 0 0-0 0; Jaide Howell 3 0-0 6; Kamayah Metcalf 1 0-2 5; Totals: 12 7-11 36

3-pointers: McLennan 8 (Nephew 5, Thompson 1, Starks 1, Little 1); Southwestern Chrstian 3 (Bables 2, Metcalf 1); Total fouls: McLennan 17, Southwestern Christian 19; Fouled out: Southwestern Christian (Howell); Record: McLennan 9-7 (3-1).

McLennan 76, Southwestern Christian 46
McLennan: Forte Prater 5 0-0 11; Dillon Gooding 5 1-1 13; CJ Hall 3 1-2 8; Rommell Williams 1 0-0 2; Anthony Simmons 0 0-0 0; Jayce Wright 0 0-0 0; Nehemiah Nuckolls 2 0-0 4; Chris Pryor 4 6-6 14; Diego Gonzalez 1 1-2 3; Khalif Allim 0 2-2 2; Cortland Blake 2 0-0 5; Kirk Smith Jr.  1 1-2 3; Javani Brown  3 0-0 7; Justin Wilson 2 0-0 4; Totals: 29 12-15 76.

Southwestern Christian: Michael Coleman 02-502; Claven Wilson 4 0-0 9; Kameron Hunter 0 0-0 0; Xavier Fuqua 1 0-0 3; Khalil Screen 0 0-0 0; Ja'Kyrie Keaton-Robinson 0 0-0 0; Michael Bennet 0 0-0 0; Isaiah Wyatt 3 2-4 10; Edwin Cooper 1 0-0 2; Da'Vonte Alexander 0 0-0 0; Dezmond Bradley 0 0-0 0; Myles McCrary 7 3-3 17; D'Queveus Adkins 1 1-2 3; Totals:17 8-14 46.

3-pointers: McLennan 6 (Gooding 2, Prater 1, Hall 1, Blake 1, Brown 1) Southwestern Christian 4 Wyatt 2, Wilson 1, Fugua 1); Total fouls: McLennan 14, Southwestern Christian 16; Fouled out: Southwestern Christian (Bradley); Record: McLennan 16-3 (3-1).

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Reporter: Candicee Kelm