The McLennan Highlanders dominated the Richland Thunderducks 73-48 in Hillsboro, coming away with the huge victory.
McLennan controlled the game at the start, opening on a 12-0 run including five points from Nick Shogbonyo. The Highlanders held the Thunderducks to just three free throws in the first six and a half minutes of play. Ed Trahan's fadeaway jumper with 13:13 to go in the first half would be the first Richland field goal. The Thunderducks began to chip away at the McLennan lead, pulling with three with 8:22 to go, 16-13. The Highlanders ended the half on a 15-2 run to lead 31-15 at the break.
The Highlanders broke the game wide open early in the second half behind strong shooting from Jaylen Thompson and Jared Clawson. Thompson scored 11 of McLennan's first 13 points of the half to push the Highlander lead to 23, 44-20, with just under 14 minutes to play. McLennan led 48-24 when back-to-back 3-pointers by Clawson extended the lead to 30.
Jaylen Thompson led McLennan with 18 points. CJ Hall and Jared Clawson scored 14 and 11, respectively.
McLennan: Tim James 0-0 0; Nick Shogbonyo 2 1-3 6; CJ Hall 4 3-4 14; Jacobi Lewis 2 2-2 7; Dayvaughn Froe 2 0-0 4; Jaylen Thompson 6 3-3 18; A.J. Barnes 2 0-0 4; Jared Clawson 4 0-0 11; Jahmar Brown 0 0-0 0; Isaiah Jones 0 1-4 1; Omarion Smith 3 0-1 6; Mason Lockhart 0 0-0 0; Kaleb Pouncy 1 0-0 2; Cedric Kelley 1 0-0 2; Khalif Allim 1 0-00 2; Totals: 28 10-17 73.
Richland: Micah Williams 0 0-0 0; Anthony Lockett 0 0-0 0; Justin Crawford 1 5-8 8; Brandon Bonner 0 0-0 0; Jaylen Salsman 0 0-2 0; Coco Rose 4 1-1 10; Ed Trahan 4 4-6 12; Morgan Hayes 1 3-4 5; LJ Brown 1 0-0 2; Tre Shivers 0 0-1 6; Devin Teague 0 0-0 0; Braxton Burdick 0 0-0 0; Taven Washington 0 0-1 0; Brayden Bradshaw 0 0-0 0; Bryce Harris 3 0-2 6; Sean Calloway 1 0-0 3; Desmond Combs 0 0-0 0; Totals: 15 13-25 48.
3-pointers: McLennan 11 (Hall 3, Thompson 3, Clawson 3, Lewis 1, Shogbonyo 1), Richland 3 (Crawford 1, Rose 1, Calloway 1); Total fouls: McLennan 19, Richland 20; Halftime score: McLennan 31, Richland 15; Record: McLennan 4-1.
Next up: The Highlanders will face Strength 'N Motion Saturday at 2 p.m. in Hillsboro.
