The McLennan Highlassies opened the 2018-19 season with a 77-40 thumping of the Coastal Bend Lady Cougars on the opening day of the McLennan Classic.
It was all McLennan from the start as the Highlassies opened the game on an 8-0 run including four points from freshman Anastasia Mickens. McLennan took its first double-digit lead, 14-4, on a KeeKee Nowlin jumper with 5:48 to go in the first. The Highlassies continued to pull away and Gabby Cleveland 3-pointer at the buzzer put McLennan up 21-9 at the end of the first.
The Highlassies led by 12 with 4:21 to go in the second, 27-15. McLennan put together a 5-0 run over the next minute to extend the lead to 17 and led 37-20 at the half.
The second half was much the same. McLennan led 40-23 with just under eight minutes to play in the third. Another run, this one of the 8-0 variety, increased the lead to 25. The Highlassies held the 59-31 advantage going into the fourth and held Coastal Bend to nine points in the final period to cruise to the victory.
Sophomore KeeKee Nowlin led the Highlassies with 19 points and Elizabeth Critton added 17.
The Highlassies will face Cedar Valley at 6 p.m. tomorrow on the final day of the McLennan Classic.
McLennan 77, Coastal Bend 40
Coastal Bend: Aubrey Guerra 1 2-3 5; Jada Mitchell 7 3-5 17; Angelina Barela 1 0-0 2; Marley Martinez 1 2-4 4; Deysta Wilbert-Bradsher 0 3-4 3; Tianie Johnson 3 3-8 9; Totals: 13 13-24 40.
McLennan: Jada McHenry 0 0-0 0; Ny'Asia Goldman 1 1-2 3; Kenidi White 0 0-0 0; Gabby Cleveland 3 0-5 7; Harmony Pettis 3 0-0 6; KeeKee Nowlin 8 2-4 19; Annya Moss 3 0-0 6; Janeisha Mosley 0 0-0 0; Raveen Blue 1 0-0 2; Shequana Jackson 4 0-0 8; Elizabeth Critton 6 5-7 17; Anastacia Mickens 2 3-4 7; Arial Elzie 0 0-0 0; Desirae Devine 1 0-0 2; Totals: 32 11-22 77.
3-pointers: Coastal Bend 1 (Guerra), McLennan 2 (Cleveland 1, Nowlin 1); Total fouls: Coastal Bend 19; McLennan 21; Fouled out: Coastal Bend (Hemphill); Halftime score: McLennan 37, Coastal Bend 20; Record: McLennan 1-0.
