The McLennan Highlassies squeaked out a 61-58 win over the Panola Fillies to close out non-conference play.
Baskets were hard to come by for the squads early as the ball bounce around the iron on both ends of the court. A long jumper from Chelsea Wooten started the scoring for McLennan. The Highlassies' Aniya Williams added a free throw before Panola's Gabby Owens found the basket to put the Fillies on the board with 6:49 to go in the first quarter, 3-2. A Chelsea Wooten 3-pointer followed by a bucket in the lane by Bineta Diatta to make it 10-2. The Highlassies pushed the lead to 11, 18-7, with a minute left in the period and led 21-11 going into the second.
Panola made a small rally to start the second, cutting the lead to six at 23-17 with 7:26 to play. McLennan stepped up with a 7-0 run, including three points from Miannah Little, to extend the lead to 13, 30-17. The Fillies rallied late, pulling within eight at intermission, 32-24.
McLennan kept Panola at arm's length until late in the third quarter when the Fillies began to rally again. The Highlassies led 44-39 with 1:49 to play in the period. Panola ended the quarter on a 4-0 to pull within one heading in the to the fourth.
Aniya Williams added a basket for the Highlassies to give McLennan a slight cushion. Kadresha Smith's put-back basket followed by a pair of free throws gave Panola it's first lead of the game at 47-46 with 7:46 remaining. The game was tied at 50 with just over five minutes to play. The teams traded the lead with Panola leading 53-52 with 2:42 to go. Diatta's bucket and one gave McLennan a two-point cushion at 55-53. Aaliyah Holmes hit a jumper from the lane to make it a four-point game, 57-56, but Panola's Avery Young drained a 3-pointer to pull within one with 1:28 to play. McLennan continued to lead by one at 59-58 with under 20 seconds remaining in the game. Jaydyn Bullard added a pair of free throws for the Highlassies to make in 61-58. Panola had a chance to tie the game at the buzzer but Young's shot bounced off the iron.
Diatta led the Highlassies with 17 points and Aaliyah Holmes added 15.
McLennan: Alicia Mills 0 0-0 0; Chelsea Wooten 3 0-1 7; Miannah Little 3 1-1 8; Saneea Bevley 1 0-0 2; Jaydyn Bullard 1 2-2 4; Niamh Heath 1 0-0 2; Bineta Diatta 8 1-3 17; Aniya Williams 1 1-2 3; Aaliyah Holmes 6 0-0 15; Bailee St. Romain 0 0-0 0; Capri Garrett 1 1-2 3; Totals: 25 6-11 61.
Panola: Lyric Scott 1 0-0 3; Savannah Velazquez 1 1-2 3; Kayla Webster 2 4-6 8; Gabby Owens 4 2-2 10; Gionna Carr 1 2-6 4; Sharaya Johnson 5 3-5 13; Avery Young 3 2-2 9; Tijanae Abbott 0 0-0 0; Alycia Baker 0 0-0 0; Emily Mandamin 0 0-0 0; Kadresha Smith 3 2-2 8; Totals: 20 16-25 58.
3-pointers: McLennan 5 (Holmes 3, Little 1, Wooten 1), Panola 2 (Young 1, Velazguez 1); Total fouls: McLennan 16, Panola 12; Halftime score: McLennan 32, Panola 24; Record: McLennan 12-1.
