The McLennan Highlanders opened conference play with a 64-56 win - kcentv.com - KCEN HD - Waco, Temple, and Killeen

The game was a tale of two halves. MCC dominated the first half, opening the game on a 10-0 run and building a 25-point lead at intermission, 44-19. Weatherford came out on fire in the second half. The Coyotes outscored the Highlanders 37-20 in the period. Weatherford cut the lead to four several times down the stretch, the last time with 1:06 remaining in the game. But the Highlanders' D.J. Weathers was a perfect 4-4 from the free throw line in the final 30 seconds to secure the win.

Tevin Hanner led the Highlanders with 18 points and Weathers added 10.

In women's action, the McLennan Highlassies came up a little short, falling to the Weatherford Lady Coyotes 74-67 in their conference opener.

Both the Highlassies and Lady Coyotes started slow offensively. The first half saw five ties and six lead changes with Weatherford holding the 30-28 advantage at the break.

The Lady Coyotes built a six-point lead with 14:49 to play in the game but the Highlassies fought back, tying the game at 51 with just under 10 minutes to go. Weatherford responded with a 7-0 run in the next two minutes . MCC cut the lead to two but the Lady Coyotes extended the lead back to seven with 1:52 remaining in the game. The Highlassies cut the lead to three in the final minute but were unable to pull any closer.

Freshman Shanice Davis led the Highlassies with 17 points. Dominique Taylor and Cha' Zaye Wright added 12 and 10, respectively.

MCC returns to action on Wednesday, hosting Temple. The women will tip off at 5:30 p.m. followed by the men at 7:30 p.m.

McLennan: Clarence Willard 2 0-1 4; D.J. Weathers 2 6-6 10; Donovan Bridgeforth 1 1-2 3; Kevin Wagner 1 4-5 6; Shawn Prudhomme 3 0-0 7; Deondre Ray 2 0-1 4; Tevin Hanner 6 6-8 18; Devonse Reed 2 0-0 4; DeChriston McKinney 1 0-2 2; Trummell McCrimmon 1 0-0 2; Wayne Langston 2 0-2 4; Totals: 23 17-27 64.

Weatherford: Kouassi Keese 3 2-4 8; Deon Willis 1 2-2 4; Nolan Cass 7 2-4 21; D.J. Jordan 2 1-1 5; Pat Allen 2 0-0 4; Kevin Franceshi 2 1-2 5; Da-Juan Cooper 1 1-4 3; Drexler Mejias 0 0-2 0; Eric Stubbs 3 0-2 6; Totals: 21 9-22 56.

3-pointers:  McLennan 1 (Prudhomme 1), Weatherford 5 (Cass); Total fouls: McLennan 18, Weatherford 20; Fouled out: Weatherford (Jordan); Halftime score: McLennan 44, Weatherford 19; Record: McLennan: 16-3 (1-0).
 
McLennan: Justice Crisp 3 1-2 8; Shanice Davis 6 3-6 17; Dominique Taylor 2 7-7 12; Ashlyn Ward 2 0-0 6; Cha'Zaye Wright 3 3-5 10; Traonna Shedrick 1 2-2 4; Sondra Flippin 2 0-0 4; Quiana Tucker 2 0-0 4; Latifah Rainey 0 2-2 2; Totals: 21 18-24 67.

Weatherford: Desiree King 1 1-2 4; Bre Brooks 4 6-8 15; Cleyder Blanco 3 0-2 6; JohVonna Darrington 0 3-4 3; Bathsheba McMahon 0 1-2 1; Alexia Kelley 6 3-5 15; Itiana Taylor 13 4-6 30 Totals: 27 18-29 74.

3-pointers: McLennan 7 (Davis 2, Ward 2, Crisp 1, Taylor 1, Wright 1), Weatherford 2 (King 1, Brooks 1); Total fouls: McLennan 21, Weatherford 18; Fouled out: McLennan (Rainey); Halftime score: Weatherford 30, McLennan 28; Record: McLennan 6-11 (0-1).