In a back and forth contest, it came down to overtime where the Vikings used a 15-4 scoring burst to defeat 13th ranked McLennan 81-70 on Saturday, Feb. 21.
The Vikings had to overcome adversity early in this one, McLennan jumped out ahead 4-0 as the Vikings went without a field goal for the first two minutes of the game. Jaycee Ingram ended the scoring drought with an offensive rebound and a three pointer to put Grayson on the board.
McLennan responded with a 6-0 scoring run to put the Vikings in a 10-3 deficit with just under six minutes to play in the opening quarter.
Madison Martin responded with a wide open three pointer to jump start an 11-4 scoring run that left both teams tied at 14 at the end of the opening quarter.
The second quarter was back and forth, with neither team leading by more than two. The Vikings took their largest lead at four points, getting jumpers from Ingram and Dree Johnson to lead 29-25. Ingram added another jumper with under a minute left in the half to put the Vikings up six. McLennan followed with a basket to cut it to four and the Vikings led 31-27 at the half.
McLennan cut the Viking lead to just one in the third quarter, but the Vikings responded with a 6-0 run, capped off by another Ingram offensive board that led to a wide open layup by Martin to take a 39-32 lead with 6:16 left in the third.
Out of the timeout, Mclennan cut the lead to three, but Lily Melton came away with an offensive board off a three point attempt by Susan Fahnbulleh. Fahnbulleh buried her second attempt and the Vikings went back up by six. McLennan again cut it to two, but Iv Jackson sank two free throws late in the quarter to put the Vikings up four, leading 48-44 at the end of three.
A three from Fia Filoialli in the early stages of the fourth quarter had the Vikings match their largest lead of the game at seven; 53-46. A 10-4 McLennan run cut the Viking lead back to one point with 4:01 to play, but Filoialli answered with another three to go up by four. Martin pushed the lead back to six with a steal and transition layup for Grayson with 3:30 to go. A 6-0 run from McLennan tied the game at 62 with 1:19 to go. Filoialli answered with a floater in the lane to put Grayson up 64-62. McLennan tied it again with a pair of free throws with 58 seconds to play. The Highlassies took their first lead since the first quarter on a jumper with 39 seconds left. Martin answered right back with a jumper with 19 seconds left to tie things at 66. McLennan's potential game winner hit off the front of the rim.
The overtime period was all Vikings, though they went a few minutes without scoring. McLennan took the lead on a steal and a layup, but Johnson answered right back with a steal, drew the foul and sank both free throws to tie things at 68. After a defensive stop, Melton's go-ahead three started a 13-2 run over the final two minutes to send the Vikings to the win.
Ingram led the way with 23 points and nine rebounds for Grayson. Martin added 22 points, five assists and four steals. Filoialli added 10 points and a pair of steals for Grayson.
The win gives the Vikings the season sweep of McLennan and moved Grayson to 21-3, 11-1 in conference play and in sole possession of first place due to Collin's loss to Hill on Saturday.
The Vikings will close out the season with three of their final regular season games at home, beginning with Weatherford on Wednesday, Feb. 25 for their Pink Out game. Tip-off is set for 5pm.