Cooper dominates Highlands, 67-39

Photo by G. Michael Graham. Highlands head coach Mike Flynn (center) goes over the game plan with the Bluebirds during Saturday's game at Cooper. The Bluebirds lost to the Jaguars, 67-39. They are 6-7 on the season.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

UNION – The Highlands Bluebirds boys basketball team ran up against a tough defense Saturday afternoon.

Combine that with the Bluebirds’ continued shooting struggles and it turned into a one-sided 67-39 win in favor of the Cooper Jaguars. Highlands fell to 6-7 with the loss and Cooper moved to 11-3. The Jaguars have won three in a row.

Both teams like to move the ball inside the paint and pass it out for open looks at the basket. Cooper used its size advantage there with Louis Maniacci. Maniacci took the ball, drew the double team then dished it out to players like Zach McNeil and A.J. Collins.

McNeil made three three-pointer and all six free-throw attempts on his way to a game-high 21 points. Collins and Maniacci followed with 12 and 11 respectively.

“We lost McNeil a couple times,” said Mike Flynn, Highlands head coach. “Our game plan was to double-team the posts. We did a nice job of that. But give (Cooper) credit. When you have to double inside, it means you’re a man short on the outside. They did a good job finding the open man.”

Highlands played without junior center Nick True. True had a football commitment out of town this week but will return this week.

Cooper made 23-of-43 shots for 53 percent including seven three-pointers and Highlands made 13-of-41shots for 32 percent including six three-pointers. The Bluebirds made just 8-of-27 shots for 30 percent in the first three quarters. On the other hand, the Jaguars made 16-of-33 shots for 48 percent in that stretch. They also made six three-pointers in the first half.

“We think they’re the best half-court defensive team in the (9th) Region,” Flynn said. “They showed it. They’re real sound, solid and physical. They take you off spots not in a dirty way, just a sound way. They also put on great ball pressure and contest everything.”

Cooper also made 14-of-24 free throws for 58 percent. Highlands made 7-of-12 free-throw attempts for the same percentage. The Bluebirds drew 20 fouls with two players fouling out and the Jaguars had 19 with no one fouling out.

Turnovers also did not help the Bluebird cause. Highlands had 18 to 13 for the hosts. Cooper recorded nine steals to four for the Bluebirds. Collins and Aaron Morgan had three steals each for the Jaguars.

Drew Houliston and Luke Turner once again led the Bluebird scoring attack. Houliston scored 10 of his team-high 13 points in the fourth quarter. He made two three-pointers and Turner added two more on his way to 11 points. Teammate Bailey Witte followed with eight points.

Cooper outscored Highlands, 11-3 in the second quarter to go up 32-11 at halftime. The Jaguars then won the third quarter, 15-11 to extend the margin to 47-22.

The Bluebirds played more even with the Jaguars in the fourth quarter. Cooper won it just 20-17.

Highlands led twice in the first quarter. Turner gave the Bluebirds those leads with a three-point play and a three-pointer with 6:10 left in the quarter at 6-5. But Cooper took the lead for good when Spencer Holland and Jonathan Liechty connected on back-to-back three-pointers.

Despite the loss, Flynn said he likes the direction the team is headed. In December, he said it would take time for the football players to get adjusted.

“They’re making progress,” Flynn said. “I’m proud of them. We just have to shoot the ball better. It’s no secret. It’s not brain surgery. They did and we didn’t.”

 

Highlands travels to Newport (9-4) on Tuesday for a 7:30 p.m. 36th District contest.