Bluebirds Bow Out in 9th Quarterfinals

Highlands Struggles in Clutch Moments

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands senior guard Brooke Dill goes up for the score in the first half in the 9th Region Quarterfinal game against Conner.

The luck of the draw for the 9th Region Quarterfinals had not been on their side these last two years.

The Highlands Bluebirds girls basketball team (24-8 overall) has won 20-plus games in six straight seasons consistently challenging for the 9th Region crown. But it always seems like there is one or two teams that are a little better than the Bluebirds.

Fourth Straight District Crown for Bluebirds

Defense Paves Way for Highlands Win

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. The Highlands girls basketball team hoists the 36th District championship trophy Thursday. The Bluebirds beat Newport Central Catholic, 47-31 for their fourth straight district title Thursday at home.

Senior guard Brooke Dill stepped up the ladder to cut the net celebrating yet another 36th District championship.

But this trip up the ladder carried something bigger than the previous ones because it meant something that had not happened in 17 years just took place for Dill and the Highlands Bluebirds girls basketball team (24-7 overall). The 47-31 victory over the Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds (11-17) gave the Bluebirds their fourth straight district championship and fifth in the last six years Thursday in Fort Thomas.

Thoroughbreds Escape Bluebirds, 61-59

NewCath has won 16 Straight against Bluebirds

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands senior Tyler Gulley (center) dunks the ball in the first quarter of the 36th District semifinal game against Newport Central Catholic.

Junior Alex Starkey took the ball and turned around deep outside the left wing.

The Highlands guard knew a big shot stood between the Bluebirds advancing to the 36th District boys basketball championship game or seeing the season end. It didn't come down to that play, but the long shot came up short as the visiting and eight-time defending champion Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds (15-11 overall) escaped with a 61-59 district semifinal win over the Bluebirds (13-15).

Bluebirds Cruise to District Championship Game

Highlands to Face NewCath in 36th Title Game

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands junior Zoie Barth (10) goes down the middle against Dayton in the 36th District semifinals Tuesday.

It almost seems automatic for the Blue and White because it has been rare for it not to happen.

But the Highlands Bluebirds girls basketball team (23-7 overall) came into the post-season fully aware that upsets do happen. But Highlands made sure that did not happen on its home court scoring 11 points in the final 2:30 of the first quarter and cruising to a sound 69-35 36th District semifinal win over the Dayton Lady Devils (14-17) on Tuesday.

Bluebirds Split with Beechwood

Highlands Girls Hoops Hangs On for Region Win

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands freshman Kenzie Nehus (3) makes a move toward the basket in a recent game. Highlands beat Beechwood, 42-39 on Friday to finish the regular season 22-7 overall.

The Blue and White know a game like Friday could mean the end of the season with the post-season on the horizon.

But the important thing is it came in the last game of the regular season and the Highlands Bluebirds girls basketball team (22-7 overall) came away with a 42-39 9th Region victory Friday in Fort Mitchell. The Bluebirds moved to 11-4 in region action with their 11th victory in 12 games and seventh straight win over the Lady Tigers (4-23) in seven seasons. Highlands also equaled the win totals of the last two seasons.

Bluebirds Build Momentum for Post-Season

Highlands Dominates Villa Madonna

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands senior Carl Schoellman poses with his parents for Senior Night on Thursday. Schoellman scored nine points in the team's 61-31 domination of Villa Madonna.

It was more than an expected domination for the Highlands Bluebirds boys basketball team.

The Bluebirds handled the Villa Madonna Blue Lightning, 61-31 in Fort Thomas on Thursday for the Senior Night win. They honored seniors Robby Gabbard, Tyler Gulley, Griffin Huber, Jacob Noe, Carl Schoellman and Adam Uhlenbrock before the game.

Monday Highlands Basketball Notes

Highlands Girls Record Huge Road Win

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands junior Hanna Buecker sets up for a shot in a recent game. Buecker scored 10 points in the big Bluebird 66-63 road win at Simon Kenton on Monday.

These two girls basketball programs have veteran head coaches and assistants that hold the players to high standards.

With everyone from the players at the lower levels to the administrators buying into those philosophies equaling solid alignments, it has led to a lot of success. So when they come together on the same court, it often makes for a great game and Monday's edition in Independence brought just that.

But the Highlands Bluebirds (21-7 overall) did enough to beat the Simon Kenton Lady Pioneers, 66-63 in non-region action. Highlands has won 10 of its last 11 games and beat Simon Kenton (15-9) for the first time in Independence since a 48-45 victory on Feb. 19, 2010 when Katie Allen, Bekah Towles and Hope Cutter were seniors. The home team proceeded to win the next six meetings until Simon Kenton came to Fort Thomas and recorded a 73-30 win.

Highlands High, Middle School Weekend Notes

Highlands Cheerleading Squad Places High in Nationals; Hoops Squads Post 9th Region Wins

Contributed Photo. The Highlands cheerleading squad placed 11th out of 41 teams in the Universal Cheerleading Association Nationals on Saturday in Orlando.

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands senior forward Adam Uhlenbrock puts up a shot in a recent game.

The Highlands competitive cheerleading squad made the most of its time in Orlando.

Highlands took 11th out of 41 teams in the nation at the Universal Cheerleading Association championships. The squad participated in the Small Varsity Co-Ed class that allows up to 20 individuals on the mat including no more than four boys.

Conner Ends Highlands Winning Streak

Bluebirds fall to 1-4 Against 33rd District

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands junior Ashley Hayes takes the ball strong to the rim in a recent game.

 The winning streak started after a loss to a 33rd District squad and ended the next time another one took the floor with the Highlands Bluebirds girls basketball team.
Highlands (19-7 overall) hoped to conclude the regular season without a loss at home. But the Conner Lady Cougars (18-7) came to Fort Thomas and beat the Bluebirds, 67-60 on a night the Bluebirds honored their lone senior in guard Brooke Dill.

Another Huge Road Region Win for Bluebirds

Highlands Wins at Holmes for First Time Since 2012

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands junior Chloe Jansen boxes out in a recent game. Jansen had nine points and 10 rebounds as the Bluebirds won their eighth straight, 44-40 at Holmes on Tuesday.

The visitors did not need to be told how successful the hosts had been over the last several seasons.

The Covington Holmes Lady Bulldogs had won at least 29 games in each of the previous three seasons going a combined 88-14 and winning the last two 9th Region championships. Holmes lost to 11th Region champion Franklin County, 51-36 in the state semifinals down the road at BB&T Arena in Highland Heights and to 12th Region champion Mercer County, 59-55 in the state quarterfinals in 2016.

But last year, Highlands (19-6 overall) beat Holmes, 62-49 in Fort Thomas to snap the Lady Bulldogs' 27-game winning streak against 9th Region competition and hoped for another big win this time around. The Bluebirds again made the plays down the stretch to hold off the Lady Bulldogs (14-7) by a 44-40 count Tuesday.

Bluebirds Fall to Camels

Huge Deficit Too Much to Overcome for Hosts

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands students played the NKY Special Olympics Team called the Northern Kentucky Phantoms in between the junior varsity and varsity games against Campbell County on Saturday.

The Highlands Bluebirds boys basketball team (11-12 overall) came within five in the fourth quarter, but could not pull off the huge win over the Campbell County Camels (20-4) losing 73-54 in Fort Thomas on Saturday.

Bluebirds Keep Winning Streaks Alive

Highlands Escapes Dixie Heights with Seventh Straight Win

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands sophomore Piper Macke puts up a free throw in a recent junior varsity game. Macke saw her first varsity action in the 54-51 Highlands win at Dixie Heights on Friday after being declared eligible for varsity action Friday afternoon.

The winning streak is still intact for the Highlands Bluebirds girls basketball team.

But it came by nearly the slimmest margin possible. Highlands (18-6 overall) won its seventh in a row with a 54-51 victory over the host Dixie Heights Lady Colonels (17-7) Friday despite not playing its best basketball. The Bluebirds moved to 8-3 in 9th Region play with their 12th straight win in the series against Dixie Heights.

Highlands Middle School Notes

HMS Cheer Takes 2nd in NKCCA Event

Contributed Photo. The Highlands Middle School team finished runner-up out of 44 high school and middle school squads in the NKCCA competition at Boone County.

The Highlands Middle School Competition Cheer squad finished runner-up in the 28th annual Northern Kentucky Cheerleading Coaches Association competition at Boone County on Saturday.