Bluebirds Win 14th of Season

Highlands Pulls Away from Anderson in Second Half

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham. Highlands senior Jack Hegge brings the ball up-court in a recent game.

The Highlands Bluebirds boys basketball team (14-9 overall) had a chance to set a new mark for most wins in a season since Head Coach Kevin Listerman took over in 2013 on the road Tuesday.

They pulled away in the second half to do just that with a 72-42 victory over Cincinnati Anderson. Highlands finished 13-15 last year and last won 14 games in a season during the 2010-11 campaign going 14-16. Highlands led 31-28 at halftime.

"We really played phenomenal team defense in the second half," Listerman said. "We made an adjustment and switched all the screens in their motion and flex (sets) and really caused their three-point shooters problems. We really didn't give them any good looks until late in the second half."

Highlands Completes District Seed Play with Convincing Win

Bluebirds Equal Last Year's Win Total

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham. Highlands post Ben Sisson goes up for a shot against Newport Central Catholic on Tuesday.

The win Tuesday was a nice win.

But the Highlands Bluebirds boys basketball team (13-9 overall) quickly went back to work Wednesday preparing for an equally important 36th District game against the Bellevue Tigers (6-15) on Saturday. Highlands matched the most wins in a season since Kevin Listerman became head coach in 2013 with a sound 68-47 home win. The Bluebirds finished 13-15 last year.

"We talked about that immediately following the game. We got into our regular routine," Listerman said. "The hardest thing is to maintain that level of focus and execution for an extended period of time and we talked about how important it is to strive for that. I felt for the most part we did a pretty good job (Saturday), especially on the offensive end. I thought we did a good job of moving the basketball and finding the open guy."

Highlands Finishes District Play with Convincing Win

Bluebirds Earn 20th Win of Season

PHOTO: Bob Jackson. Highlands senior Zoie Barth shoots a jumper in a recent game.

The Highlands Bluebirds girls basketball team (20-4 overall) will be the undisputed top seed in the 36th District Tournament once again.

Highlands has not lost a district seed game since the district went to that format before the 2013-14 season. The Bluebirds finished off seed play Friday with a convincing 67-25 win over the winless Newport Ladycats (0-19). Newport's first-year head coach is 2008 Highlands graduate Alex Adler.

Highlands One Win from 20th of Season

Bluebirds Hit Record 20 Three-Pointers in District Victory

PHOTO: Bob Jackson. Highlands junior Rylee Thomas (22) goes up for a shot in a recent game.

The Highlands Bluebirds girls basketball team (19-4 overall) once again overwhelmed a 36th District opponent extending the winning streak against district opponents to 27 straight.

Highlands led the Bellevue Tigers (11-9), 29-11 after one quarter and 56-22 at halftime on its way to a 94-41 victory. That is the season-high in points and the most lopsided win of the season. Bellevue's head coach is Tommy Sorrell.

Highlands Pulls Away from Another Rival

 Bluebirds Win Fourth Straight

PHOTO: Bob Jackson. Highlands junior Piper Macke fires a shot in a recent game.

The Highlands Bluebirds girls basketball team (18-4 overall) pulled away from the rival Notre Dame Pandas (12-7) in the second half for a 59-33 9th Region road victory Monday.

Highlands has won four in a row and Notre Dame has dropped four straight. The Bluebirds moved to 6-2 in region play and the Pandas fell to 4-4.

"In the second half, we started playing better defense and rebounded the ball on the defensive side," said Jaime Walz-Richey, Highlands Head Coach. "Notre Dame is a very scrappy team that goes after every loose ball and rebound."

Friday Highlands Hoops Round-Up: Bluebirds End Another 9th Region Losing Skid

Highlands Girls Take Care of Campbell County

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham. The Highlands players prepare to take the floor in a recent game.

Not only did the Highlands Bluebirds boys basketball team (11-9 overall) end another long losing streak against a 9th Region opponent, the Blue and White left no doubt in Fort Thomas.

Highlands led the 6-13 Dixie Heights Colonels, 42-24 at halftime and extended it to 63-32 entering the third quarter on its way to a 70-47 victory. Highlands snapped an eight-game losing streak against Dixie Heights dating back to Dec. 15, 2009 when the Bluebirds beat the Colonels, 48-39 in Fort Thomas.

"We know as a team, we have a lot of potential," said Jack Delagrange, Highlands junior. "It gives us the motivation to step up and change what's been happening these last 10 years."

Bluebirds Handle Lady Jaguars

Highlands Pulls Away in Middle Two Quarters

PHOTO: Bob Jackson. Highlands freshman Anna Greenwell (left) drives to the bucket in a recent game. Greenwell scored nine points in the 79-47 win over Cooper on Thursday.

After one quarter, the heavily-favored host Highlands Bluebirds girls basketball team (16-4 overall) led just 20-17 over the young Cooper Lady Jaguars (2-14).

But the Bluebirds turned the intensity up in the next two quarters and pulled away for a 79-47 9th Region victory. Highlands moved to 5-2 against region opponents. The Bluebirds led 48-27 at halftime and 68-36 entering the fourth quarter.