Highlands falls at Brossart; NCC boys win, girls lose

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The Highlands Bluebirds basketball team fell to 2-2 with a 68-38 loss at undefeated Bishop Brossart (6-0) on Friday.

The Bluebirds fell behind 34-17 at halftime and never recovered. They are 0-2 away from Fort Thomas on the young season.

Highlands saw eight different players score. But none hit double-digits as Drew Houliston led the way with nine points and Jake Gronotte scored eight.

The Mustangs saw 10 player score. Justin Saunders led Bishop Brossart with 20 and Alex Trentman added 16.

Bishop Brossart hit five three-pointers and Highlands made two. Spencer Hackworth made two for the Mustangs with Trentman, Saunders and Austin Shannon all making one. Houliston and Luke Turner made one three-pointer a piece for the Bluebirds.

The Bluebirds head to Bracken County for a 3 p.m. contest today.

Newport Central Catholic boys 75, Glen Este 49:

The Thoroughbreds (5-0) stayed undefeated with a dominating win just across the Ohio River in Cincinnati on Friday.

NewCath pulled away in the second half. The Thoroughbreds outscored the Trojans, 49-22 during that time frame.

Sophomore Drew McDonald scored 22 points to lead the way for the Thoroughbreds. Teammates Jake Schulte and Michael Buetter followed with 14 and 13 points respectively.

Senior Austin Rieck scored a game-high 24 points for Glen Este. But no other teammate hit double-digits for the Trojans.

NewCath plays host to Louisville Christian Academy (6-1) at 4:30 p.m. today.

Boone County girls 45, Newport Central Catholic 37:

In a battle of two teams with the last four 9th Region championships, the Lady Rebels pulled away in the second half for the win.

NewCath junior forward Nikki Kiernan led the way with 21 points. She had 16 at halftime including the first eight of the game.

But Boone County took her out in the second half with a box-and-chase defense led by Alexis Switzer and Tennessee Tech recruit Jessica Jones. Jones and Switzer also ended up leading the Lady Rebels with 13 and 11 points respectively.

NewCath had been hitting shots from the outside. But that did not happen Friday. The Lady Breds made just 15-of-60 for 25 percent overall and just 3-for-23 for 13 percent from three-point range.

Kiernan made two three-pointers and Alexus Mayes had the other on her way to 13 points. But NewCath scored just three points by Stephanie Lewis outside Kiernan and Mayes. On the other side, Boone County saw six players score.

NewCath returns home Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. to face 6-1 Bishop Brossart. The Lady Mustangs’ lone loss came to Highlands.