Highlands girls, boys; NCC boys post victories

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The Highlands Ladybirds basketball team won its fourth straight Saturday with a 51-37 home victory over the Cooper Lady Jaguars.

Highlands moved to 5-2 and Cooper fell to 6-3. The Lady Jags had won two in a row entering the contest. Highlands moved to 5-0 at home and 3-0 against 9th Region opponents.

Freshman guard Hayley Coffey led the Ladybirds with 16 points. But Highlands again had contributions from many players as nine different players scored. Vanessa Fisse made two three-pointers on her way to eight points and Alex Combs made the other on her way to seven points. The Ladybirds made 18-of-46 shots for 39 percent and 12-of-19 free throws for 63 percent.

Highlands played without injured seniors Leah Schaefer and Emilie Parton. Schaefer, a Xavier University signee, sprained her right ankle in the win over Bishop Brossart. But she is back walking and is expected to return for the Christmas tournaments.

On the other side, the Lady Jaguars made 13-of-42 shots for 30 percent and 9-of-14 free throws for 64 percent. Paige Ross led Cooper with 10 points.

Highlands continues action Thursday in the Sam Swope Queen of the Bluegrass Holiday Classic at 8:15 p.m. at defending state champion Louisville DuPont Manual (4-1). The Ladybirds face either Frankfort (4-1) or the hosts who play Wednesday.

Highlands boys 57, Bracken County 53

The Bluebirds earned their first road win of the season Saturday in Brooksville.

Junior Drew Houliston again led Highlands with 17 points. Teammates Bailey Witte and Nick True contributed 14 and 10 respectively.

“We grabbed the lead from the beginning,” said Mike Flynn, Highlands head coach. “It got close a couple times, but we held on.”

The Bluebirds moved to 3-2 on the young season while the Polar Bears fell to 2-3. Highlands moved to 1-2 on the road and snapped a two-game losing streak with the victory.

The Bluebirds do not play again until Thursday. They take on the Jeffersontown Chargers (2-4) at 9 p.m. in the Woodford County Invitational in Versailles.

Newport Central Catholic boys 63, Louisville Christian Academy 34

The Thoroughbreds stayed undefeated at 6-0 with a thrashing of the visiting Centurions (6-2).

Drew McDonald led NewCath with 18 points and Jake Schulte had 10. McDonald has scored 40 points in two games and Schulte has scored 24.

NewCath plays host to Lloyd Memorial (2-4) on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.