Notre Dame bests Highlands girls; NC-CovCath boys game suspended

G. Michael Graham. Highlands point guard Haley Coffey brings the ball upcourt in Friday's game against Notre Dame. The Pandas won the 2013 9th Region title game rematch, 67-59.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

A couple big things needed to happen for the Highlands Bluebirds girls basketball team to pull off another big win.

They did not allowing the Notre Dame Pandas to leave Fort Thomas with a 67-59 9th Region win Friday. This game marked the first meeting since the 9th Region title game at Northern Kentucky University in March that the Pandas won 63-44 on March 4, 2013. Notre Dame finished state runner-up last year before Head Coach Nicole Levandusky left for Cooper.

Highlands needed to control the rebounding. Notre Dame won that battle 31-25 including 20-11 on the defensive glass.

“We talked before the game about how we really had to limit their shots,” said Jaime Walz-Richey, Highlands Head Coach. “(Notre Dame) did a good job crashing the boards. They had a lot of offensive putbacks. It was like they wanted it more and they stood and watched it.”

The Bluebirds also needed to hit a good amount of three-point shots because the Pandas had a size and length advantage. Highlands made just 5-of-20 three-point shots for 25 percent.

Highlands (11-3) came into the game on a three-game winning streak. But Notre Dame (8-5) entered on a three-game losing streak after losing 63-53 to Holmes on Wednesday.

“We’re a young team and we just have to learn from it,” Richey said. “It’s about getting better. As a team, we felt we didn’t get better. We have a huge stretch of games where we have to get better each game. We felt we went backwards for a stretch. But you have to give Notre Dame credit. (The Pandas) played a great game.”

First-year Head Coach Wyatt Foust’s crew played without three players including starting guard Elly Ogle. Notre Dame also didn’t know if Paige Kellam would play. Kellam led the way with 19 points making 9-of-13 free throws.

“We played scared and on our heels against Holmes,” Foust said. “We weren’t going to let that happen again. We didn’t know if (Kellam) would play at Noon. She stayed on the attack the whole game. That was a great turnaround to have her in the capacity we had her.”

The Pandas saw four players reach double-digits. Hillary Hellmann followed Kellam with 17 points with post Haylee Smith and Sydney Stallman scoring 12 and 10 respectively.

“We were able to go in and out of their zone and get different lineups in to combat their speed,” Foust said. “They played mostly guards. They made a lot of shots. They’re too good of a shooting team. But that’s the kind of defense we can play.”

Despite the loss, Highlands saw three players reach double-digits. Lydia Graves made 3-of-5 three-point tries on her way to 16 points. Posts McKenzie Leigh and Alex Combs followed with 11 each.

The teams combined for 44 fouls. Combs and Briana Adler fouled out for Highlands while four finished with four fouls for the Pandas. Highlands made 22-of-30 free throws for 73 percent and Notre Dame hit 16-of-23 for 70 percent.

Notre Dame made 24-of-43 shots for 56 percent and Highlands hit 16-of-48 for 33 percent. The Pandas made 3-of-6 three-point tries for 50 percent.

Notre Dame used a 10-0 run in the first quarter to go ahead for good. The Pandas led 34-27 at halftime.

Highlands travels to Cooper (7-6) on Tuesday. Game time is 7:30 p.m.

Basketball, Boys:

NC, CovCath Game Suspended:

The big showdown in Park Hills between 9th Region contenders Newport Central Catholic and Covington Catholic was called at halftime because of condensation on the CovCath floor.

The undefeated Colonels led 32-27 at halftime. Drew McDonald had 10 points to lead the Thoroughbreds and Tanner Moeves had eight.

Nick Ruthsatz led the Colonels with 12 points and Bo Schuh pitched in with seven.

The Thoroughbreds travel to Lloyd Memorial on Wednesday. Game time is 7:30 p.m.