Highlands handles Bellevue, 67-23

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The Highlands Ladybirds basketball team took balance to a higher level on Saturday in a sound 67-23 thrashing of the Bellevue Lady Tigers in 36th District action.

The starters played into the second quarter in the victory before giving way to the reserves. Fifteen different players scored in the victory that kept the Ladybirds perfect at 7-0 overall, 4-0 against Campbell County opponents and 2-0 in district action.

Brianna Adler again led Highlands with nine points. She made all four field-goal attempts and had three steals. Haley Coffey, McKenzie Leigh, Zoie Barth and Kiersten Clukey scored eight points each.

Highlands committed just three turnovers in the win and forced 21 including 15 steals. Adler, Barth and Whitney Quillen had three. Quillen added three assists.

Highands scored an astounding 1.42 points per possession to .53 for Bellevue. The Ladybirds hit 28-of-59 shots for 48 percent including 6-of-20 three-point tries for 30 percent. The Lady Tigers made 10-of-27 shots for 37 percent including 3-of-13 for 23 percent.

Bellevue (4-3) saw one player reach double digits in scoring. That was Kira Ross with 10 points.

Highlands plays in the LaRosa’s Holiday Classic starting Monday. The Ladybirds face Boyle County at 2:30 p.m.

Basketball, Boys:

Bishop Brossart 59, Highlands 50:

The Bluebirds fell to 0-3 with the road loss. Parker Harris had 13 points for Highlands and Mitch Cain scored 12.

Highlands travels to Walton-Verona on Tuesday. Game time is 2:30 p.m.

Louisville Doss 66, Newport Central Catholic 63:

The Thoroughbreds (3-1) lost their first game of the King of the Bluegrass Tournament at Louisville Fairdale.

Drew McDonald led NewCath with 18 points and 13 rebounds for a double-double. Ben Weyer followed with 17 points and eight rebounds with Zack Pangallo tallying 12 points.

The Thoroughbreds take on Bardstown on Sunday. Game time is 6 p.m.

Basketball, Girls:

NewCath drops two:

The Thoroughbreds (5-3) dropped both games in the Republic Bank Classic at Lexington Catholic. They lost to Warren Central, 63-56 then Caverna, 63-57.

NewCath faces Betsy Layne at 2:30 p.m. Sunday.