Bluebirds Move to Holiday Title Game

Highlands Earns Win Over Cooper

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands senior guard Brooke Dill (4) goes in for a shot while Cooper senior guard Lexi Held (10) pursues. Highlands advanced to the championship game of the LaRosa's Holiday Classic with a 68-57 victory over the Lady Jaguars. Highlands faces host Conner for the title at 3:30 p.m. Friday.

It was more about advancing to the championship game of the seventh annual LaRosa's Holiday Classic at Conner for the fourth time since its inception more than anything else.

But still, the Highlands Bluebirds girls basketball team (9-4 overall) can take satisfaction in knowing it accomplished something that did not happen in two games last year. Highlands beat the Cooper Lady Jaguars (5-9), 68-57 in the winner's bracket semi-finals on Thursday for its third straight win.

The Bluebirds battle the host Conner Lady Cougars (10-2) at 3:30 p.m. for the classic championship Friday. Highlands owns two championships in this classic in 2012 and 2015. The Bluebirds finished runner-up to Bishop Brossart in 2013. The Bluebirds took third in the classic last year.

Cooper eliminated Highlands, 77-62 in the 9th Region Quarterfinals last year before losing 58-52 to Covington Holmes in the region championship game. That Cooper squad finished 22-8 but has struggled some this year despite returning senior guard Lexi Held, a DePaul University commit.

Held scored 24 points on 10-of-17 shooting including one three-pointer to go with six rebounds, two steals, one block and one assist. Cooper junior guard Taylor Neltner added 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting with two three-point shots. But Highlands held Cooper senior guard Asyah Mitchell to seven points after she scored 15 in Cooper's 64-58 win over Franklin County on Wednesday on the first day of the classic.

Highlands again saw junior guard Zoie Barth have a big game with 27 points on 8-of-16 shooting with one three-pointer. Barth also hit all 10 free throws and recorded six rebounds, four assists and four steals.

But another Bluebird had another big scoring game in freshman post Rory O'Hara. She scored 20 on 6-of-11 shooting and making 8-of-9 free throws. O'Hara added four rebounds and an assist.

Highlands made great use of its trips to the free-throw line making 21-of-26 free throws for nearly 81 percent off 21 Cooper fouls. On the other side, the Lady Jaguars made 6-of-9 free throws for 67 percent off 13 Bluebird fouls. Neither team saw anyone foul out, but Cooper saw two players finish with four and Highlands had another finish with four.

"We're just trying to do what we can to win," said Kenzie Nehus, Highlands freshman guard. "Every time (out), we have to go in with a new game plan, but we still build upon what we've been doing well. It's a learning process."

Highlands made 23-of-46 shots for 50 percent including 1-of-8 from three-point range for 13 percent to go with 23 rebounds, 11 turnovers, nine assists, six steals and no blocked shots. Cooper hit 24-of-53 shots for 45 percent including 3-of-10 from three-point range for 30 percent to go with 32 rebounds, 17 turnovers, three assists, a blocked shot and eight steals.

Basketball, Boys:
Montgomery County 60, Highlands 47:

Highlands (4-6 overall) lost its second straight against the host Indians (5-5) to open the 11th Annual Gateway Holiday Classic.

Highland had no answer for Montgomery County junior guard Myron Ralls and junior forward Pharaoh Davis. Ralls made 6-of-12 shots including 3-of-7 three-point tries and 8-of-12 free throws on his way to 23 points and Davis hit 6-of-7 shots and 2-of-3 free throws for 14 points.

The Bluebirds saw 11 different players score. Senior guard Robby Gabbard led the way with 11 points and senior post Griffin Huber scored 10.

Montgomery County made 19-of-41 shots for 46 percent including 5-of-16 from three-point range for 31 percent and 17-of-26 free throws for 65 percent. The Indians also nabbed 35 rebounds to go with 11 rebounds, seven assists, nine turnovers, five blocked shots and a steal. Junior center/forward Will Cockrell led the Indians with 10 rebounds.

The Bluebirds made 19-of-55 shots for 35 percent including 4-of-17 from three-point range for 24 percent and 5-of-7 free throws for 71 percent. Highlands also had 25 rebounds, 20 fouls, 10 assists, three turnovers, a blocked shot and two steals. Senior Tyler Gulley had five rebounds to lead the Bluebirds.

Highlands takes on the Powell County Pirates (5-4) at 3:30 p.m. back in Mount Sterling on Friday.