Highlands Takes Down Anderson

Bluebirds One Win Shy of Last Year's Total

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands senior Robby Gabbard makes a move in the air in a recent game. Gabbard scored 13 and grabbed six rebounds to help the Bluebirds to a 48-38 win over Cincinnati Anderson on Tuesday.

It is clear the Highlands Bluebirds boys basketball team still has a lot to play for.

The Covington Catholic Colonels hit them hard in a 71-25 loss Monday on the road. But the Bluebirds bounced right back and defeated 7-10 Cincinnati Anderson, 48-38 to move back to .500 on the season at 11-11 overall. Highlands is one win shy of last season's total.

"We talked a lot in the locker room before the game (Tuesday) about character," said Kevin Listerman, Highlands Head Coach. "In life, you're going to get knocked down. You're going to have bad days. What matters is what you do the next day when the sun comes up. We preached to the kids about being very solid, being focused and playing for each other. We did a very good job of that."

Highlands senior guard Jacob Noe had 15 points and senior point guard Robby Gabbard scored 13. The Bluebirds hit 17-of-38 shots from the floor for 45 percent including 4-of-8 from three-point range for 50 percent. Highlands also made 10-of-18 free throws for 56 percent.

The Bluebirds held Anderson to 15-of-43 from the floor for 35 percent including 4-of-17 from three-point range for 24 percent. Anderson also made just 4-of-8 free throws for 50 percent.

"We did a really well in our zone," Noe said. "It's probably our best game we've played with the 2-3 zone we put in a couple weeks ago. We switched it up to man then back to zone. I think it kind of messed them up because they didn't know what was coming."

Highlands won the rebounding battle, 30-27. Gabbard led the way there with six rebounds.

"We kind of got to get a rhythm in terms of our rotation and our personnel," Listerman said. "That's what we're going to be really focused on now that we've got Ben (Sisson) back and how those pieces kind of reshuffle themselves. We have to get comfortable playing multiple defenses and we have to get comfortable with multiple personnel groups on the offensive side as well."

The Bluebirds play host to Campbell County on Saturday. Game time is 7:30 p.m.