Bluebirds Win Fourth Straight |
| PHOTO: Bob Jackson. Highlands junior Piper Macke fires a shot in a recent game. |
Highlands has won four in a row and Notre Dame has dropped four straight. The Bluebirds moved to 6-2 in region play and the Pandas fell to 4-4.
"In the second half, we started playing better defense and rebounded the ball on the defensive side," said Jaime Walz-Richey, Highlands Head Coach. "Notre Dame is a very scrappy team that goes after every loose ball and rebound."
Highlands has won three straight in the series. The Pandas are under the direction of first-year Head Coach Kes Murphy. Murphy guided the 35th District rival Covington Holy Cross Indians to the state championship in 2015. Notre Dame last made the 9th Region Tournament in 2014.
Highlands senior guard Zoie Barth again led the way with 23 points making four three-pointers and 7-of-8 free throws. Barth also had five steals, four assists and three rebounds. Junior Piper Macke followed with 13 points making two three-pointers and recording three steals.
But senior Chloe Jansen and sophomore Rory O'Hara almost hit double figures scoring nine and eight points respectively for the Bluebirds. Jansen also had five rebounds, four assists and four steals. O'Hara had a team-high seven rebounds as Highlands won that battle, 30-25. O'Hara also had three steals.
Highlands made 18-of-52 shots for 35 percent including 8-of-22 three-point shots for 37 percent and 15-of-20 free throws for 75 percent. The Bluebirds also had nine assists, one blocked shot, 17 steals, 15 fouls and 10 turnovers.
"It's more fun when everyone gets a chance to score," Jansen said. "You have to see what the other team's defense is, but personally I'd rather have an assist than have points on the stat sheet. Whenever the extra pass is there, I will pass it for the open shot."
Senior guard Danielle Rennekamp led the Pandas with 19 points. Notre Dame made 12-of-35 shots for 34 percent including 5-of-14 three-point tries for 36 percent and 4-of-7 free throws for 57 percent. The Pandas also had four assists, no blocked shots, three steals, 25 turnovers and 17 fouls.
The Bluebirds play host to Bellevue on Thursday in 36th District action. Game time is 7:30 p.m.
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