Saturday Round-Up: Bluebirds Win Second Straight Swimming, Diving Region Crown

Highlands Girls Hoops Defeats Scott Again

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham, Fort Thomas Matters. Highlands senior guard Chloe Jansen starts a play in a recent game.

The Highlands Bluebirds girls basketball team originally had a game scheduled Friday at Conner.

But Conner had to make up a 33rd District game against Ryle. But Highlands (24-4 overall) found a rematch against the Scott Lady Eagles instead winning it by a 70-51 score in Taylor Mill on Saturday for a 10th straight win equaling last year's win total.

The Bluebirds handled Scott, 75-46 in Fort Thomas on Dec. 18. Scott fell to 20-9 overall.

But Highlands learned a lesson on how teams improve as the season progresses. The Bluebirds led just 49-41 entering the fourth quarter before pulling away.

"We wanted to play this game. Thankfully, Scott needed a game also and (Scott Head Coach) Rhonda (Klette) was willing to play us again," said Jaime Walz-Richey, Highlands Head Coach. "Games are where we learn things. We had an opportunity to get better. We'll watch film and look at the things we have to do better before the postseason starts."

Senior guard Zoie Barth again led Highlands with 24 points making 9-of-16 shots and all five free throws. She also had four assists and two steals.

Junior Maggie Hinegardner and sophomore Rory O'Hara followed with 10 points each for the Bluebirds. Sophomore Emma Riccobene had eight points.

"I definitely think it's part confidence," Riccobene said. "But I think some people get down because (Saturday), we didn't have a lot of energy. We need to have people who don't normally step up, step up and get everyone going again. Scott got better. But we didn't play as well as we normally do (Saturday)."

The Bluebirds made 26-of-50 shots for 52 percent including 5-of-17 three-point tries for 29 percent and 13-of-14 free throws for 93 percent. Highlands also won the rebounding battle, 26-16 and recorded 11 assists, 13 steals, 14 turnovers and 14 fouls. Neither team had any blocked shots. Senior Chloe Jansen had eight rebounds and three steals with junior Piper Macke recording five steals and three assists.

Scott made 19-of-36 shots for 53 percent including 1-of-5 triples for 20 percent and 12-of-15 free throws for 80 percent. The Lady Eagles also had 11 assists, eight steals, 21 turnovers and 14 fouls.

The Lady Eagles saw four players score in double figures. Sophomore Sofia Allen led Scott with 14 points and senior Summer Secrist scored 14. Eighth grader Ava Coleman and senior Emma Profitt added 11 each.

"They have some girls that can put the ball in the basket," Richey said. "In the first half, we struggled with that. We talked at halftime about who we wanted to shoot and who we couldn't allow get the ball and we did a much better job."

Highlands takes on Simon Kenton (17-9) on Tuesday in Fort Thomas. Game time is 7:30 p.m.

Swimming, Diving:
Highlands Boys, Combined Teams Win Region:

The Region 7 meet took place at Silverlake in Erlanger. The Highlands boys won the region for the second straight year with 546 points and the combined teams won region for the eighth straight year with 859 points.

The Highlands boys won the 200-yard relay in one minute, 37.62 seconds. Seniors Brendan Conley, Jake Ryan and sophomores Will Griffith and Jack Banks swam on that relay. Banks also took second in the 100 Breaststroke in 57.2 seconds.

Conley won the 200 Free in 1:42.38 and Banks won the 100 Butterfly in 51.32. Conley also finished second in the 500 Free in 4:43.45.

Sophomore Mac Russell won the 50 Free in 21.53 seconds and Ryan finished second in 22.24. Russell also won the 100 Free in 46.87 seconds with Ryan and Griffith finishing second and third in 48.89 and 50.41 respectively. Russell, Griffith, Ryan and freshman Sam Jones helped the 200 Freestyle Relay team to a victory in 1:29.7. Russell, Banks, Griffith and Conley helped the 400 Free relay team to victory in 3:13.19.

The Highlands girls finished third with 313 points. Notre Dame won the region again with 406.5 points.

Junior Caroline Sand won the 100 Free in 51.77 second and took second in the 200 Freestyle in 1:54.11.

The state meet takes place Feb. 21-23 in Louisville. The site is the University of Louisville's swim facility.