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Friday, January 31, 2020

Bluebirds Earn Another Region Road Win

Highlands Takes Down Dixie Heights

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham, Fort Thomas Matters. Highlands junior Kelsey Listerman (20) looks to inbound the ball in a recent game.
The Highlands Bluebirds girls basketball team (14-7 overall) pulled away in the fourth quarter for a crucial 51-42 road 9th Region victory Friday over the host Dixie Heights Colonels (16-8).

Highlands moved to 7-1 in region play. The Bluebirds also avenged a 42-39 loss to Dixie Heights in the region semifinals last year.

Dixie Heights came into the game with a region-best 1,425 points scored on the season for an average of just under 62 points per game. The Colonels made just 16-of-51 shots for 31 percent including 7-of-25 from three-point range for 28 percent and 3-of-4 free throws for 75 percent.

Senior shooting guard Celia Pelfrey and junior point guard Sydney Lockard came into the game averaging 14 points per game for the Colonels. Highlands held Lockard to seven points and Pelfrey to six. Sophomore power forward Madelyn Lawson led Dixie Heights with 17 points.

"They knew that we had to know where Pelfrey was at all times," said Jaime Walz-Richey, Highlands Head Coach. "She's a great shooter. We just executed well. Dixie made a run at us and we just continued to battle defensively. That let our offense effect our defense."

Dixie Heights also had 28 rebounds, 17 fouls, 10 turnovers, seven assists and six steals. Lockard had seven rebounds.

On the other side, Highlands made 17-of-37 shots for 46 percent including 4-of-17 from three-point range for 24 percent and 13-of-18 free throws for 72 percent. The Bluebirds also had 30 rebounds, 11 fouls, nine turnovers, seven assists and seven steals.

Senior guard Maggie Hinegardner led the way for Highlands with 13 points and two assists. Senior guard Piper Macke added 11 points and junior forward Kelsey Listerman had 10 points and six rebounds.

"I think it was a huge confidence-booster not just for the fact that (the Colonels) are a great team, but it was also a game that really made up for last year," Macke said. "Losing in the semifinals of region was tough. It was definitely a night that we did not go 1-0 to say the least. It feels really good to have redeemed that in some aspects."

The Bluebirds travel to Boone County (9-11) on Saturday. Game time is 4 p.m.

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