Highlands Dominates Non-Region Game

Bluebirds Win 10th of Season

Highlands junior post Rory O'Hara (right) goes up for the tip in a recent game.

The Highlands Bluebirds girls basketball team (10-6 overall) started its first of three games in three days with a convincing 63-31 victory over the Grant County Lady Braves (11-10) at Russell Bridges Gym on Thursday.

The Bluebirds saw 10 players score in the victory. Senior guard Piper Macke again led Highlands with 16 points making 6-of-7 field goals and senior guard Maggie Hinegardner scored 12.

Highlands made 21-of-40 shots for 53 percent including 10-of-18 from three-point range for 56 percent and 11-of-13 free throws for 85 percent. The Bluebirds also had 27 rebounds, eight fouls, six turnovers, 13 assists, two blocked shots and two steals.

Junior guard Emma Riccobene and junior post Rory O'Hara had five rebounds each for the Bluebirds and junior forward Kelsey Listerman had five assists. Sophomore guard Anna Greenwell had two blocked shots with senior forward Meghan Walz recording six points, two assists, four rebounds and a steal.

"I think we went 1-0 off the court and on the court," Riccobene said. "On the court in the first half, our defense was amazing. Then we ran our offensive sets really, really well and we got points on the board early on. With the bench communicating to the players that were on the court, it gave us some help mentally and physically."

Grant County saw eight different players, but no one scored in double figures. The Lady Braves made 11-of-37 shots for 30 percent including 5-of-18 from three-point range for 28 percent and 4-of-6 free throws for 67 percent. Grant County also had 15 rebounds, eight fouls, 12 turnovers, two assists, three blocked shots and one steal.

Highlands plays travels to Newport (2-21) on Friday. Game time is 6 p.m.