Highlands Weekend Notes

Highlands Freshman Girls Hoops Player Receives First College Offer

Highlands freshman 6-foot-2-inch post Marissa Green (right) recently received an offer from Morehead State.

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Standing at 6-feet-2-inches, Highlands Bluebirds freshman girls basketball player Marissa Green caught the eyes of the Morehead State University coaching staff at a camp this summer.

That turned into a scholarship offer from the Ohio Valley Conference school. The Head Coach is Cayla Petree. But Highlands Head Coach Jaime Walz-Richey said the hope is that is the first of many more offers.

Green saw action in 15 games last year. She scored 34 points and nabbed 24 rebounds.

"She's put in a lot of work since our season ended in March," Richey said. "She just has to continue to get better. We have to continue to work on her post moves and continue to work on her overall game so she can get to where she wants to be."

Highlands finished 20-7 last year winning a seventh straight 36th District Tournament championship. The Bluebirds lost 54-42 to eventual 9th Region champion Dixie Heights in the region semifinals. Highlands graduated five seniors from that team meaning the team will need the likes of Green, junior point guard Alyssa Harris, sophomore guard Laney Smith and senior center CC Shick to pick up their game.

"We just need to work together to build the team back up and we'll be good," Green said. "We've been in the gym a lot. We'll see improvement. But we need more improvement as the days go by."

Green could form a nice combination in the post with Shick. Green said she's been working on her rebounding and blocking shots.

"If you put the work in, then you'll see the goal achieved," Green said. "I hope to be more explosive. I need to jump more and grab the ball out of the air. You have to get in there and be aggressive."

The first basketball practices begin Oct. 15. The first game listed on the schedule is Dec. 2 against Dixie Heights at 7 p.m.

Sphire, Local Connections at College, Pro Levels:

Cincinnati Bengals Tight End C.J. Uzomah played for Highlands Head Coach Bob Sphire during his time at North Gwinnett. Sphire coached there from 2006 until 2016 after leading Lexington Catholic to the Class AAA state championship in 2005.

Uzomah is in his seventh season for the Bengals after playing college football at Auburn University. He had two catches for 35 yards including a 32-yard reception helping the Bengals to a 27-24 win over Minnesota to open the season.

"Other than injuries which are part of the game, he's done a great job in the NFL," Sphire said. "He did a great job at Auburn and he obviously did a great job for us. That's always exciting to see your guys have success and be solid people in the community, which I know he is."

Sphire served as the head coach at Camden County in southeast Georgia between 2016 and 2020. University of Cincinnati Bearcats defensive lineman Myjai Sanders played for Sphire during that time.

Sanders has one solo and four assisted tackles for the 3-0 Bearcats this season and four quarterback hurries. The nationally-ranked Bearcats defeated Indiana University, 38-24 in Bloomington on Saturday.

Class 5A, District 5 Results:

The district finished 2-2 on Friday. Undefeated 5-0 and defending Class 2A state champion Beechwood knocked off Covington Catholic (2-3), 27-7 in Fort Mitchell.

Conner took down Campbell County, 38-7 on Friday. The Camels are 0-3 against the district. Cooper had its bye week and Boone County (3-2) downed Walton-Verona, 21-13 on the road.

Scouting Dixie Heights:

Highlands faces the Colonels (2-2) in Crestview Hills in the final non-district game Friday at 7 p.m. The teams did not play each other the last two years.