Highlands Tries New Combinations in Convincing Win over Robertson County

Bluebirds Record Largest Margin of Victory This Season

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham, Fort Thomas Matters. Highlands junior forward Megan Calme looks to make a pass in the game against Robertson County on Thursday.

The Highlands Bluebirds girls basketball team knew this could be a game where many players could come in and develop as long the players did not fall into a huge temptation.

That's looking at the opponent and thinking, "Oh, they're no good. We can take the day off." That did not happen as the Bluebirds (4-5 overall) took care of the struggling Robertson County Lady Devils (0-11), 76-39 Thursday afternoon at Russell Bridges Gymnasium. It is the largest margin of victory for Highlands this season.

"That was my challenge before the game. We had to give effort every single time we stepped out onto the court," said Jaime Walz-Richey, Highlands Head Coach. "We have to go, go, go. We can't jog. We can't be loafing it. We have to play hard every single second we're out there and I thought the girls did an outstanding job of doing that."

Highlands took advantage of its athleticism finding a lot of easy paths to the basket as 10 different Bluebirds scored. Highlands made 32-of-67 shots for 48 percent including 5-of-22 from three-point range for 23 percent and 7-of-12 free throws for 58 percent.

"We've had a lot of practice time working on our skills just making sure the girls understand what our strength is," Richey said. "We have to be able to get the posts touches and let them kick it out before we just start shooting a bunch of threes."

Freshman 6-foot-2-inch center Marissa Green led the way with a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds. Senior guard Meg Gessner followed with 14 points and freshman forward Adrienne Harris scored 10. Sophomore center Kasey Gross, freshman guard Ellie Mohr and eighth grade guards Saylor Macke and Kaylee Mills scored seven points each.

Highlands had 31 rebounds, 18 assists, 19 steals and 11 turnovers. Gessner had a team-high four assists. Mills, Macke and sophomore guard Laney Smith had three steals each. Junior forward Megan Calme had six rebounds. The Bluebirds responded well when things did not go their way.

"Something we tell each other is forget and focus," Smith said. "Just go on with the play. It's how you respond to the play, not what happens on the play. So if you get blocked like I did a couple times, just get back on defense. That's what (Richey) teaches us and it works out well in games."

Highlands is almost healthy. Richey said the lone returning starter from last year in junior point guard Alyssa Harris has been cleared to resume some team activities and hopes to make her season debut soon. She also said junior guard Elie Walz will be returning soon as well.

But players such as Mohr have made the most of their opportunities to adjust to the varsity level. Mohr has seven made triples on the season, which is second behind Gessner's eight.

"It's really about reading the defense and everything being faster and stronger," Mohr said. "It was a hard adjustment, but we're growing. I'm really excited for Alyssa to be back. (Seeing shots go in) makes your confidence grow a lot. You kind of go on a run and your adrenaline goes. You want to keep going and shooting the ball."

Robertson County did see two players score in double figures making 4-of-7 free throws for 57 percent. Sophomore guards Krysta Hamm and Ruby Gay scored 13 and 11 points respectively. Hamm came in averaging 17.5 points per game and Gay averaged 12.2.

Robertson County has just one senior in power forward Abby Earlywine. The closest the Lady Devils have come to a win this year is a 65-57 loss at Augusta on Dec. 6.

Highlands led 15-7 after the first quarter and 39-19 at halftime. The Bluebirds enforced the running clock in the second half leading 64-28 entering the fourth quarter.

Highlands Girls Hoops Finishes Runner-Up at Assumption Tournament

Bluebirds Play Again in One Week

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham, Fort Thomas Matters. Highlands freshman Marissa Green (middle) gets in defensive position in a recent game.

The Highlands Bluebirds girls basketball team (3-5 overall) hoped to earn a holiday tournament championship days before Christmas.

But it did not happen. Highlands fell 52-27 against the Pikeville Lady Panthers (8-1). Pikeville has won three straight 15th Region championships.

Pikeville saw three players score in double figures making all four free throws. Sophomore Rylee Theiss led the way scoring 16 points with freshman Leighan Jackson and sophomore Kristen Whited scoring 10 each.

Highlands did not place anyone in double digits. Sophomore 6-foot-2-inch center Marissa Green led the way with eight points.

The Bluebirds made 10-of-45 shots for 22 percent including 2-of-17 from three-point range for 12 percent and 5-of-8 free throws for 63 percent. They also had eight steals, eight assists, 21 turnovers and 29 rebounds. Senior 6-1 center CC Shick had seven rebounds and senior guard Meg Gessner had seven rebounds and three steals. Eighth grade forward Katie Bucher had four assists.

Highlands Girls Earn Second Win

Bluebirds Roll Past Trimble County

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham, Fort Thomas Matters. Highlands eighth grade point guard Kaylee Mills (3) dribbles in position in a recent game.

The Highlands Bluebirds girls basketball team (2-4 overall) earned a win in its first game in 10 days.

The Bluebirds defeated the Trimble County Lady Raiders (1-7), 56-36 to open the Assumption Rockets Christmas Tournament in Louisville. It also marked the first win of the season for Highlands against a Kentucky opponent.

Highlands saw seven different players score. Freshman 6-foot-2-inch center Marissa Green scored a career-high 26 points making 12-of-21 shots and both free throws to go with 13 rebounds for a double-double along with two assists and two steals. Senior center CC Shick and sophomore center Kasey Gross followed with eight points and seven rebounds each.

"That's what we challenge them with every day. If it's a game or a practice, we have to get better every day individually and as a team," said Jaime Walz-Richey, Highlands Head Coach. "One thing we've been stressing is that we have to be able to get the ball to our post players. We did a much better job of that and you can see they scored a lot of points for us."

The Bluebirds received a nice boost from eighth grade guard Natalie Hinegardner. She made two triples for six points and nine rebounds.

"I think for the younger players at least for me (seeing the ball go through the hoop) brings more confidence in how I will play most of the game," Hinegardner said. "If I miss a shot, I'll probably be mad at myself. But if I make it, I will be like, 'Hey. I got this. This is how I've been playing my whole entire life. If I miss it, I usually focus on getting the rebound. If I don't get the rebound then I'll just focus on making a good play on defense to counter the missed shot."

Highlands made 25-of-73 shots for 34 percent including 3-of-14 from three-point range for 21 percent and 3-of-4 free throws for 75 percent. The Bluebirds also had 53 rebounds, 15 assists, 12 steals and 10 turnovers. Senior guard Meg Gessner had four assists and three steals.

Trimble County saw six different players score making both free throws. Sophomore Payton Butters led the way with nine.

Highlands Saturday Results

Bluebirds Hang Tough for Three Quarters

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham, Fort Thomas Matters. Highlands senior center CC Shck gets in defensive position in a recent game.

The Highlands Bluebirds girls basketball team (1-4 overall) stayed with the host Covington Holy Cross Indians (3-3) through three quarters before the Indians pulled away for a 57-29 victory.

Highlands is 0-3 against 9th Region opponents. Holy Cross is 1-2.

The Indians put 10 players in double figures. Junior guard Aleah Arlinghaus led the way with 15 and sophomore center/forward Julia Hunt scored 12.

Holy Cross made 25-of-61 shots for 41 percent including 5-of-30 from three-point range for 17 percent and 2-of-5 free throws for 40 percent. The Indians gathered 32 rebounds. Senior forward Hanna Robinson led the way with nine.

The Bluebirds saw eight different players score. Freshman 6-foot-2-inch center Marissa Green led the way with seven points and nine rebounds.

Highlands made 9-of-36 shots for 25 percent including 2-of-12 from three-point range for 17 percent and 9-of-13 free throws for 69 percent. The Bluebirds also had 28 rebounds.

The Bluebirds play in the Assumption Rockets Christmas Tournament in Louisville on Dec. 21 at 4:45 p.m. The opponent is Trimble County (0-4) from the 8th Region.

Thursday Highlands Round-Up

Highlands Girls Hoops Picks Up First Win of Season

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham, Fort Thomas Matters. Highlands eighth grader Katie Bucher (15) gets in defensive position in a recent game.

In a battle of two teams fighting for that first victory of the season, the Highlands Bluebirds (1-3) came away with a 43-36 victory over the visiting Cincinnati (Ohio) Mercy McAuley Wolves (0-5).

"I think it's going to take time. It's a marathon, not a sprint," said Jaime Walz-Richey, Highlands Head Coach. "I only have two girls playing right now that's played significant varsity minutes. We knew we'd have some lumps in the beginning just because of the injuries we're dealing with and our youth. We just have to keep getting better each day in practice and games."

Highlands saw eight different players score including sophomore guard Laney Smith, who made a triple. Smith hit the floor for the first time this year after seeing limited varsity action last year. Senior 6-foot-1-inch center CC Shick led Highlands with 10 points and eight rebounds.

The Bluebirds rebounded better this game with 43. Freshman 6-2 center Marissa Green nearly had a triple-double with 12 rebounds, nine blocked shots and nine points. Senior guard Meg Gessner had seven points and nine rebounds.

"We just remind (the younger players) before every game that it is a faster play, but don't be scared," Gessner said. "You can see it in their faces at times. (Some) are eighth graders. They're playing against juniors and seniors. We (upperclassmen) remind them it's okay to mess up. These games are just preparing us for districts and regionals."

Highlands made 13-of-38 shots for 34 percent including 3-of-12 three-point tries for 25 percent and 14-of-23 free throws for 61 percent. The Bluebirds also had eight assists, 10 steals and 33 turnovers. Shick had three assists and three steals.

Junior forward Izzy Rotert led Mercy McAuley with 13 points. The Wolves made just 6-of-12 free throws for 50 percent.

Highlands takes on Covington Holy Cross (2-2) on Saturday in Covington. Game time is 7:30 p.m.

Bowling, Co-Ed:

Highlands 4, Bishop Brossart 3:

The Bluebirds are 2-0 in Co-Ed matches this year edging Bishop Brossart at Bellewood Lanes. Kurrin Funk and senior Macy Hedenberg bowled the high games at 195 and 187 to lead the Bluebirds.

"For me personally, I think it just takes the first-game jitters out of me because my first game was a 124," Hedenberg said. "That's because I was thinking too much. In bowling, you can't think too much about it or you'll get in your head and start throwing gutter balls."

Seniors like Hedenberg, Chloe Bramble, Carissa Armstrong and Jade Rehberger are bowling for the first time this year. The four bowled together Thursday. Hedenberg said she played basketball with Armstrong and Rehberger in middle school and as freshmen. Hedenberg said they cheer each other on during the baker games.

Green Scores 20 in Highlands Girls Hoops Loss

Highlands Again Struggles from Outside

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham, Fort Thomas Matters. Highlands freshman Marissa Green (10) and senior CC Shick (25) get into defensive position in the game Monday against Owen County. Green scored 20 points in the Highlands loss.

Freshman 6-foot-2-inch center Marissa Green dazzled inside the paint on both ends, especially when she took the ball near the top of the paint and drove.

Green finished with 20 points making all four free throws. She also had a number of rebounds and blocks using her size along with senior 6-1 center CC Shick in the middle.

The issue for the Highlands Bluebirds girls basketball team (0-3 overall) is finding more help for Green. Shick scored four points as the next of seven scorers for the Bluebirds out of the 12 that played in a 52-37 loss to the Owen County Lady Rebels (2-1) at Russell Bridges Gym in Fort Thomas.

Highlands continued to struggle outside with inexperience. The other senior in guard Meg Gessner played for the first time Monday. The lone returning starter for the Bluebirds in junior point guard Alyssa Harris and sophomore guard Laney Smith were not able to play. Smith saw limited varsity action last year.

The Bluebirds made just two triples scoring the most points in a game this year. Gessner and freshman guard Ellie Mohr made one each. But they did make 7-of-8 free throws for 88 percent.

Owen County saw two players scoring in double figures. They were junior forward Gracie Ferguson with 20 and senior guard Lexie Moore with 14. The Lady Rebels made 8-of-10 free throws for 80 percent.

Highlands Girls Drop Another 9th Region Road Game

The Highlands Bluebirds girls basketball team (0-2 overall) once again struggled offensively on the 9th Region road Friday.

Highlands made just 8-of-36 shots for 22 percent including just 2-of-12 shots from three-point range for 16.7 percent in a 58-22 loss against the host Cooper Lady Jaguars (2-0). The Bluebirds also made just 4-of-10 free throws for 40 percent.

Senior center CC Shick led Highlands with 11 points making 4-of-5 shots. Freshman center Marissa Green followed with five points. Freshman guard Ellie Mohr and eighth grade forward Katie Bucher made one triple each for the other six Highlands points.

Highlands grabbed 33 rebounds. Green led the way with 10.

Thursday Highlands Round-Up

Highlands Girls Hoops Loses Season Opener

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham, Fort Thomas Matters. The Highlands girls basketball team lost its season-opening game Thursday.

The Highlands Bluebirds girls basketball team opened the season with a rough 62-22 defeat on the 9th Region road against the Dixie Heights Colonels (1-1 overall).

Freshman post Marissa Green led Highlands with eight points. Senior center CC Shick followed with six. They are the only two of 11 Bluebirds who saw action in the game that came into the season with any varsity experience.

The Bluebirds made just 9-of-31 shots for 29 percent including just 1-of-9 from three-point range for 11 percent. Highlands also made just 3-of-5 free throws for 60 percent.

Highlands recorded 22 rebounds. Green and Shick led the way with seven each.

Dixie Heights displayed balanced scoring with three in double figures. Senior Madelyn Lawson led the way with 18 points. Juniors Samantha Berman followed with 12 and Reese Smith scored 11.

The Colonels made 24-of-44 shots for 55 percent including 9-of-19 three-point tries for 47 percent and 5-of-9 free throws for 56 percent. Dixie Heights also nabbed 21 rebounds.

Highlands travels to Cooper (1-0) on Friday. Game time is 7:30 p.m.

Bowling:

Highlands Beats St. Henry in Co-Ed Match:

The Bluebirds won their first co-ed match of the season against St. Henry at the Bellewood Lanes. Dana Brown bowled a high game with a 178 and senior Jade Rehberger bowled a 167.