Tuesday Highlands Results

Highlands Volleyball, Boys Soccer Beat Bishop Brossart

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham, Fort Thomas Matters. Highlands eighth grader Hayden Gessner gets in position in the win over Bishop Brossart on Tuesday.

Head Coach Katelyn Sallee had been wanting the Highlands Bluebirds volleyball team to finish matches sooner than going to fifth games.

The Bluebirds (3-1 overall) finished off the Bishop Brossart Lady 'Stangs (1-2) in the fewest games possible at 3-0 (25-7, 25-19, 25-10). Highlands has won three straight since opening the season with a home loss to Conner.

Highlands had to go five games in its first two wins over Campbell County and Beechwood. The loss to Conner ended in four games.

"Getting a taste of that (3-0) win is always good," Sallee said. "Then holding yourself to a standard is important. Once you've seen it in action, knowing what we need to do gets a little bit easier."

The Bluebirds had a good rhythm in the first and third games. But things did not go smooth in the second game.

"It's hard, especially in volleyball since it's such an emotionally attacking game," said Avery Cavacini, Highlands senior. "If you get down in any part or any aspect of the game, it's hard to come back. I think overall we did a pretty good job of lifting each other up throughout the points even when we made mistakes. It was great to see everyone have a good time."

Highlands had nine aces, 29 kills, 42 digs and two solo blocks. Senior CC Shick led Highlands with 13 kills. Senior Lauren Buemi had eight aces and Madison Clore recorded 14 digs.

All 16 players saw action in the game for the Bluebirds. That includes sophomore Annie Ellison and eighth grader Hayden Gessner.

"I like to have a great challenge," Gessner said of playing on varsity. "It pushes me mentally. It's a really great experience and it can help me grow throughout my high school years. I'm really excited for this season just to see what happens. (The upperclassmen) say to take your time and make it simple. You don't have to go crazy. Just focus on your specific area."

Highlands plays host to Scott (1-3) on Thursday. Game time is 7 p.m.

Soccer, Boys:

Highlands 4, Bishop Brossart 0:

The Bluebirds (3-1-1) started off strong and recorded a sound victory over the Mustangs (2-4).

Highlands had 23 shots with 10 on goal. Sophomore Chad Gesenhues led the way scoring his first two goals of the season as the Bluebirds led 3-0 at halftime. Senior Joel Kendall and junior Colin Pieper had the other two goals. Pieper has a team-high three goals on the season and Kendall has two.

"We played real strong overall," said Chad Niedert, Highlands Head Coach. "When we played (Louisville) Collegiate, we had a lot of good takeaways from that game. Our big thing against Bishop Brossart was to bring that same energy and intensity so we tried to keep the game simple early. We scored early on one of the corners. It lightens the load a bit and we just kind of opened everything up a little."

Junior Caden Schroeder had one assist. Brothers Sam Jones and Evan Jones had one each. That marked the first assists on the year for all three of them.

Highlands junior goalkeeper Connor Mathis made two saves and sophomore goalkeeper Jack Wilson made five. Wilson stopped a Bishop Brossart penalty kick.

"We were really good once we came out. We've been having some trouble in past games just trying to get that first half focus," said Sawyer Tate, Highlands senior defender. "We were able to dial in (Tuesday). It was pretty good."

Monday Sports Notes

Highlands Girls Soccer, Girls Golf Pick Up Victories

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands junior forward Tatum Price (5) boots the ball ahead in a recent game. She had two assists in the 4-0 Bluebird win at Campbell County.

The Highlands Bluebirds girls soccer team quickly bounced back from its first loss of the season with a convincing 4-0 non-region win over the Campbell County Camels from the 10th Region.

Ladybirds take down Lady Mustangs

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The Highlands Ladybirds basketball team snapped its two-game losing streak with a big victory Thursday in Fort Thomas.

Highlands downed the previously undefeated Bishop Brossart Lady Mustangs, 55-51. The Ladybirds improved to 2-2 and the Lady Mustangs fell to 3-1. Brossart won last year’s meeting in Alexandria, 48-39.

Senior post Jesse Daley dominated the paint for Highlands with a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds. Fellow Twin Tower Leah Schaefer had 11 and freshman guard Haley Coffey scored 12 points.

Highlands takes on 0-3 South Oldham at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in Fort Thomas.

NewCath blasts Brossart in District 6 opener, 58-0

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds football team snapped its three-game winning streak in a big way Friday in Alexandria.

The smashed the host Bishop Brossart Mustangs, 58-0 to open Class 2A, District 6 action. NewCath (2-3 overall, 1-0 district) ran away with 30 points in the second quarter to go up 44-0 at halftime to force the running clock.

The Thoroughbreds outgained the Mustangs (1-4, 0-1), 453-63 in total offense in a balanced attack. NewCath had seven first downs to four for Brossart.

This included 248-37 on the ground. NewCath ran the ball 27 times for an average of about 9.2 per carry. Brossart averaged just more than one yard per rush.

Dylan Hayes led the Thoroughbreds rushing for 90 yards on nine carries with a touchdown. Freshman running back Jacob Smith came in and ran for 84 yards on four carries with a touchdown.

“We just prepared to play sound football,” said Eddie Eviston, NewCath head coach. “We really didn’t look at anything like, ‘We can’t let him run outside or we can’t let him run inside.’ When we do that, we can be pretty good and stop someone. That’s what we did (Friday).”

Defensively, NewCath focused on Brossart senior running back Jacob Elbert. He had seven carries for minus-2 yards and completed just 1-of-3 passes for nine yards before leaving with an injury.

NewCath opens District 6 action at Bishop Brossart

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds football team may still be favored to win another Class 2A, District 6 crown.

But they don’t plan on the other four teams handing it to them. That’s why they’ve always played a tough non-district schedule.

NewCath’s four non-district opponents are larger schools. NewCath faced three teams from Kentucky’s largest Class 6A, District 6 and another from Ohio Division III – Ohio’s third-largest class.

The Thoroughbreds finished 1-3 against that schedule. They lost two decisions by less than 10 points against Cincinnati McNicholas and Simon Kenton and lost 42-16 to Campbell County all after opening with a 37-22 win over Dixie Heights.

“High school football is all about the experience for these players,” said Eddie Eviston, NewCath head coach. “We are not helping that experience if we are not playing good, competitive football. I think our kids understand that our schedule offers the chance to play big, competitive schools and that we have to be at our best, and practice at our best in order to win those games. These games identify our weaknesses and strengths better than say an ‘easier’ opponent. Thus, it will only help us as we move forward.”

NewCath hopes that starts with Friday’s game at the Bishop Brossart Mustangs. Brossart is also 1-3 entering the game and on a three-game losing streak. The Mustangs started varsity action in 2007. They opened with a 42-20 win at Middletown (Ohio) Christian before losing to Bracken County, Dayton and Pendleton County.

Despite the three-game losing streak, the Thoroughbreds improved tremendously between the games against Campbell County and Simon Kenton. They had a chance to tie the game late in the fourth against the Pioneers, but fumbled the ball at the Simon Kenton 5 on 4th-and-2.

Three players saw their first action against Simon Kenton and three or four more are still rehabbing and trying to get back. One player that returned Saturday is senior offensive lineman and linebacker Brady Thacker.

“We’re able to get more people rotated in and get more (repetitions),” Thacker said. “But with the injuries, it’s helped us give the young guys some looks. We’re working hard and looking forward to every week. The coaches have been pushing us hard trying to make us better.”

Thacker said the Thoroughbred defense hopes to do a better job containing quarterbacks. Pioneer quarterback Brennan Kuntz hurt NCC breaking outside the pocket a couple times and completing passes downfield. He completed 17-of-30 passes for 241 yards and three touchdowns.

NewCath’s 4-4 defense will face a spread Brossart offense that seems centered around senior running back Jacob Elbert. Elbert has 1,083 yards rushing on 106 attempts for an average of about 10.2 per carry and eight touchdowns. Opponents have outgained NCC, 364.75-319 in total offense on average.

Mustang junior quarterback Casey Pelgen has completed 23-of-49 passes for 316 yards, three interceptions and no touchdowns. Brossart’s leading receiver is junior Sean Tieman with nine catches for 181 yards.

“I think the biggest thing is that you really do not know what to expect,” Eviston said. “It seems as if they are still trying to identify who they are as a program. Thus, I am sure they are in a trial and error situation with who they have available and what style of play will stick.”

NewCath will counter with a spread attack. Quarterback Josh Cain has completed 60-of-96 passes for 695 yards and four touchdowns. Running back Dylan Hayes has 430 yards on 70 carries with seven touchdowns for an average of about 6.14 a carry. Leading receiver Mac Franzen has 20 catches for 340 yards for an average of 17 yards per catch.

The Mustangs run a 4-3 defense. Elbert leads Brossart defensively with 49 tackles.

Game time is 7 p.m. in Alexandria.