Highlands Girls Fall at Scott

Half-Court Pressure Hurts Bluebirds

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham, Fort Thomas Matters. Highlands sophomore guard Ava Lawhorn (13) gets in defensive position in the game at Scott on Friday.

The Highlands Bluebirds girls basketball team (4-7 overall) ventured to Taylor Mill facing more than the usual challenges associated with the young team.

Head Coach Jaime Walz-Richey was not able to be there so Kayla Umberg served as acting head coach for the second game in a row. Juniors Ellie Walz and Alyssa Harris were still not able to play and experienced guards Meg Gessner and Laney Smith were not available. 

Highlands held tough with Scott (8-7) in the first quarter. But the Lady Eagles pulled away for a 52-34 victory. That win ended a 15-game winning streak for the Bluebirds in the series. 

The teams have not played on an annual basis throughout the last 16 seasons. But the last time Scott beat Highlands came by a 55-48 score on Feb. 19, 2005.

Highlands continued to try to work the ball inside to senior 6-foot-1-inch center CC Shick and 6-2 freshman center Marissa Green. Shick scored eight of her team-high 11 points in the first quarter when Highlands built a 10-7 lead.

But the Scott Lady Eagles pulled away in the second quarter when the likes of players such as senior guard Macy Campbell and junior forward Kayla Peterson penetrated the lane and made things happen. The duo scored 12 points each to lead Scott. 

Highlands hit 15-of-53 shots for 28 percent including 2-of-16 from three-point range for 13 percent. The Bluebirds also had six assists, 13 steals and 33 rebounds. Sophomore center Kasey Gross had seven rebounds to lead Highlands with eighth grade forward Katie Bucher recording four steals.

Scott used some half-court traps to pull away from Highlands forcing 23 turnovers. The Lady Eagles also made 14-of-18 free throws for 78 percent compared to 2-for-6 for 33 percent for Highlands.

Highlands Girls Bowling Team Bests Beechwood

Girls Basketball Falls to 0-4 in Region Play

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham, Fort Thomas Matters. Highlands eighth grader Saylor Macke (31) gets in position in a recent game.

The Highlands Bluebirds girls bowling team moved to 4-0 on the season with a win over Beechwood at Bellewood Lanes on Thursday. 

Senior Macy Hedenberg led Highlands bowling a 197. The Highlands boys dropped to 2-2 losing to Beechwood.

Highlands defeated Scott in a Co-Ed Match on Tuesday to move to 4-0. Senior Chloe Bramble led Highlands bowling a 170 and senior Jade Rehberger bowled a 165. Junior Kurrin Frank bowled 161 and 159.

Highlands bowls against Campbell County on Jan. 11 at Southern Lanes.

Basketball, Girls:

Ryle 76, Highlands 29:

The Bluebirds (4-6 overall) continued to struggle against top teams in the 9th Region on the road Wednesday.

Highlands made just 9-of-29 shots for 31 percent including 3-of-13 from three-point range for 23 percent and made 6-of-10 free throws for 60 percent. The Bluebirds also grabbed just 15 rebounds. Senior Meg Gessner scored eight points to lead the Bluebirds and freshman 6-foot-2-inch center Marissa Green scored seven.

Ryle (11-4) hit 32-of-54 shots for 59 percent including 5-of-11 from three-point range for 46 percent and 7-of-8 free throws for 88 percent. The Lady Raiders also grabbed 25 rebounds.

Ryle put four players in double figures. Junior guard Abby Holtman led the way scoring 20. Sophomore center Sarah Baker, sophomore forward Quinn Eubank and junior guard Austin Johnson scored 15, 14 and 14 points respectively.

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.

Highlands Grabs Three Wins in Three Days

Bluebird Winning Streak Reaches Eight

Highlands junior forward Rory O'Hara (35) scored 10 points and had three steals against Covington Holy Cross on Saturday. Highlands moved to 12-6 on the season with its eighth straight win.

The Highlands Bluebirds girls basketball team (12-6 overall) won its third game in three days with a 51-37 victory on the 9th Region road Saturday.

Highlands played a make-up game against the Covington Holy Cross Indians and won 51-37. The Bluebirds have won eight in a row and moved to 6-0 in region play.

"It's just the mental aspect - being able to execute plays when you're legs are tired," said Jaime Walz-Richey, Highlands Head Coach. "That's one of the keys. We told them before the game we felt our bench was deeper. Sure enough, we had great play off the bench coming in and giving us points."

Highlands Boys Basketball Loses First of Season

Bowling Teams Win

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham, Fort Thomas Matters. Highlands senior Sam Vinson sets up a play against Newport on Tuesday.

The Highlands Bluebirds boys basketball team ventured to Hebron to face the Conner Cougars and were upset 73-61 Thursday losing for the first time this season.

The Bluebirds (14-1 overall) fell to 4-1 in 9th Region action. The Cougars are 8-5 overall and 5-2 in region play.

Highlands Girls Drop Close Game Against West Carter

Bluebirds Have Lost Five of Last Six Games

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham, Fort Thomas Matters. Highlands freshman Alyssa Harris (right) makes a move in a recent game.

The Highlands Bluebirds girls basketball team (4-6 overall) could not pull out another win in the LaRosa's Holiday Classic on Saturday.

The West Carter Lady Comets (4-4) edged the Bluebirds, 63-62 in overtime in the fifth-place game. Faith Conn is in her first year as head coach of West Carter.

Friday Highlands Results

Bluebird Teams Record Tournament Victories

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham, Fort Thomas Matters. Highlands sophomore Oliver Harris (13) and senior Hunter Ahlfeld (14) get in position in a recent game. The Bluebirds moved to 9-0 Friday with another convincing win.

Another sound victory Friday displayed how sound the culture is in the locker room of the Highlands Bluebirds boys basketball team.

Highlands stayed undefeated at 9-0 with a sound 92-54 victory over the Clark Montessori Cougars (2-7 overall) out of Cincinnati in the Carespring Holiday Classic at Russell Bridges Gym. The Bluebirds have scored 85 or more points in seven of the nine games.

Friday Highlands Hoops Round-Up

Bluebirds Pull Away from Indians

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham, Fort Thomas Matters. Highlands senior forward Jack Delagrange (left) digs in defensively against Madison Central on Friday. The Bluebirds turned in their best defensive effort of the season in a 57-44 over Madison Central at Harrison County on Friday.

The Highlands Bluebirds boys basketball team knew it would be tough to keep scoring at the high-octane pace of just more than 85 points per game it averaged in the first six games in this match-up.

So instead, Highlands put together its best defensive effort of the season scoring-wise in a 57-44 win over the Madison Central Indians (2-5) at the Mike Reitz Classic at Harrison County on Friday. The Bluebirds stayed undefeated at 7-0 with the victory.

Monday Highlands Results

Bluebirds Win 36th District Opener

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham, Fort Thomas Matters. Highlands sophomore Zach Barth (10) watches while teammate Sam Vinson (with ball) sets up to shoot a free throw in a recent game.

The Highlands Bluebirds boys basketball team (6-0 overall) knew this game mattered more than the first five because of 36th District seeding implications.

But the Bluebirds continued to play as well as they have all season recording a 92-49 victory over the Dayton Greendevils (1-6) on Monday at Russell Bridges Gym. This marked the fifth time in six games that Highlands has scored 85 or more points.

Highlands Hoops Drops 89 on Bracken County

Bluebirds Move to 5-0 on Season

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham. Highlands sophomore forward Oliver Harris (13) and junior guard Evan Rom (4) get in defensive position in a recent game.

The Highlands Bluebirds boys basketball team (5-0 overall) fell one point shy of another 90-point game with an 89-66 win over the Bracken County Polar Bears (1-5) in the John Turner Classic at Newport High on Saturday.

Thursday Highlands Results

Bluebirds Move to 4-0 on Season

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham, Fort Thomas Matters. Highlands junior point guard Sam Vinson (3) signals a play in the 85-72 win over Scott on Friday. Vinson scored 34 points as the Bluebirds moved to 4-0 on the season.

If this pace keeps up, it will be a fun show night-in and night-out for the Blue and White.

The Highlands Bluebirds boys basketball team again used its athleticism to best the visiting Scott Eagles in an 85-72 non-region win Thursday. The Bluebirds stayed undefeated on the season at 4-0 while Scott dropped to 1-3.

Highlands Girls Hoops Rolls to District Win

Bluebirds Up District Win Streak to 31

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham. Highlands junior guard Katelyn Vaught (5) gets in defensive position while junior forward Emma Riccobene (31) watches. Highlands downed Bellevue, 79-27.

The streak against 36th District opponents reached 31 straight Wednesday with a convincing 79-27 road victory.

The Highlands Bluebirds girls basketball team (3-1 overall) opened district play against the Bellevue Tigers (3-1) four days after the first loss of the season. Highlands has not lost to a district opponent since a 55-45 loss at Newport Central Catholic in the district title game on Feb. 27, 2014.

Princeton Hands Highlands First Loss of Season

The Cincinnati (Ohio) Princeton Vikings (1-3 overall) handed the Highlands Bluebirds girls basketball team (2-1) its first loss of the season by a 69-29 score in the Hoops for Harvest Classic at Dixie Heights on Saturday.

Thursday Highlands Round-Up

Bluebirds Basketball Moves to 2-0

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham, Fort Thomas Matters. Highlands senior Hunter Ahlfeld (right) looks to make a pass against Ryle on Tuesday.

Head Coach Kevin Listerman said the Highlands Bluebirds boys basketball team faced some adversity in the second game of the regular season against the in-county rival Bishop Brossart Mustangs.

But the Bluebirds overcame it to move to 2-0 on the young season with a 65-58 win over the Mustangs (1-2). Highlands has won four straight against Bishop Brossart.

"(The Mustangs) are a typical Brossart team," Listerman said. "They're well-coached. They're very fundamentally sound, especially defensively. They're very physical with things in terms of the offense. (Bishop Brossart Head) Coach (Mike) Code had them ready to go. We dictated more of the tempo in the first half. Brossart dictated the tempo a bit more in the second half. But in all, I was really proud with the way our kids responded. We were pretty unselfish."

Tuesday Highlands Results

Highlands Basketball Teams Open Season with Victories

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham, Fort Thomas Matters. Highlands junior Luke Muller waits in the corner against Ryle on Tuesday. Muller scored 19 points making 5-of-9 three-point tries in the 87-58 Highlands win.

The Highlands boys basketball team started off the season with a convincing 87-58 9th Region victory over the Ryle Raiders at Russell Bridges Gym.

Junior point guard Sam Vinson led the way with 27 points including 24 in the first half to go with 11 rebounds and six assists for a double-double. Junior forward Luke Muller added 19 points to go with nine rebounds and five assists. Muller made 5-of-9 three-point tries.

Highlands Basketball Teams Record Victories

Highlands Girls Win 25th of Season

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham, Fort Thomas Matters. Highlands junior Maggie Hinegardner (13) slides over on defense against Simon Kenton's Maggie Jones (left). Highlands won its 25th game this season with a 48-38 non-region victory.

The game is normally hard-fought to the end.

That was the case in this one even though the Highlands Bluebirds girls basketball team (25-4 overall) led from the first basket just 14 seconds in until the very end in a 48-38 non-region victory over the Simon Kenton Lady Pioneers (17-10). Highlands reached 25 victories in a season for the first time since going 30-4 during the 2014-15 season.

Saturday Round-Up: Bluebirds Win Second Straight Swimming, Diving Region Crown

Highlands Girls Hoops Defeats Scott Again

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham, Fort Thomas Matters. Highlands senior guard Chloe Jansen starts a play in a recent game.

The Highlands Bluebirds girls basketball team originally had a game scheduled Friday at Conner.

But Conner had to make up a 33rd District game against Ryle. But Highlands (24-4 overall) found a rematch against the Scott Lady Eagles instead winning it by a 70-51 score in Taylor Mill on Saturday for a 10th straight win equaling last year's win total.

Friday Round-Up: Bluebird Hoops win, State Bowling results

Highlands Earns Another 9th Region Win

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham, Fort Thomas Matters. Highlands junior Jacob Brass (rights) get down in defensive position in a recent game.

Strong defensive efforts have been helping the Highlands Bluebirds boys basketball team (17-10 overall) down the stretch.

Another one in Erlanger on Friday led to an impressive 55-34 9th Region win over the Lloyd Memorial Juggernauts (15-7). Highlands has won seven of its last eight games and is 11-2 in region play. Lloyd Memorial has lost three straight and is 8-4 in region play.

"You like for your seniors to step up and raise their level of practice and focus," said Kevin Listerman, Highlands Head Coach. "I felt like we had a couple good days of practice leading into (Friday). At this point of time, you are who you are as a team. You try to fine-tune things. The biggest thing is having guys understand their roles and excel in the things that you ask them to do. I felt especially defensively, we did that."

Bluebirds Reach 16 Wins for First Time Since 2008-09 Season

Highlands Handles Mason County

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham. Highlands seniors Jack Hegge (3) and Alex Starkey (32) slide over on defense in a recent game.

The Highlands Bluebirds boys basketball team (16-10 overall) made Senior Night special in a 74-58 non-region win over the Mason County Royals (10-13).

Home Wins for Highlands Basketball Squads

Highlands Boys Record 15th Win of Season

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham. Highlands senior post Ben Sisson (center) dribbles in a recent game. He had 17 points to help the Bluebirds to a 45-43 win over Oldham County.

The Highlands Bluebirds boys basketball team (15-10 overall) trailed the Oldham County Colonels (16-9) in the rematch from earlier in the season.

But this time in Fort Thomas, Highlands found a way to win at the end, 45-43. Highlands sophomore point guard Sam Vinson took the ball on the left corner, drove the baseline and put the ball up between two Colonel defenders drawing a foul with six seconds left. The ball rolled around the rim before dropping in. Vinson then hit the ensuing free throw to make the final score.

"We drew up a play and once they swung it to me, I saw the gap and drove the gap to the hole," Vinson said. "I saw two people in front of me and I thought I could finish on top of them so I just tried to get (the ball) up there and (finish the shot)."