End of Road for Ladybirds

Cooper takes down Highlands in 9th Region Quartefinals

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands sophomore Zoie Barth attacks the rim Monday. Barth scored 15 points, but Highlands lost 77-62 in the 9th Region Quarterfinals.

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS - Things started off on the right note for the Blue and White.

Junior standout guard Lexi Held picked up her second foul just 1:02 into the game for the Cooper Lady Jaguars forcing her to take a seat. That gave the Highlands Ladybirds a huge opportunity.

Tough Region Quarterfinal for Ladybirds

Highlands faces tough Cooper squad in 9th Quarterfinals

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands senior Lauren Epperson (10) dribbles toward the hoop in last week's District 36 semifinal win over Newport. Epperson averages seven points and a team-high 4.8 rebounds per game. The Ladybirds face Cooper in the 9th Region Quarterfinals on Monday at 6:30 p.m. at NKU's BB&T Arena.

The possibility loomed when the Highlands Ladybirds basketball team saw who it could draw to open the 9th Region Tournament.

The Ladybirds (22-8 overall) own a 15-2 record against region competition this year. Prior to Friday, the possibility of facing one of the two region teams Highlands lost to during the regular season in the region quarterfinals stood at 67 percent.

But that changed to 33 percent after the district championships concluded as the 2015 state champion Covington Holy Cross Lady Indians (18-10) took down defending region champion Covington Holmes (24-5), 47-39 in the 35th District championship. The two region losses for Highlands came the same week at Holy Cross (58-56 on Jan. 17) and to Cooper (74-63 on Jan. 19). 

Fourth title in Five Years for Ladybirds

Highlands handles NewCath for 36th crown

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. The Highlands Ladybirds basketball team captured its third straight 36th District championship with a 69-41 win over Newport Central Catholic on Thursday at Dayton. This also marks the fourth crown in five years and the sixth one since Jaime Walz-Richey became head coach in 2002.

DAYTON - It became evident in early January the 36th District Girls Basketball Tournament would be the Blue and White's to lose.

But instead of playing like that, the Highlands Ladybirds (22-8 overall) made it their tournament to dominate. They finished off the Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds (12-16), 69-41 to win their third straight district championship and fourth in the last five years Thursday at Dayton.

Runaway Win for Ladybirds

Ladybirds handle Ladycats in district semifinals

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands eighth-grader Rory O'Hara puts up a free throw in Tuesday's 36th District semifinal game against Newport.

DAYTON - It may seem odd to think about it.

After all, the Highlands Ladybirds basketball team won its four 36th District seed games by an average of 34.75 points during the regular season on its way to a fourth straight top seed in the district tournament. Add to that, the Ladybirds have lost just once in the district semifinals in Jaime Walz-Richey's 15-year tenure as head coach. That came by a 55-47 score in 2010 when the district used a blind draw format.

Bad Night for Highlands Hoops

Ladybirds, Bluebirds drop contests

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands senior Jenna Martin puts up a free throw in a recent game. Martin scored 12 points in the losing effort against Simon Kenton on Monday.

Facing size concerned the supporters of the Highlands Ladybirds basketball team entering the season with its tallest players standing at 5-foot-8-inches.

Two Region Wins for Highlands in 18 Hours

Ladybirds Conquer Weekend Challenge

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands senior Rachel Vinson (center) puts up a shot in a recent game while sophomore Hannah Buecker (20) gets in position.

When the schedule came out, the Blue and White players knew this 18-hour stretch would test them mentally.

But now that it is over and the Highlands Ladybirds basketball team (17-7 overall) has two more 9th Region victories in the books, the Ladybirds can move them into the conquered category. Highlands used its quickness in transition following great hustle on defense to pull away from the visiting 13-14 Ryle Lady Raiders, 70-55 after beating Dixie Heights, 62-55 on Friday night, also in Fort Thomas. Highlands improved to 10-2 in 9th Region action with the victory.

Ladybirds Drop Road Contest

Madison Central hands Highlands road loss

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands senior Lauren Epperson (10) puts up a jumper in a recent game. Epperson scored 14 points, but Highlands fell 66-50 at Madison Central on Saturday.

One day later, the Highlands Ladybirds basketball team found itself on the opposite end of the exact same score.

Highlands (15-7 overall) lost a road game against the Madison Central Lady Indians, 66-50 after beating St. Henry by that same score Friday in Erlanger. The Lady Indians (17-6) have won four in a row.

Gut Check Time

Ladybirds snap losing skid with in-county road win

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands senior Emma Little (30) fires up a shot in a recent game. Little scored eight points to help the Ladybirds down Campbell County, 55-46 on Saturday.

ALEXANDRIA - The visitors took the court totally aware of the gut check moment.

The Highlands Ladybirds came into the game at Campbell County Middle School on its first two-game losing streak of the season and wanted to put an end to it. Behind a combination of challenging defense and nice offensive execution, Highlands finished the first half on a 10-0 run and held on for a 55-46 non-region victory over the Campbell County Lady Camels on Saturday.

Defensive Stops Galore

Highlands dominates NewCath

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands senior Taylor Baioni puts up a shot in a recent game. Baioni scored 11 points to help Highlands to its sixth win in the last seven meetings over Newport Central Catholic on Friday.

The rivalry game had the makings of a tight one after the first quarter.

But one huge request from the coaching staff in the huddle changed that. That was defensive stops.

Dominating from Opening Tip

Highlands scores game's first 19 points on way to lopsided victory

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands sophomore Ashley Hayes (middle) scores in transition while teammate Rachel Vinson (25) follows the play. All 12 Ladybirds who saw action scored at least one point in the convincing 77-21 win over Bishop Brossart on Friday.

It often comes down to several minute of solid offense and defense to decide a ballgame.

But when you get it for an entire quarter to start the game, it sets a great tone for the rest of the game. The Highlands Ladybirds basketball team did not allow a point until 20 seconds into the second quarter. By that time, Highlands put 19 on the board and continued to roll forward to its most complete game of the year in a 77-21 thrashing of the Bishop Brossart Lady Mustangs on Friday.

Earning Saturday Victories

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands junior Braden Posey goes in for the score against South Laurel on Friday. Posey had 10 assists, six points, four steals and four rebounds helping Highlands to its first win of the year over St. Henry on Saturday.

The Highlands Bluebirds basketball team (1-3 overall) earned its first victory of the season with a 65-49 win over the visiting St. Henry Crusaders.

Improving on the Road

Ladybirds even record with road win

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands senior Lauren Epperson prepares to shoot a free throw in a recent game. Epperson had 10 points and eight rebounds in Highlands' 55-39 road win at Walton-Verona on Thursday.

The Highlands Ladybirds basketball team (2-2 overall) saw more improvements on their weaknesses in a 55-39 road win over the Walton-Verona Bearcats (4-1).

Facing a Hoosier State Opponent

Ladybirds drop close one

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands senior Jenna Martin (13) goes in for the score against Dayton on Fridcay.

The Highlands Ladybirds came up just short against the Plainfield (Indiana) Quakers, 61-55 at Dixie Heights on Saturday. The game took place as part of the Hoops for Harvest Classic.

Creech helps Jenkins to first region win in 12 years

Whitney Creech helped the Jenkins Lady Cavaliers to their first region win since 2004 Tuesday.

Ladybirds cruise in 36th semifinals

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands freshman Morgan Coffey (35) goes up for a shot against Dayton's Mallory Kubala in the 36th District semifinals Wednesday. Highlands won 78-33.

The Highlands Ladybirds basketball team had no problem punching its fifth straight ticket to the 9th Region Tournament with a sound 78-33 victory over the Dayton Lady Devils in the 36th District semifinals on Tuesday at Bellevue.

Ladybirds fall at buzzer

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands senior Brianna Adler shoots a free throw in a recent game.

It came down to the last shot between two girls teams that had been playing great basketball lately.

Highlands cruises to fifth straight win

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands senior Haley Coffey goes up for a shot in a recent game against Conner. Coffey scored 12 points in the win Wednesday against Boone County.

The Highlands Ladybirds continued their excellent play with a convincing 71-45 road victory over the Boone County Lady Rebels on Wednesday in a make-up game.

Highlands pounds St. Ursula on Senior Night

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. The four Highlands seniors and parents gather with the coaches Thursday. Highlands defeated Cincinnati (Ohio) St. Ursula, 56-31.

The Highlands Ladybirds (15-9 overall) handled the Cincinnati (Ohio) St. Ursula Bulldogs, 56-31 on Thursday on Senior Night.

Highlands struggles with Ryle's size

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands freshman Zoie Barth (middle) splits two Ryle defenders in Monday's game. Barth scored 16 points in the Highlands loss.

UNION - It is a feeling unlike what they've seen in February and January the previous three seasons.

Creech surpasses 1,000-point mark in Jenkins win

Jenkins senior 5-foot-9-inch guard Whitney Creech needs just 47 points to break Highlands Head Coach Jaime Walz-Richey's hallowed basketball record.