Saturday Round-Up: Highlands Girls Move to 4-0 with Convincing Win

Highlands Swimming Teams Wins Combined Crown at EKU Relays

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham. Highlands Head Coach Jaime Walz-Richey goes over plays in a timeout Saturday at Newport. Highlands beat Grant County, 70-36 to move to 4-0.

The Highlands Bluebirds girls basketball team knew it had a huge advantage in the depth department one through 15 entering Saturday's game in the Donna Murphy Classic at Newport against the Grant County Lady Braves.

Highlands (4-0 overall) used it to cruise to a convincing 70-36 non-region victory. The Bluebirds led 45-20 at halftime.

"Our game plan was to outrun them," said Jaime Walz-Richey, Highlands Head Coach. "The girls did a great job and made them do things they were uncomfortable with. We knew they had three lefties so we had to force them to the right and they did a great job of that."

Bluebirds Split with Beechwood

Highlands Girls Hoops Hangs On for Region Win

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands freshman Kenzie Nehus (3) makes a move toward the basket in a recent game. Highlands beat Beechwood, 42-39 on Friday to finish the regular season 22-7 overall.

The Blue and White know a game like Friday could mean the end of the season with the post-season on the horizon.

But the important thing is it came in the last game of the regular season and the Highlands Bluebirds girls basketball team (22-7 overall) came away with a 42-39 9th Region victory Friday in Fort Mitchell. The Bluebirds moved to 11-4 in region action with their 11th victory in 12 games and seventh straight win over the Lady Tigers (4-23) in seven seasons. Highlands also equaled the win totals of the last two seasons.

Highlands High, Middle School Weekend Notes

Highlands Cheerleading Squad Places High in Nationals; Hoops Squads Post 9th Region Wins

Contributed Photo. The Highlands cheerleading squad placed 11th out of 41 teams in the Universal Cheerleading Association Nationals on Saturday in Orlando.

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands senior forward Adam Uhlenbrock puts up a shot in a recent game.

The Highlands competitive cheerleading squad made the most of its time in Orlando.

Highlands took 11th out of 41 teams in the nation at the Universal Cheerleading Association championships. The squad participated in the Small Varsity Co-Ed class that allows up to 20 individuals on the mat including no more than four boys.

Bluebirds Face Park Hills Rivals

Highlands Girls Extend Win Streak to Six

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands freshman Rory O'Hara goes up for the score against Notre Dame on Monday. O'Hara scored nine points in the 

The last thing the Blue and White knew it could not do was take the struggling arch-rivals lightly.

The Highlands Bluebirds girls basketball team (17-6 overall) came into the game against the Notre Dame Pandas (7-14) on a five-game winning streak. On the other hand, the visitors owned just 15 win in the last two years and snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 48-21 win over Beechwood on Wednesday.

Huge District Wins for Bluebirds

Highlands Earns Road Victories

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands junior Alex Starkey (32) sets up for a free-throw attempt in a recent game.

The Highlands Bluebirds boys basketball team needed this one in more ways than one.

Like two years ago, the Bluebirds (10-10 overall) found themselves in a battle with the host Bellevue Tigers (9-12) in a 36th District battle. But Highlands did enough to pull off the 53-49 win Friday and finish 2-2 in 36th District play.

Highlands Hoops Game Cancelled

The Highlands Bluebirds girls basketball team (12-6 overall) saw its home game against Covington Holy Cross (12-6) cancelled because of bad weather.

Clutch Win for Bluebirds

Highlands Snaps Two-Game Losing Streak with Road Region Win

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands junior Nate Roberts goes in for a lay-up in a recent game. Roberts hit the game-winning shot against Conner with two seconds left Tuesday.

The Highlands Bluebirds boys basketball team (7-8 overall) came up with a clutch play at the end when needed to pull off the road win Tuesday.

Bluebirds Move to Holiday Title Game

Highlands Earns Win Over Cooper

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands senior guard Brooke Dill (4) goes in for a shot while Cooper senior guard Lexi Held (10) pursues. Highlands advanced to the championship game of the LaRosa's Holiday Classic with a 68-57 victory over the Lady Jaguars. Highlands faces host Conner for the title at 3:30 p.m. Friday.

It was more about advancing to the championship game of the seventh annual LaRosa's Holiday Classic at Conner for the fourth time since its inception more than anything else.

Two Tough Losses for Highlands Hoops

Bluebirds Come Up Short Against Undefeated Lady Lions

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. The Highlands girls basketball team came up three points short against undefeated Boyd County on Thursday. Pictured from left are Chloe Jansen, Zoie Barth, Brooke Dill, Rory O'Hara and Hanna Buecker.

The Highlands Bluebird girls basketball team (6-3 overall) gave a valiant effort Thursday against the undefeated Boyd County Lady Lions (8-0) in the Traditional Bank Holiday Classic at Lexington Catholic.

Saturday Briefs

Great Day for Highlands Competitive Cheer, Basketball Squads

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. The Highlands Co-Ed A Competitive cheerleading squad finished fourth in the state competition on Saturday.

The Highlands competitive cheerleading squad finished fourth in the Co-Ed A Class over the weekend at Alltech Arena in Lexington scoring 77.5 points. Bullitt Central won that class with 88.9 points.

Tough Day for Highlands Basketball

Kokomo Northwestern Hands Highlands Girls First Loss of Season

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands sophomore Maggie Hinegardner goes in for a score against St. Henry on Thursday.

The Highlands Bluebird girls basketball team (2-1) lost for the first time this year by a 42-25 count to Kokomo (Indiana) Northwestern in the Hoops for Harvest Classic at Dixie Heights on Saturday.

Senior Night Split for Highlands

Ladybirds beat Beechwood to conclude regular season

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. The six seniors from both Highlands basketball teams and their parents were honored Friday.

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands also honored the senior cheerleaders and dance team members.

Highlands High School put together another great Senior Night on Friday.

The school honored the senior basketball players, cheerleaders and dance team members as part of the doubleheader with Beechwood. The Ladybirds (20-8 overall) put an exclamation point on the night with a convincing 70-29 victory over the Lady Tigers (9-15). The Bluebirds (12-16) then tried to do the same thing but came up short in a 63-55 defeat to the Tigers (15-12).

Friday Highlands Basketball, Bowling Results

Ladybirds escape Lady Rebels for 19th win

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands senior Jenna Martin goes in for a score in a recent game. Martin scored 17 points to help Highlands to a 57-48 win over Boone County on Friday.

Instead of the lopsided score people expected in this one, the Highlands Ladybirds basketball team came away breathing a sigh of relief that it won.

Highlands (19-7 overall) pulled away from the visiting Boone County Lady Rebels (7-18) in the last two minutes for a 57-48 9th Region win Friday in Fort Thomas. Highlands moved to 12-2 in region play with its seventh straight win over the Lady Rebels.

Doubleheader Victories for Highlands

Bluebirds, Ladybirds come through in Doubleheader

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands honored its basketball Hall-of-Famers in between games Monday. The four members, from left, are Panny Sarakatsannis, Jaime Walz-Richey, Ken Shields and Scott Draud.

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands senior Morgan Race fires up a free throw in the 57-35 win over Ludlow on Monday.

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands junior Brooke Dill (4) puts up a jumper in the game against Covington Holmes on Monday. Highlands recorded a huge 62-49 victory over the defending 9th Region champions.

If anyone doubted the Highlands Ladybirds basketball team as 9th Region contenders, this huge 62-49 victory may have changed their thoughts.

Home Stretch for Highlands Hoops

Highlands basketball team record 9th Region wins

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands senior Kyle Finfrock goes strong to the basket in a recent game. Finfrock had a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds helping Highlands to a 75-45 win at Villa Madonna on Friday.

The Highlands Bluebirds basketball team entered Friday with five games left in the regular season.

The Bluebirds (11-13 overall) would not mind putting together some wins during that span and head into the postseason with momentum. Highlands started the stretch run strong with a convincing 75-45 victory over the host Villa Madonna Blue Lightning (10-12) in 9th Region action, Highlands improved to 8-6 in region play with the win.

Victories for Highlands Basketball

Bluebirds take care of Tigers in district action

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands senior Luke LaFrange (3) puts up a shot against Bellevue on Friday. Highlands finished the regular season at 3-1 in 36th District action with a 79-61 win over the Tigers.

They wanted nothing more than to lock up no less than their highest seed since the 36th District went to a seeded format for its annual postseason basketball tournament four years ago.

The Highlands Bluebirds basketball team (10-12 overall) took care of that goal with a huge 79-61 victory over the Bellevue Tigers (6-14) on Friday in Fort Thomas. Bellevue had beaten Highlands in each of the past two seasons to push the Bluebirds down to the fourth seed. The Bluebirds finished 3-1 in district action and will be the second seed in the district tournament if Newport Central Catholic wins either of its final two district games against Bellevue and Dayton. The Bluebirds also moved to 7-5 in 9th Region action and Bellevue dropped to 0-3 in district play.

Slow Start

Cooper uses fast start to leave Fort Thomas with win

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands sophomore Zoie Barth (left) goes up for the score that put her in the 1,000-point scoring club. Barth scored 13 points in the 74-63 Highlands loss.

The Highlands Ladybirds basketball team (13-6 overall) saw its two standout guards hit major feats Thursday.

But Highlands could not overcome a 22-9 hole after the first quarter dropping its second straight 9th Region contest, 74-63 to the Cooper Lady Jaguars (10-4). Highlands fell to 7-2 in region action.

Tough Road Losses

Highlands hoops squads drop road games

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands sophomore Chloe Jansen puts up a free throw in a recent game.

The Highlands Bluebirds basketball team started the big week Tuesday with a trip down US 27.

Awaiting them in Alexandria stood the Campbell County Camels (17-1 overall) ranked eighth in the latest Associated Press poll. While the Bluebirds (9-10) have come a long way this season, the 83-60 loss to Campbell County showed them what needs to happen to battle the elite teams in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Gratifying District Wins

Highlands hoops squads handle 36th Opponents

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands sophomore Zoie Barth drives the baseline in a recent game. Barth scored 11 points to help the Ladybirds to a fourth straight perfect 4-0 mark in district seed play with a 75-32 win over Newport on Saturday.

The Highlands Ladybirds basketball team has not lost a 36th District seed game since the district switched to that process before the 2013-14 season and the team made sure it stayed that way Saturday.

Grinding Out Victories

Highlands wins close ballgames

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands senior Jenna Martin (13) fires up a free throw in a recent game. Martin scored 16 points as the Ladybirds downed Mason County, 46-43 Thursday.

Down the stretch, the Highlands Ladybirds basketball team (12-4 overall) made the crucial plays when needed to pull off the huge 46-43 non-region home win Thursday.

The Mason County Lady Royals (11-3 overall) came into the game ranked 11th in the latest BluegrassPreps Top 20 poll and Highlands found itself ranked 17th. Mason County also entered the game on a 10-game winning streak and held a record of 5-1 against 9th Region opponents including a win over 12th-ranked Covington Holmes. Its two losses came to 19th-ranked Ryle and 3rd-ranked Mercer County. Highlands moved to 2-2 against the current Top 20.