Building on Momentum

G. Michael Graham Photo. The Highlands Bluebirds baseball team works out Saturday at the high school. Highlands hopes to continue the momentum from last year's postseason run. The Bluebirds won the 36th District and finished 9th Region runner-up, 3-1 to Newport Central Catholic.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The Highlands Bluebirds baseball team hopes to play as consistent as it did during last year’s phenomenal postseason run the entire season this spring.

Highlands caught fire at the end of 2012. The Bluebirds won their first 36th District title since 2009 and fell one game shy of their first appearance in the state tournament since 1973 losing 3-1 to district rival Newport Central Catholic, 3-1 in the 9th Region championship. Highlands beat Conner and Dixie Heights for its first two region wins since 2002.

“They’re extremely hungry,” said Jeremy Baioni, Highlands head coach. “A lot of these guys have been working hard since late fall. The guys that have played football and basketball have come as soon as their sport was over. Guys are working in the weight room and working on hitting and pitching year-round now. They didn’t like the taste that was left in their mouths after losing in the region final. We weren’t surprised we were there. We felt we could get to that point.”

One of the big reasons for excitement this spring is many players from that team that finished 18-21-1 overall return. The Bluebirds graduated just one starter in first baseman Mitch Meyer and three players overall.

Highlands has nine seniors, four juniors and seven sophomores on the roster. The seniors and juniors led the Bluebirds on the run last year after enduring a six-win season the previous year.

Seniors Jake Lester and Hector Molina played in the outfield last year with Quentin Murray returning to catch and Gabe Schultz returning at third base. Schultz, Murray and Lester could also pitch in the Highlands deep rotation.

“We’ve grown up. We need to handle pressure situations better, which I think we will since we’re only losing one senior (starter),” Schultz said. “We’ll have four freshmen who played last year that will be sophomores so we’ll be more experienced.”

In the junior class, Evan Allen and Joey Cochran could see time on the mound. When not pitching, they could play in the infield. Fellow junior Mitch Gesenhues could play on the infield or outfield and sophomore Jake Whitford could play shortstop or second base.

“From last year’s team, we didn’t lose a guy that threw regularly for us,” Baioni said. “We’ve actually gained a couple kids that are bigger and stronger that are younger and able to pitch on varsity now.”

When Murray pitches, sophomore Luke Hennigan could catch. Murray said communication with the pitchers has been worked on in the offseason. Baioni said the pitchers have been trying to hit certain spots in the strike zone in the preseason as opposed to just throwing strikes like the past.

“I’ve been catching with our top four players seeing what they like to throw,” Murray said. “Going from there, (Coach Baioni) will call pitches knowing what they throw best.”

Other seniors aiming to contribute are Jake Heck, Jake Liggett, Colin “Frog” Seidl, Jac Collinsworth and Reid Schroder. The other junior looking to contribute is Ben Vermeil along with sophomores Mitchell Jones, Joseph Martin, Brady Murray, D.J. Mills and Lou Bunning.

Aside from the fundamentals and pitching, Baioni said the Bluebirds have focused on repetitions on offense and defense. They hope to have good habits engrained in them to open the season among other things as a result.

The usual 9th Region contenders could have a huge say in how far the Bluebirds go this season. Aside from NewCath, teams like Dixie Heights, Ryle and Covington Catholic contended for the region crown last year.

“In baseball, it’s always scary because everyone has at least one or two good pitchers,” Baioni said. “When you go into a one-game proposition, any team can win on any given day. We’ve said for the last couple years we think we can win any game, but we can also lose any game. It’s going to be a really competitive year in the 9th Region.”

The 36th District has had the blind draw in the past. The district will seed teams like the volleyball teams did in the fall.

Highlands opens the season Saturday at Lawrence County with three games. The Bluebirds take on the hosts at Noon, Capital at 2:30 p.m. and Prestonsburg at 5 p.m.

Flynn Gone

 

Photo by G. Michael Graham. Highlands Head Basketball Coach Mike Flynn (center) goes over strategy in a game at Cooper this past season. Flynn resigned Monday after leading the Bluebirds to a 50-61 record in four seasons at the helm.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The Highlands Bluebirds boys basketball team will have a new leader next winter.

Veteran Head Coach Mike Flynn turned in his letter of resignation Monday. The Bluebirds finished 50-61 in his four-year tenure and made the 9th Region Tournament twice in that time in 2011 and 2012. Highlands lost to Lloyd Memorial in the first round in 2012 and to Dixie Heights in 2011.

Highlands finished 12-16 this past season losing 48-37 to Newport Central Catholic in the 36th District Semifinals at home. The Bluebirds entered the postseason playing some of their best basketball despite struggling to shoot the ball the entire season. They finished the regular-season with a three-game winning streak. Highlands made 478-of-1,283 shots from the field for 37 percent, including 100-of-345 from three-point range for 29 percent.

“My lofty admiration for Highlands High School has only been enhanced over the past four seasons,” Flynn said in a statement. “Though we did not win as many games as I would have liked, our players and staff worked a winning process every day. My pursuits now will focus toward a coaching role with less responsibility. I am looking forward to becoming an assistant coach and helping another program in some capacity.”

Flynn had been a head coach for 26 seasons in the Bluegrass State. He’d also coached at nearby Covington Holmes during the late 1980s until 1996 when he left to coach at Ashland Paul Blazer. The Bulldogs finished state runner-up in 1990 to Louisville Fairdale, 77-73.

“I have nothing but admiration for Coach Flynn,” said Brian Robinson, Highlands High School Principal. “He is a great man and wonderful role model. He’s at a time in his life where he’d like to look at other opportunities.”

One of Flynn’s former players at Holmes is Cooper Head Coach Tim Sullivan. Sullivan led the Jaguars to another 33rd District title last year and second straight appearance in the 9th Region semifinals.

Flynn was the longest-tenured coach in Ashland history at nine years. He also coached a couple seasons at Bourbon County and owns a career record of 467-252.

“It will be different,” said Parker Harris, Highlands rising junior. “We’re definitely going to miss Coach Flynn. We all liked him. He was a positive influence in our lives.”

Robinson said a timetable has not been set in hiring the new head coach. Potential leading candidates for the job are current Highlands assistant Steve Hunt and Bishop Brossart Lady Mustangs head coach Josh Feldmann. Feldmann served as Junior Varsity Head Coach at Highlands from 2004 to 2010 before spending the last three years at Bishop Brossart. Feldmann teaches at Johnson Elementary School in Fort Thomas.

The new head coach will have some talent to work with starting with Harris and rising seniors Drew Houliston and Nick True. Drew Houliston averaged 11.3 points per game last year and Nick True averaged 6.7 points and a team-high six rebounds.

Highlands graduates four seniors in Luke Turner, Jake Gronotte, Karl Hinkel and Bailey Witte. Turner averaged 11.3 points a contest.

 

 

Loaded Schedule

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

It may take a few looks for people to familiarize themselves with many of the new opponents on this football schedule.

But they will learn about the competition quickly. It’s loaded with nine teams that had winning records last year.

The Highlands Bluebirds will take on six new opponents this year in University Christian (Fla.), Campbell County, Lexington Bryan Station, John Hardin, Paducah Tilghman and Warren Central. Highlands has won six consecutive state championships and 22 overall. The Bluebirds rank second in the country with 842 all-time wins behind just Valdosta (Ga.) with 876 victories.

Highlands had to find new non-district opponents after Ryle and Boyle County dropped the Bluebirds from the schedule. Gone from the schedule are also Mason County, Scott County, Louisville Western and Pendleton County. Pendleton County dropped out of district play for the 2013 and 2014 seasons and will therefore be ineligible for postseason play.

Aside from district rivals Covington Catholic, Holmes and Harrison County, the only other mainstay on the schedule is Cincinnati Elder. The Panthers handed the Bluebirds their lone loss of 2012.

“We really appreciated Boyle and Ryle playing us in the past and hope they play us in the future,” said Dale Mueller, Highlands co-head coach. “We have a difficult time finding games. Our first priority is to play local, Northern Kentucky teams. Many of those teams have not wanted to schedule us for their own personal reasons. I talked to various schools I understand. Sometimes we’ve just been on a different, competitive level. Teams don’t want to play a team they’re not at the same competitive level with.”

Only three teams on the schedule come from the northern three counties in Kentucky. Covington Catholic and Holmes have to play Highlands because they’re in the same district.

But Campbell County stepped forward and scheduled the Bluebirds. The head coach of the Camels is 1997 Highlands graduate Stephen Lickert. They finished 7-5 last year, won Class 6A, District 6 for the second straight year and lost in the second round of the playoffs, 29-21 to Simon Kenton.

Highlands did reach out to play a private school in west Nashville, Tenn. in the Ensworth Tigers. Ensworth has won three straight Division II-AA titles. Tennessee separates the scholarship and non-scholarship schools into two divisions.

“Ensworth certainly wasn’t a team that was worried that we were going to beat them, 70-0,” Mueller said. “They’re a team that was sixth in the country, (number) one in Tennessee. They have players from about 50 different zip codes. When (Ohio State head coach) Urban Meyer came here, he said they’re recruiting a guy that goes 51 miles to Ensworth. I don’t think they really wanted to travel this kind of distance. We didn’t want to go all the way to Nashville to play a game. So it just didn’t work out.”

The most intriguing matchup after the annual scrimmage with three-time defending 6A champion Trinity (13-1 last year) is the season-opener against the University Christian Fighting Christians (13-1) from Jacksonville, Fla. University Christian won the Florida Class 2A title last year. Class 2A is the second-smallest of eight classes in the Sunshine State. The game may be played either Aug. 23 or 24 depending if the game is televised. This will also mark the first time in school history that Highlands has played an opponent outside Kentucky, Ohio or Indiana.

Following another home game against Bryan Station (6-5), Highlands hits the road for three consecutive Saturdays. It begins with a rematch of the 2009 Class 5A state championship against the John Hardin Bulldogs (13-1). John Hardin of Elizabethtown south of Louisville did not lose until the state semifinals to undefeated 15-0 and eventual 5A champion Bowling Green, 14-13.

“We prefer to play on Friday nights,” Mueller said. “But we just couldn’t find local teams to play us on Friday nights. We really liked to play John Hardin and Paducah Tilghman and you just have to play those games on Saturdays. We feel like this is as good of a schedule as we ever had.”

A week later, Highlands again passes through Elizabethtown on its way to Paducah to face the Tilghman Blue Tornado (8-4). Tilghman won the 3A state championship in 2009. Mapquest lists the driving distance between the two schools at about 321 miles and about five hours driving the speed limit.

“We don’t mind getting on the bus and going to play teams,” Mueller said. “Time on the bus is a fun time. We get some stuff done. We talk football during that time, go over game plans and see various tapes of ourselves. It’s sort of like a practice time. It’s a bonding time.”

Class 4A, District 6 action starts a week later against the rival Covington Catholic Colonels (9-4). The Bluebirds then take on Harrison County (1-10) six days later before their bye week before Holmes (6-5) comes to Fort Thomas on Oct. 18 to conclude district action.

Highlands finishes the season traveling to Elder (8-4) then playing host to the Warren Central Dragons (11-2) from Bowling Green. Like John Hardin, the Dragons’ two losses came to Bowling Green.

Mueller said it’s tough to schedule Ohio opponents because the weekly schedules could cause conflicts. For instance, a week 1 in Ohio could be a week 2 in Kentucky.

The Bluebirds are continuing their offseason workouts before spring practice starts. The spring game will take place later in the year.

2013 Schedule

Date:                                     Opponent:                                          Time:                   

 

Friday, Aug. 16                  at Louisville Trinity                           7:30 p.m.            

Aug. 23 or 24                      University Christian (Fla.)             7:30 p.m.            

Friday, Aug. 30                  Campbell County                             7 p.m.                  

Friday, Sept. 6                   Bryan Station                                     7:30 p.m.            

Saturday, Sept. 14           at John Hardin                                   7 p.m.                  

Saturday, Sept. 21           at Paducah Tilghman                      7 p.m.                  

Saturday, Sept. 28           at Covington Catholic*                   1 p.m.                  

Friday, Oct. 4                      Harrison County*                             7 p.m.                  

Friday, Oct. 18                   Covington Holmes*                        7 p.m.                  

Friday, Oct. 25                   at Cincinnati Elder                            7:30 p.m.            

Friday, Nov. 1                    Warren Central                                 7:30 p.m.            

Note: All times Eastern.

*- Class 4A, District 7 contest

One Game Short

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS – The winner of the 9th Region girls basketball tournament would most likely see someone turn in a game for the ages.

Unfortunately for the Blue and White, it came from the other side in the form of Olivia Voskuhl. The senior guard/forward and Cleveland State signee made 11-of-16 shots including 6-of-9 from three-point range to score 28 points and lead the Notre Dame Pandas to a 63-44 victory Monday at the Bank of Kentucky Center on the campus of Northern Kentucky University.

“Voskuhl just took over,” said Jaime Walz-Richey, Highlands head coach. “She was making shots with people in her face. It was a night she was unstoppable. We couldn’t do anything about it.”

The Pandas made 24-of-49 shots for 49 percent including 6-of-16 from three-point range for 38 percent. Notre Dame hit 61 percent (14-of-23) from the floor in the second half and 9-of-13 free-throw attempts for 69 percent overall.

Voskuhl had plenty of help. Paige Kellam added 12 points and Haylee Smith added 11.

“(Voskuhl) is a great shooter,” said Nicole Levandusky, Notre Dame head coach. “She has a sweet jump shot. She’s playing at the top of her game. You can’t ask for anything more.”

Notre Dame finished at the same point Highlands did a year ago falling 62-58 to Boone County in overtime. The Pandas came out on a mission of redemption this year and finished 16-0 in region play. They’ve won 15 in a row to move to 26-5. Notre Dame last won the region in 2007.

On the other hand, Highlands saw its 10-game winning streak snapped finishing 26-8 overall. The Bluebirds finished 16-3 in region play with two of those losses coming to the Pandas. Notre Dame won the regular-season meeting, 63-48 in Park Hills on Jan. 8.

“We told them Notre Dame is a very good team,” Richey said. “We can see them going into Saturday morning in the state tournament. They’re very long and solid. They move the ball extremely well and rebound. They got a lot of offensive rebounds that hurt us in the first half.”

This marked the first appearance for Highlands in the title game since 2002. The Bluebirds had played in nine straight region title games between 1994 and 2002. Richey led Highlands to region crowns in 1994, 1995 and 1996 and current Dixie Heights head coach Tara Boothe-Smith led the Bluebirds to titles in 2000 and 2001.

The Twin Towers gave valiant efforts in their final games for Highlands. Leah Schaefer scored 11 and Jesse “Dirt” Daley added nine. The duo joined the 1,000-point club earlier this year.

“(Notre Dame) is a great team,” Schaefer said. “They hit a lot of shots. We tried to keep pushing it for a while. We fought to the end. I couldn’t ask for a better team to play with. They’re awesome.”

The Bluebirds graduate six seniors. The other four are Emilie Parton, Ava Abner, Vanessa Fisse and Kelsey Clark. Parton scored seven.

Brianna Adler matched Schaefer with 11 points. Adler and point guard Haley Coffey will be the two returning starters for Highlands next year. Returning players like Alex Combs, McKenzie Leigh and Lydia Graves will be counted on to lead the team next year.

“Seeing how much (the seniors) wanted it will really motivate me because it makes me realize now that there’s no more practices, team bonding, games or anything,” Leigh said. “It makes me want (to win) all the more.”

Notre Dame outscored Highland, 1.12-.78 in points per possession. Highlands hit 13-of-43 shots for 30 percent including 4-of-13 three-point attempts for 31 percent. The Bluebirds made just 14-of-25 free-throw attempts for 56 percent.

“Our defense has been our key all year,” Levandusky said. “They bought into it. That’s the big thing. Defense wins championships.”

The Pandas won the rebounding battle, 38-18 including 13-5 on the offensive glass. Smith led Notre Dame with 11 rebounds for a double-double and Schaefer led Highlands with six.

Highlands turned up the pressure defensively to get back into the game. Notre Dame committed 15 turnovers to 10. The Bluebirds had eight steals to five for the Pandas. Schaefer and Parton led Highlands with two thefts each.

Highlands led just once in the game at 3-2. It came with 5:48 left in the first quarter after an Adler three-pointer.

The Pandas went on an 8-0 run to go up for good at 10-3. Notre Dame led 15-7 after the first quarter and 23-15 at halftime.

Highlands trimmed the margin to 30-26 with a 7-0 run. Parton hit a three-pointer before Schaefer drew a foul and the Notre Dame bench received a technical foul. But Highlands also missed four free throws during that run.

“We had our chances there,” Richey said. “We just couldn’t convert. You have to give the Notre Dame staff credit. They came out and made tough shots when they needed to.”

Kellam answered with two buckets for Notre Dame. After Adler made a three-pointer, Voskuhl exploded for 13 in a row to put the Pandas back up 47-29.

Highlands trimmed the margin to 48-36 halfway through the fourth quarter. But Notre Dame increased it to as much as 22 at 62-40 with 1:09 left in the game.

Notre Dame graduates just two seniors. They are Voskuhl and guard Kindsey Bernhard.

Playing for a Championship

G. Michael Graham Photo. Highlands senior forward Leah Schaefer (23) sets up for a free-throw attempt in the third quarter of Sunday's 9th Region semifinal contest against Ryle at Northern Kentucky University. Schaefer scored 10 points in Highlands' first semifinal win since 2002. The Bluebirds beat the Lady Raiders, 60-44 and will battle the Notre Dame Pandas for the crown Monday at 7 p.m.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS – It’s been a theme all year for the Blue and White.

The Highlands Bluebirds girls basketball team has had to overcome tough stretches to win games and Sunday was no different. The Bluebirds found themselves down just 21-19 at halftime despite a rough half.

But Highlands (26-7) turned things up 10 notches in the second half to beat the Ryle Lady Raiders, 60-44 in the 9th Region semifinals. The Bluebirds outscored Ryle, 19-6 to turn the halftime deficit into a 38-27 lead entering the fourth quarter before pulling away.

The end result for the Bluebirds is their first trip to the 9th Region title game since 2002 when current Dixie Heights head coach Tara Boothe-Smith was a senior. Jaime Walz-Richey became head coach the following year and Highlands had lost in its previous three region semifinal appearances in 2004, 2007 and 2009.

“These six seniors set a goal when they started playing that they wanted to be in the region championship,” Richey said. “They just continued to play hard. They didn’t get down after the first half. We played one of our worst halves in the first half. We told them what they needed to do and they came out and executed. All the credit goes to the girls. They did what we asked them to do in the second half.”

Highlands played in nine straight region championship games from 1994 to 2002. Walz-Richey led the Bluebirds to region crowns from 1994 to 1996 and Boothe-Smith led Highlands to crowns in 2000 and 2001. Highlands finished state runner-up in 1994.

Highlands faces Notre Dame at 7 p.m. for the title Monday. The Pandas won the regular-season meeting, 63-48 on Jan. 8 in Park Hills. But Highlands hopes to play more relaxed.

“We just have to come out and play our game and we’ll be fine,” said Emilie Parton, Highlands senior. “They’re the ones with all the pressure.”

Notre Dame has won 14 in a row and 18 of its last 19 contests and four in a row against Highlands. The Bluebirds last beat the Pandas, 66-43 on Jan. 4, 2010 in Park Hills.

Highlands ended up shooting an amazing 46 percent from the field with three three-pointers making 17-of-37 shots. The Bluebirds made 11-of-18 shots for 61 percent in the first half after hitting 6-of-19 in the first half for 32 percent.

They made 23-of-31 free throws for 74 percent including 10-of-16 in the fourth quarter for 63 percent. Vanessa Fisse made 8-of-10 attempts for Highlands on her way to 12 points and freshman Brianna Adler made all six attempts on her way to nine points. Ava Abner scored all five of her points at the free-throw line making 5-of-6 attempts.

“If you look at teams that have won region championships, they’re not led by freshmen or eighth-graders, they’re led by seniors,” Richey said. “We’ve been telling her. When Vanessa plays well, we win. We have a bunch of seniors with this group. They’re displaying it with what they do.”

Ryle made 16-of-48 shots for 33 percent, including five three-pointers. The Lady Raiders (12-18) also made just 7-of-12 free throws for 58 percent.

Highlands once again saw balanced scoring as eight players scored. The Bluebird bench outscored Ryle, 27-3. After Fisse, Leah Schaefer and Parton tallied 10 points.

“I was really focused,” Fisse said. “I knew if we lost, our senior season would be done. I didn’t want that to happen yet. We did what we needed to do to win.”

McKell Oliverio led Ryle with 12 points and Anna  Monobe added 11. Highlands held guards Dawn Johnson to nine and Katie Connor to no points. Freshman Carly Lange added nine for the Lad Raiders. Johnson did not play in the regular-season contest Highlands won 76-56 on Jan. 11 in Fort Thomas.

“We knew we had to watch (Connor) and not let her get hot on the three-point line,” Richey said. “We did a great job.”

Highlands did a much better job taking care of the basketball. The Bluebirds had 16 assists, eight steals and just seven turnovers to 10 assists, three steals and 12 turnover for the Raiders.

Abner led Highlands with four assists and four steals and Adler made four assists. Monobe led Ryle with six dishes.

The Bluebirds also won the rebounding battle, 31-25. Schaefer led Highlands with eight and Lange grabbed nine for Ryle.

Highlands used a 9-0 run to go up 9-3 with 3:30 left in the first half. The Bluebirds attacked the Ryle 2-3 zone. Haley Coffey made a three-pointer to tie the game at three and Schafer followed with an offensive putback before Fisse made two free throws and Parton hit a jumper on the right side.

But after a timeout, Ryle finished the quarter on an 11-0 run. Monobe hit a jumper in the center with 36 seconds remaining to put the Lady Raiders up 14-9 entering the second quarter.

Ryle led by six twice in the second quarter. But Highlands finished the half with a 6-2 run. Jesse “Dirt” Daley made two free throws and Schaefer scored twice near the rim.

“Leah and Ava dressed for a semifinal game (as eighth-graders in 2009) when we lost,” Richey said. “I think it was just tightness. I told them before the game, ‘You don’t look relaxed.’ Just go out there and play the game of basketball. This is what you like to do. I think they finally did that in the second half.”

The Bluebirds used a 7-0 run to start the second half and go up for good at 26-21 with 5:30 left in the third. Schaefer scored again near the rim and made two free throws before Adler made a three-pointer.

“Jaime said at the beginning it would be a game of runs,” Schaefer said. “We got on a little run and tried to stay up (intensity-wise). It gave us a lot more confidence.”

Highlands led by as much as 12 at one point in the quarter after two Adler free throws. Adler added two more free throws with 14.5 to finish the quarter and give the Bluebirds their 11-point lead entering the fourth quarter.

The Bluebirds extended their lead to 15 at 48-33 midway through the fourth quarter before the Lady Raiders made their run. They trimmed the margin to six twice in the final 2:03. But Parton answered with two breakaway lay-ups. The second one put Highlands up 52-44 with about a minute and half left in the game.

“They were coming back so we had to do something,” Parton said. “We finally broke the press. We didn’t freak out when they started pressing us so that really helped.”

The Blubirds finished the game with a 10-0 run. Parton made three lay-ups during that run.

Ryle graduates four seniors. They are Johnson, Connor, Monobe and Oliverio.  

 

Molding a Winner at Dixie

G. Michael Graham Photo. Dixie Heights head coach Tara Boothe-Smith (kneeling) goes over strategy with her assistants in the 9th Region quarterfinals against Ryle on Friday at Northern Kentucky University. Smith, a 2002 Highlands graduate, guided the Lady Colonels to their first 34th District title since 2008 this year.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

Tara Boothe-Smith won a lot as a player at Highlands and Xavier University.

Now she’s trying to mold that mentality into the Dixie Heights Lady Colonels basketball program. In 2011, Smith took over a team that had not had a winning season since the 2004-05 campaign and had not been to the 9th Region tournament since its last 34th District title in 2008.

After two seasons, Dixie Heights is 26-38 under the 2002 Highlands graduate’s guidance. The Lady Colonels ended one drought with a 9th Region appearance and 10-22 record in the 2011-2012 campaign.

“That’s something we tried to get across to them,” Smith said. “In two years, to make that turnaround, that’s something to be proud of.”

Dixie Heights improved to 16-16 this year and won the district title. The Lady Colonels lost 51-34 to Ryle in the first round of the region tournament for the second straight year. But it was closer than last year’s 72-38 defeat.

“I think what you see happening is what made it appealing to me,” Smith said. “I know we can be successful at Dixie. I know there are players here and our (Director of Athletics Matt Wilhoite) is very supportive. It was a no-brainer.”

Smith spent one season as an assistant under Jaime Walz-Richey at Highlands before taking the job. Prior to that, she spent three years as an assistant at the University of New Hampshire. Richey and Smith are the top two career point-scorers at Highlands.

“We talked that year and I told her, ‘If you want your own program, apply,” Richey said. “She applied for some different jobs and decided Dixie was a good fit for her.”

Dixie Heights will graduate just two seniors from this year’s team. They are Meggie Malone and Aubrey Moore. Smith and staff have the luxury of building around sophomore center Liza Tibbs next year and junior forward Alexis Strong.

“(Smith) always has high expectations of us,” Tibbs said. “She didn’t tell us we wouldn’t be in a game. She always thought that if we played our hardest, we’d be in the game and could play with any team.”

There were some big adjustments going from coaching college players to high school players. The biggest was not being able to practice whenever the staff wants.

“You get two hours a day pretty much,” Smith said. “In college, you can pretty much hone your time. We would like to do more stuff, but it’s not really there.”

Smith also has to deal with the psychology of teen-age girls. It takes different techniques to motivate players.

“I look at them as basketball players and I treat them that way,” Smith said. “That’s how they respond. You may have more of the drama with girls, but they just come out and play. That’s what I expect.”

Smith also has to deal with balancing coaching and family life. Smith and her husband Steve, a native of Florida, have a son Austin and daughter Peyton.

“Between my husband and parents (Richard and Judy Boothe), I have a great support system,” Smith said. “They (husband and parents) help watch (the kids). They come to practice with me sometimes. (The kids) are just as much a part of the team as anyone. The players on the team expect them to be there. It’s a good atmosphere.”

Smith was pregnant with Peyton that first season. But she handled that challenge just fine.

“You’d have to ask the team this,” Smith said. “I don’t know if I was a bit more moody. The end of the season was near my due date. But it wasn’t that bad.”

Smith has faced Richey and her alma mater twice. Highlands won both contest including a 64-30 loss in Fort Thomas to open this season in a game that saw Highlands standout and Xavier University signee Leah Schaefer join them in the 1,000-point club. But Smith and Richey do not make those matchups about them.

“For the kids on the team, it’s just another game,” Smith said. “I’m not playing and Jaime is not playing. They’re getting up for every game and trying to prepare for every team.”   

Smith scored more than 2,000 points in her career at Highlands and led the Bluebirds to four straight 9th Region title game appearances. That including titles in 2000 and 2001 before going to Xavier.

At Xavier, Smith finished as the school’s all-time leading scorer and rebounder for both genders with 2,324 career points and 1,004 rebounds. Smith then spent a year overseas playing in Switzerland’s elite league for Universite BC Neuchatel. That team won the Swiss Championship and she earned league Most Valuable Player honors.

200 and Advancing



G. Michael Graham Photo. Highlands post Alex Combs (42) prepares to shoot a free throw in Friday's 9th Region quarterfinal contest against Covington Holmes. Highlands won 55-42 for its first region win since 2009 and 200th since head coach Jaime Walz-Richey took over in 2002.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS – The win was not a surprise.

But it still marked a huge victory for several reasons. The most important reason is the Highlands Bluebirds girls basketball team advanced to the 9th Region semifinals for the first time since 2009 with the 55-42 win over the Covington Holmes Lady Bulldogs on Friday at the Bank of Kentucky Center at Northern Kentucky University.

The win also marked the 200th victory in the 11-year tenure of Jaime Walz-Richey against 124 defeats. Highlands also improved to 25-7 with its ninth consecutive win and matched the 2008-09 team for the most wins in a season since Richey became head coach.

“Thankfully, we had that lead because we had a meltdown in the second half that we hadn’t seen since the beginning of the year,” Richey said. “We were just running away from the ball on offense. On defense, we weren’t rebounding the ball.”

Like most coaches do, Richey quickly downplayed the milestone win. She pointed out she does not play like she did during her remarkable high school career when she scored a state-record 4,948 points in the 90s.

This marked just the fourth time the Bluebirds won in the region quarterfinals since 2002. They lost in the regional semifinals in 2004, 2007 and 2009.

Highlands once again won with defense and offensive balance. The Bluebirds made 19-of-42 shots for 45 percent with six three-pointers and held the Lady Bulldogs to 13-of-47 shooting for 28 percent and three triples.

Highlands saw nine different players score. Leah Schaefer led the way with 14 points and Emilie Parton scored 10. Teammate Brianna Adler made two three-pointers on her way to nine points with Jesse “Dirt” Daley and Haley Coffey following with eight and seven respectively.

“We’ve had someone step up every single game,” Richey said. “In the districts, it was Vanessa Fisse. Emilie has been playing well lately. We were able to play eight or nine people in the first half.”

Tamra Holder did play for Holmes and led the way with 12 points. But Highlands held sophomore guard Deja Turner to just nine points.

“(Richey) told us to make (Turner) go left,” said Ava Abner, Highlands guard. “In the first three quarters, we definitely did that. When we did, we had help side (defense). The biggest key is the girls were in the gaps. That’s how we stopped them defensively. We let up in the fourth quarter. But a win is a win.”

The Lady Bulldogs got back in the game with their rebounding. They won that battle 39-27, including 19-8 on the offensive glass. Jameela Salaah led Holmes with 11 rebounds and Daley led Highlands with eight.

Highlands built a 19-point halftime lead with good defensive pressure. Holmes recorded 10 of its 14 turnovers in the first half. Highlands recorded just 10 turnovers and had eight steals to six for the Lady Bulldogs. Abner led the Bluebirds with three thefts.

Highlands also distributed the ball better making 10 assists to four for Holmes. Schaefer, Abner and Alex Combs dished out two assists each.

The Bluebirds surged ahead for good with a 16-0 run to finish the first quarter and lead 18-4. Parton scored eight points during the run making consecutive three-pointers from the left corner and Adler finished it with a four-point play with 4.9 seconds remaining. She made a three-pointer from the right corner on an isolation play and made the ensuring free throw.

Highlands finished off the second half with a 4-0 run to go up 35-16 at halftime. Schaefer made a three-pointer from the right wing with two seconds left.

Holmes started the first quarter in a 3-2 zone defense. But Parton’s three-pointers made the Lady Bulldogs extend their defense. That opened things up inside for Daley. Daley scored all eight of her points in that quarter.

“I knew going into the game they were going to double down because of how the game went the last time we played them (Daley scored 16 points in the last meeting),” Daley said. “So I started kicking it out more. Once we started hitting three’s, they couldn’t double-team anymore. My teammates talk to me and let me know how many girls are guarding me.”

Holmes came out in the second half in a 1-1-3 zone defense and again packed things in tight in the paint. The Lady Bulldogs won the third quarter just 7-6 to trail 41-23 entering the fourth quarter. Adler and Coffey scored Highlands’ lone buckets on three-pointers.

“We had worked on the 1-1-3 the entire week,” said Scott Calcaterra, Holmes head coach. “After we got the draw against Highlands, I knew I would have to come up with something different than what they’d seen. Jaime is such an experienced coach that I felt if we went to it too early, they’d do something different.”

Highlands appeared to put the game away with a 7-2 run to start the quarter. The Bluebirds led 48-25 after Parton scored and 50-28 with 5:05 remaining following a Fisse score.

But Holmes did not go away quietly. The Lady Bulldogs used a 14-0 run to trim the margin to 50-42 with a minute left using pressure defense. But Highlands made 5-of-8 free throws in the final minute to pull away.

“The guards definitely had to take control of the game and slow it down a bit,” Coffey said. “We had to pass it to the post players and have them keep it under control also.”

Highlands also beat Holmes, 76-60 on Jan. 13. The Bluebirds face a rematch with Union Ryle in the semifinals Sunday at 1:30 p.m. Highlands dominated the Lady Raiders, 76-56 on Jan. 11 in Fort Thomas. Highlands is 4-0 in 9th Region rematches this season.

But in that contest, Ryle played without injured guard Dawn Johnson. That started a seven-game losing streak for the Lady Raiders (12-18).

“We have to play our game and know where they’re shooters are,” Richey said. “We’re going to have to make some adjustments with Dawn playing. They have to match up against us too so we’ll see.”

Ryle hopes to run up and down the court like crazy. The Bluebirds have the size advantage over the Lady Raiders.

The winner faces either Boone County or Notre Dame on Monday at 7 p.m. for the region crown. Boone County has won five of the last nine region titles.