NC basketball teams win big

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbred basketball teams overwhelmed host 36th District opponents on Tuesday.

Highlands outlasts Holy Cross in overtime, 43-39

G. Michael Graham Photo. The Highlands Bluebirds go over strategy in Monday's win over Covington Holy Cross. Both teams are 2-1 on the season.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

It may take some time for certain aspects to really gel with this young girls basketball team.

But the Highlands Bluebirds took care of the determined Covington Holy Cross Lady Indians, 43-39 on Tuesday in Fort Thomas. Highlands won the overtime battle, 10-6 to pull out the 9th Region win. Both teams are 2-1 on the season.

Mueller's outstanding tenure at Highlands comes to close

G. Michael Graham Photo. Dale Mueller (center) goes over strategy in the scrimmage at Louisville Trinity in August. Mueller retired as Head Coach of the Highlands Bluebirds following a 20-year tenure that included a record of 250-36, 11 state championships and three runner-up finishes. He was 309-67 as a head coach overall in 29 season.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The great tenure came to an end today.

Dale Mueller stepped down as Head Football Coach of the vaunted Highlands Bluebirds today. He finished 309-67 in 29 years as a head coach and 250-36 in 20 seasons at Highlands.

Bluebird Notebook: Seniors go 56-4 in high school

G. Michael Graham Photo. Zach Harris (45) scores his second of three touchdowns in the Class 4A state championship game Saturday at Western Kentucky University.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The 31 seniors of the Highlands Bluebirds football team may have been disappointed to not win four state championships like the previous three did.

But the overall body of work will not be forgotten. Highlands finished 56-4 during that time. Only Belfrey and Mayfield have played as many games in Kentucky during that time.

Stairway to Seven dream falls seven seconds short

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

It seems like just a bad nightmare in many ways.

But it did happen.

The Collins Titans shocked the six-time state champion Highlands Bluebirds, 37-34 on Saturday at Western Kentucky University. Collins (13-2) snapped the longest playoff winning streak in state history at 34 in a row with a touchdown with seven seconds left.

NewCath fall short of 2A Repeat

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

BOWLING GREEN – When they look back at this one, it will come down to their drives to end the first half and start the second one.

The Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds did not convert on fourth down on both drives and it hurt them in a 34-26 loss to the Louisville DeSales Colts in the Class 2A state championship Saturday at Western Kentucky University. The Thoroughbreds (10-5) hoped for three championships in four years, but came up short. NewCath graduates 12 seniors from the team.

Highlands dominates Dayton, 69-23

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The Highlands Bluebirds girls basketball team earned its first win of the year Thursday.

Highlands (1-1) knocked off the host Dayton Lady Devils, 69-23 to open 36th District action. The teams played for seeding purposes in the postseason.

Highlands led 23-9 after one quarter and 46-15 at halftime. The Bluebirds held the Lady Devils to 30.8 percent (8-of-26) from the field while making 48.3 percent (28-of-58) overall. They also had nine assists to one for the Lady Devils.