The Highland basketball team has started off their season on the right foot.
The Huskies won all three games and beat opponents by an average of 17 points per game, holding the teams they played to 40, 42 and 46 points.
“We went 3-0 and that’s the best we can do,” Highland coach Bill Zywiec said. “I thought we played better on Friday against Mediapolis.”
The Huskies started their week on Tuesday against Louisa-Muscatine, winning 61-42. The Huskies led by 30 points entering the fourth quarter.
The Huskies had four players reach double figures in the win. Zack Lasek and Mason McFarland scored 14 points, Bill Laughlin scored 12 on a perfect 5-5 shooting and Cole Adamson had 10.
The Huskies were able to get out in transition thanks to 17 steals including six from Adamson.
One thing that impressed Zywiec about the game was the Huskies ability to get to the free throw line and make those shots. Last year’s team shot 59.9% from the free throw line and in their first game the Huskies shot 20-22.
“I’m just really impressed with how well they’re playing together as a team,” Zywiec said.
He said the players at Highland are very willing to set up teammates for good shots and that has been evident through their first three wins.
“I really, really like how unselfish we were with the ball. I think our patience has been a positive on the offensive end,” Zywiec said.
That patience was needed as the Huskies closed out Holy Trinity Catholic 57-46 on Thursday in a conference crossover.
The Huskies had 13 assists on 20 field goals. Zack Lasek led the team in scoring against Holy Trinity with 22 points on 10-13 shooting. He also grabbed 15 rebounds including seven offensive. Beyond Lasek, the Huskies were balanced with 10 each from Laughlin and McFarland then Adamson having nine and Derrick Sandburg six.
The Huskies had been facing a weird practice schedule along with practicing on the Highland Middle School court, which is smaller than a typical basketball court. Zywiec said it had an effect on their spacing during the Holy Trinity Game. The team sat down and watched some film to try and fix the errors and they responded.
Friday featured a 61-40 rout of Mediapolis that included a 40-15 score in favor of Highland at halftime. Across the board again it was balance. Cole Adamson led the team in scoring with 16, Zack Lasek had 14, Mason McFarland 12, Bill Laughlin eight and Derick Sandburg five points.
One thing to keep an eye on as the Huskies continue to play is their shooting percentage. Currently Bill Laughlin is 11-12 on field goals this season and Zack Lasek is shooting 60% after 37 attempts. They also are 45% from the charity stripe as a team.
The Huskies played Pekin on Tuesday and host Wapello on Friday. The Huskies will be back to playing their games at home as the high school gym roof was replaced over the last week.