Boys Tri-County Recap

Another busy week was on tap for the Highland Girls and Boys Basketball teams, as the calendar flipped to February. 

Action tipped off last Monday night in Thornburg for the Highland boys team. Coming into the night, both teams had a combined one win, with Highland having scored that victory over English Valleys back in December. 

With both teams hungry for a win, Highland proved themselves hungrier, smashing the Trojans by a final of 77-57. 

In what was by far their best showing of the season, the Huskies outscored the Trojans in every quarter but the fourth. Senior Center Nicolas Oriano had one of the best games of his career with 19 points and 11 rebounds to complete a double-double. 

Sophomore Bryce Hazelett had a 16-point performance. Junior Colten Sypherd notched eight points along with five rebounds. Fellow Junior Logan McFarland passed out three assists. Senior Gaige Mercer led the Trojans with 17 points.

Winfield-Mount Union Recaps

Senior Night had arrived for the Highland Girls and Boys Basketball teams, and both sides hoped to send their seniors off with a win last Tuesday night. 

Up first were the Highland girls as they took their best shot to the visiting Wolves from Winfield. 

Typically, the game proceedings see the Huskie girls hop out in front early, but this time WMU had a small 4-3 lead after three minutes. Things quickly turned the way of Highland with baskets made from three-point land by Senior Kylie Allen and Freshman Katelyn Thomann. 

The aid from Allen and Thomann gave the Huskies a 15-6 lead after the first quarter that would never be given up, as Highland smothered the Wolves once again this season by a final of 49-32.

Senior Sarah Burton had the opportunity to accomplish something that can only be described as special on her senior night, scoring 1,000 points for her illustrious high school basketball career. 

With 2:31 remaining in the first half, Burton took her chance, driving in on Winfield’s Madisen Kellogg, banking the ball into the basket off-glass, earning the and-one opportunity as well. All Huskie fans stood up and cheered, waving colorful signs that read “1,000 career points!” and “Congratulations Sarah!” 

Burton made sure to finish the play at the charity stripe too.

Four of Highland’s five seniors landed on the scoreboard with Burton leading the charge at 21. Junior Katie Herrig finished her night with 10 points. Winfield was led by Sophomore Madisen Kellogg with 15 points.

After Senior Night ceremonies were completed in-between games, the Highland boys took the court with the mammoth task of facing the fourth ranked WMU boys. 

If the Huskies were going to hang with the Wolves, they had to keep up with them on the scoreboard, something that has plagued them this season. The slow starts continued for Highland, as they were no match for the athleticism of the mighty Wolves, falling by a final of 76-15.

Nicolas Oriano, the lone Highland senior on the boys side ended up leading his team in scoring with six points. Juniors Louis Horak and Logan McFarland had four and three points, respectively. Senior Carter Loyd led Winfield with 17 points.

Girls SEISC Shootout Recap

With the postseason nearing, the Highland Girls Basketball team welcomed the Bulldogs of Mediapolis to Riverside for the annual Southeast Iowa Super Conference Shootout game. Both teams were given the third seed in their division by the SEISC for this matchup. 

Statistics showed this clash as a big test for the Huskie girls, as the Bulldogs averaged almost 70 points-per-game and a 44 percent shooting percentage coming into the game. 

Highland would have to find creative ways to score points and limit turnovers, and unfortunately, the Huskies struggled to see shots fall and turned over the basketball quite often. 

Highland’s defense managed to force more turnovers than Mediapolis is accustomed to, but it wasn’t enough as Jody Fink’s team couldn’t hang with the Bulldogs, falling at home 59-17.

Highland’s first three points came at the free throw line, as Sarah Burton cashed in all three on her way to an 11-point night. Katelyn Thomann captured Highland’s only three-pointer to complete her three-point performance off the bench. Stella Slaymaker had two points. Sophomore Grace Holsteen led Mediapolis with 17 points.

Boys Columbus Recap

If the Highland boys wanted to capture their first conference victory in quite some time, their matchup against the Columbus Wildcats last Thursday night in Columbus Junction might have been their best opportunity to do so given the remaining schedule. 

Back in December when these two teams met, things were tight all the way to the final buzzer, and this matchup proved no different. The Huskies grabbed a quick two-point edge after the first quarter, but a nine-point Columbus swing lost that lead heading into the locker room at halftime. The Wildcats were able to maintain their slim lead in the second half on their way to delivering a devastating loss to the Huskies by a final score of 56-50.

Bryce Hazelett capped off his week with a 20-point performance. Nicolas Oriano had 12 points, and Logan McFarland scored nine. Tim Hills-Carrier and Ellis Hills-Carrier led Columbus with 20 and 16 points, respectively.

What’s Next?

After a second matchup against Columbus was canceled, the Highland Girls Basketball team (14-6) now faces win-or-go-home situations for the rest of their season, as they will welcome the North Cedar Knights to their home court on Thursday, February 8th for the first round of the Class 1A Region 7 playoff bracket. Tipoff is slated for 7:00 p.m. 

Meanwhile, the Highland Boys Basketball team (2-16) still has two regular season games left to play. 

The first occurs on Monday, February 5th on the road against sixth ranked Keota at 7:30 p.m. Then, in a game postponed from the beginning of the season, the Huskies will welcome SEISC South opponent Holy Trinity Catholic to Riverside on Tuesday, February 6th. That game will also tip off at 7:30 p.m. The Highland boys then await their postseason opponent from the Iowa High School Athletic Association. District brackets are slated for release this week.