Final 46-43 from update thread.

Really wierd game. Mason has a season high 20 turnovers and neither teams scores a FG in the fourth qtr. Mason is down the whole second half and battles back to tie it at 43 and referee calls a touch foul on Mason. Highlands misses both FT's and Mason tries to hold the ball but a charge call is called. Mason had a wide open three to take the lead and another to tie but no dice. Highlands really pounds the ball into the floor and takes time off the clock. It worked tonight.

Most of Mason turnovers were unforced which is really out of the norm for this group of seniors. All five can really handle the ball.

Most of Mason turnovers were unforced which is really out of the norm for this group of seniors. All five can really handle the ball.

 

Unforced? I saw a lot of deflections and steals by the HHS kids. Can you define "most"?

Unforced? I saw a lot of deflections and steals by the HHS kids. Can you define "most"?

 

You are right, it is easy to deflect the ball when we throw it right at the defender. Dribbled the ball off our foot or leg three times. They are unforced.

Appeared refs really favored Mason tonight. Highlands couldn't get a call all night. Does road team supply the officials?

^

Wrong. HHS had double free throw attempts.

Appeared refs really favored Mason tonight. Highlands couldn't get a call all night. Does road team supply the officials?

 

Funny!!! Yes, they rode the bus. That is why we only shot two FT's until the fourth QTR.

Yes and Highlands was awful from line tonight or this could have been a 10 point win. Credit the defense for causing Mason to turn it over. Both teams played hard. Good luck to both teams going forward.

You are right, it is easy to deflect the ball when we throw it right at the defender. Dribbled the ball off our foot or leg three times. They are unforced.

 

Well that still doesn't sound like most! And you don't think the hhs kids did anything to be in position to get those deflections and steals?? You're saying the MC kids hardly ever turn the ball over and they just decided tonight to throw it to the hhs kids? Interesting! We must have watched a different game.

 

Btw, did HHS have any unforced turnovers?

 

Just funny how you try to make it look like MC played bad and HHS didn't really have anything to do with it. Both teams had unforced turnover, but no way were "most" of the MC turnovers unforced. Again, define "most" for me. You've named maybe 3-5 out of 20 so far.

 

I love this MC team. Very fun to watch. But they got beat tonight in a very fun game to watch where both teams played their heart out.

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.

 

With the game tied at 43 with 34 seconds left, Highlands senior Jenna Martin stepped to the free-throw line and made 1-of-2 attempts to put the hosts up 44-43.

 

Then sophomore Zoie Barth came up with a crucial charge on the defensive end with 13 seconds left. Highlands managed to dribble off eight seconds when Lauren Epperson found Barth. Barth hit both free throws to make the final score of 46-43.

 

"Every play counts," said Jaime Walz-Richey, Highlands Head Coach. "We made some big plays at the end and we didn't make mistakes. It was a game that we didn't shoot free throws very well. But we found a way to win."

 

Martin led Highlands with 16 points making 6-of-15 shots to go with three assists and two steals. Barth and Epperson followed with 11 and senior Emma Little scored the other eight. Barth had two assists and five steals. Epperson and Martin led Highlands with four rebounds each and sophomore Chloe Jansen chipped in three assists.

 

"We just want to take control of the tempo of the game," Martin said. "We wanted it more than (they did). We executed all of our plays. I think we'll have to string together performances like that to be able to win the region."

 

Highlands hit just 7-of-16 free throws for 44 percent and 16-of-44 shots for 36 percent including 7-of-16 from three-point range for 44 percent. Mason County made 17-of-37 shots for 46 percent including 3-of-15 from outside for 20 percent in addition to 6-of-8 free throws for 75 percent.

 

Mason County did have some size inside surrounded with quality shooters. Senior guard Whitney O'Mara led the Lady Royals with 14 points with senior forwards Briana McNutt and Maddie Boone scoring eight each.

 

Mason County won the rebounding battle, 29-20. McNutt and junior guard/forward Kara Mogan had six each. Highlands trailed 30-29 at halftime and held the Lady Royals to just 13 points in the second half.

 

A big difference in the game came in the turnover department. Highlands recorded 12 steals on 18 Mason County turnovers while the turning the ball over just eight times on seven Lady Royal steals. Sophomore Morgan Coffey followed Martin and Barth with two steals.

 

Highlands hopes to wrap up a fourth straight undisputed top seed in the 36th District Tournament at home Saturday against Newport (4-11, 0-2). Game time is 7:30 p.m.

 

Fort Thomas Matters Sports: Grinding Out Victories

Congrats to the LadyBirds on the big win.

 

I love hearing about kids taking charges to steal possession late in games. Its as good as a huge shot to go ahead IMO. Kudos to Zoie Barth, she's the real deal.

Nice win for the birds. When kids play hard and your coaching staff always has a good game plan thats a tough combo to beat.

Nice win for the birds. When kids play hard and your coaching staff always has a good game plan thats a tough combo to beat.

Big win for Highlands.