Just got a call from someone in the know, and the bolded is what I was told.

 

What a bonehead move.

 

Doesn't sound like it would've changed the outcome but come on...you've gotta know better then that.

One wonderful stretch saw the Blue and White win six out of seven games.

 

But unfortunately, the Highlands Bluebirds (12-17 overall) could not bring any magic from that stretch into the last couple games of the season and carry it into the postseason. The second-seeded Bluebirds lost their last four games as a result including a 73-50 defeat to the third-seeded Newport Wildcats (15-15) Wednesday in the 36th District semifinals.

 

"We did a lot of good things throughout the year," said Kevin Listerman, Highlands Head Coach. "The biggest thing we have to learn is how to finish stronger. Our young kids did a lot of good things. It's a process so we have to stick with the process and continue to take strides. It's a tough thing. We're trying to get better every day. Our kids put forward a good effort. We ran into a team that was just hungrier, out-executed, out-coached and out-played us."

 

For the fourth time in five years, Newport and Newport Central Catholic will represent the district in the 9th Region Tournament at Northern Kentucky University's BB&T Arena. NewCath (19-12) has won the last eight district tournaments and won the 9th Region crown last year on its way to the Final Four of the state tournament at Rupp Arena in Lexington. Highlands last made the region tournament in 2014 and won its last district crown in 2008.

 

Highlands scored the first bucket of the game when Ryan Greene drove to the basket and hit a lay-up from the right side. But Newport reeled off 20 in a row to go up 20-2 after one and never looked back.

 

"We had a couple good looks," Listerman said. "They didn't go. Newport got out in transition and finished. They just did a great job of bottling things up. To loosen up a zone, you have to hit some shots. We didn't hit any early and got behind. We had a nice run there before halftime and the third quarter and just didn't have enough in the tank to complete the comeback."

 

The Bluebirds did not hit another field goal until senior Bryce Traylor hit a triple with 6:36 left in the second quarter. Highlands did answer with a 7-0 run in the second quarter before finishing with two buckets. Kyle Finfrock hit a jumper before feeding junior Griffin Huber for a score. Highlands trailed 28-17 at halftime.

 

Newport extended the margin to 15 in the third quarter before Highlands brought it into single digits. Carl Schoellman made a three-pointer with 1:40 left in the quarter to trim the margin to 38-32. The Bluebirds trailed just 42-36 entering the fourth quarter.

 

But the Wildcats started the fourth quarter strong with two buckets before Greene hit two free throws to make it 46-38 Newport with 6:51 left in the game. Newport then finished the game with a 10-0 run.

 

Highlands made 21-of-54 shots for 39 percent compared to 28-of-45 for 62 percent for Newport. The Wildcats also hit all 14 free throws with the Bluebirds making just 4-of-10 for 40 percent.

 

Newport won the rebounding battle, 34-20. Sophomore center Tahj Harding led the Wildcats with a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds with junior MeKell Burries recording 18 points and eight rebounds. Junior Najae Williams added 13 with Donnie Miller scoring 10 and Najee Willams had eight.

 

Traylor scored 13 in his final game for Highlands and sophomore Ben Sisson scored 10. Highlands graduates Finfrock, Traylor, Greene, Luke LaFrange, Brent Angel and Morgan Race. Listerman thanked them for their great effort on a daily basis. The Bluebirds won 12 games for the first time since the 2012-13 season.

 

"Kyle has been our biggest weapon, our biggest asset all year," Listerman said. "We tried to establish him early. They did a good job of taking him away. In a game like this, if the first couple shots go down, you tend to relax and play better. That's what Newport did."

 

Highlands will build around returning starters Braden Posey and Jacob Noe next season. Other key returning players include Sisson, Nate Roberts, Schoellman and Alex Starkey.

 

Fort Thomas Matters Sports: Tough Ending for Bluebird hoops

Bradley Greene not Ryan

Interesting reading Lisrerman's quotes. If the other team was hungrier, executed better and coached better it certainly points a lot of the blame back on himself. I don't know if that's good or bad.

 

Is the Kevin Listerman experiment working at Highlands? I don't have a dog in the fight here but I would be curious to know what some other Highlands fans feel about it as well as the disappointing loss.

Newport goes 14/14 on FTs

 

Great contribution from the Williams brothers.

 

Burries, Harding, Miller are talented players that have made steady improvement all year.

 

Newport is fun to watch. Next hurdle . . . NCC.

:popcorn:

 

You're so predictable.

 

Tell me, what are the boy Pioneer basketball players doing today?

Newport goes 14/14 on FTs

 

Great contribution from the Williams brothers.

 

Burries, Harding, Miller are talented players that have made steady improvement all year.

 

Newport is fun to watch. Next hurdle . . . NCC.

 

Going 14/14 is solid. Watched the Cooper/BCHS and Ryle/Conner game's last night and both seemed to miss FT's that could've really helped. It wouldn't have changed the outcome of Cooper/BCHS game but it could've swung the Ryle/Conner game for sure.

Newport made 28-of-45 shots for 62 percent. The Wildcats also hit all 14 free throws.

 

Hard for any team to beat that. Nice game for the Cats.

Newport made 28-of-45 shots for 62 percent. The Wildcats also hit all 14 free throws.

 

Hard for any team to beat that. Nice game for the Cats.

 

Shooting at point blank range versus shooting 15 to 18 footers will do that to you.

Interesting reading Lisrerman's quotes. If the other team was hungrier, executed better and coached better it certainly points a lot of the blame back on himself. I don't know if that's good or bad.

 

Is the Kevin Listerman experiment working at Highlands? I don't have a dog in the fight here but I would be curious to know what some other Highlands fans feel about it as well as the disappointing loss.

 

Is it an "experiment"? IMO, a big problem was the number of kids on the team as "varsity only". While I understand it is never easy to cut a kid that has been in your program for a few years and has put in the work in the offseason, it can create "chemistry" issues. There were 6 seniors this year and in the few games that I saw firsthand, 3 were major contributors and the other 3 played bit parts if at all. Problem is that 2 of those latter 3 saw quality minutes the year before and now frustration starts to set in and thus potential implosion.

 

Next year you potentially have 7 seniors again, 3 of which so little to no time in those games I saw. You then had a JV roster that was made up entirely of sophomores and one frosh who ended up moving back down to play when attrition took its toll at that level.

 

Obviously Kevin has plenty of kids that are interested in the program. Now the key is to get the right mix of kids that can be given a role and are willing to except that role come heck or high water.

 

Personally, I think Kevin is a good coach and given time (see Jeremy Baioni) he can get the program back to being competitive night in and night out with anyone in the region.