The Highlands boys basketball team did not have long to dwell on its 26-point home loss to Walton-Verona on Friday with five-time defending 16th Region champion Ashland Blazer in for the last game of the Carespring Holiday Classic.
Highlands responded with a 67-64 win over the Tomcats, shooting 55% from the field.
“We talked a lot about just being able to respond and meeting the challenge,” Highlands head coach Kevin Listerman said. “We talked to the guys especially about how they have to raise their level of their competition and our focus. We have some inexperienced guys who are starting to figure out what it means to play at 7:30 p.m. Those guys really stepped up. We were very focused and played the way that we’re capable of.”
The Bluebirds put four players in double figures led by Nathan Vinson with 17 points. Their leading scorer coming into the game Brayden Moves scored 13, but the Bluebirds received two big boosts from Hank Shick and Vinny Listerman with 15 and 12, respectively. Shick made three 3-pointers.
“It’s different. Last year, I got a taste of it so this year, I’m one of the returning members,” Vinny Listerman said of adjusting to the varsity level. “I have to bring a lot of leadership to the team and understand how to get guys to settle down and just relax out there. They have to have confidence in what they’re doing and trust that the work they’ve put in is going to pay off.”
Highlands won the rebounding battle, 26-20. Moeves led the Bluebirds with seven.
The Bluebirds (6-4) head south to Florida for three games in the Innisfree Hotels Pensacola Beach Classic in Pensacola Beach. The first game is Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. against Walker Valley (Tennessee).
Boys Basketball
Walton-Verona 83, Cincinnati TrailBlazers Home school (Ohio) 54
The Bearcats won their second game of the Carespring Holiday Classic in convincing fashion.
Aaron Gutman led the way scoring 28 points and Julian Dixon scored 21. Zach Smith scored 12 as eight different Bearcats scored.
Walton-Verona (8-3) takes on Augusta to open the Mason County Invitational on Thursday at 2 p.m.
Lloyd Memorial 68, Belmont (Ohio) 50
The Juggernauts topped the out of state opponent in the final game before Christmas.
Lloyd Memorial shot 70% from the field including 7-of-9 three-pointers. EJ Walker led the way scoring 25 points making four three-pointers and Carter Bresser scored 11.
Lloyd (6-4) hosts Hamilton (Ohio) on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
Beechwood 56, Cincinnati Country Day (Ohio) 51
The Tigers got above the .500 mark in the victory.
Carson Blackburn led Beechwood with 17 points and Jack Sullivan followed with 15 points.
Beechwood (4-3) takes on Williamsburg Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in the Battle on the River at Lewis County.
Louisville Trinity 76, Newport 71 (OT)
The Wildcats led by 15 with just more than five minutes left, but could not hold on.
Newport (8-3) hit 49% from the field and grabbed 31 rebounds. Taylen Kinney and DeShaun Jackson led Newport scoring 27 and 16 points, respectively. Jabari Covington scored eight and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.
Newport takes on two Indiana opponents in Jennings County and New Palestine at 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. in the Ray Furney Holiday Classic in Lawrenceburg (Indiana) on Friday.
Beth Haven 76, Ryle 58
The Raiders lost to the hosts in the championship game of the Beth Haven Holiday Classic in Louisville.
Ryle (6-5) travels to Milford (Ohio) on Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Girls Basketball
Ryle loses to GRC in White, Greer and Maggard Holiday Classic Championship
Ryle made it to the championship game of the tournament at Lexington Catholic, but could not stop the Cardinals from a three-peat in the White, Greer and Maggard Holiday Classic, falling 79-43.
George Rogers Clark saw six players score in double figures in the convincing win. The Cardinals won the rebounding battle, 34-25 outscoring the Raiders, 18-9 in second chance points.
Quinn Eubank had a near double-double for Ryle scoring 17 points and grabbing nine rebounds. Sarah Baker added eight.
Ryle (7-3) made it to the championship game edging the Christian Academy of Louisville, 62-58. Eubank put up a double-double with 27 points and 10 rebounds. Jaelyn Jones and Baker followed with 13 each. Ryle outscored CAL, 18-5 in second chance points.
The Raiders host Boyd County on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.
Henry Clay 51, Dixie Heights 46
The Colonels lost the final game in the White, Greer and Maggard Holiday Classic at Lexington Catholic.
Catherine Buddenberg and Abby Thelen led Dixie Heights scoring 11 points each.
Dixie Heights (5-5) hosts Cooper on Friday at 7 p.m.
Beechwood 66, Dominion Academy (Ohio) 17
The Tigers moved back to .500 at 4-4 with the convincing win.
Gia Jones put up 30 points to lead the Tigers, making eight 3-pointers. Charley Conarroe and Riley Boyd followed with 11 and 10 points, respectively, as Beechwood made 14 three-pointers overall.
Beechwood takes on Lloyd Memorial at 1 p.m. in the Stephanie Wilson Memorial Tournament on Thursday at 1 p.m.
Other Girls Basketball Score
Southwestern 59, Conner 50