Ever since dressing for varsity as an eighth grader, Highlands 6-foot-2 center Marissa Green has displayed the potential to put up double-doubles consistently and has done it her three years in high school for the Bluebirds.
Green took that a step further on Saturday posting her third career triple-double with 24 points, 12 rebounds and 11 blocked shots in the 58-43 win over Assumption in the Simpson’s Tree Classic/H+W Sports Classic at Franklin County. Green was not the only Bluebird to post impressive numbers. Sophomore forward Katie Bucher tallied her first career double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
“They’ve been playing really well together as a team since the (Lady Invitational of the South) Christmas Tournament,” Highlands head coach Jaime Walz-Richey said. “Defensively, they’ve been playing really solid. It’s always helpful when you have Marissa in the back. Everyone is contributing offensively and defensively and that’s what we have to have.”
Highlands displayed some balance that the coaching staff has been working to build around Green for years. Eighth grade point guard Maren Orme also hit double-figures with 14 points.
“Bench energy is a really high thing for our team,” Orme said. “If we’re every down and the bench energy gets up, usually it gets us wanting to play harder and score because we really want to work hard for our bench.”
Highlands (8-5) has won four in a row and seven of its last eight games. The Bluebirds travel to Scott on Wednesday for a 7:30 p.m. game.
Girls Basketball
Cooper 74, Pulaski County 53
The third-ranked Jaguars won their 11th in a row and moved to 8-2 against Top 25 teams in the state with the convincing win in the Simpson’s Tree Classic/H+W Sports Classic at Franklin County.
Cooper displayed their usual balance against Pulaski County’s 2-3 match-up zone that started in a 2-2-1 press in the full court. Logan Palmer scored 17 points and Liz Freihofer scored 16 with Haylee Noel and Bella Deere scoring 11 and eight, respectively.
“We basically told the girls to get the ball in the middle because they like to pressure the perimeter,” Holthaus said. “We were able to get the ball inside a bit to Bella. When we’re able to work the ball inside and outside, we get a lot of good shots.”
Holthaus said Pulaski County (12-4) does not have a lot of size, but does space the floor and shoot it well. The Maroons made 10 three-pointers, but Cooper nearly equaled that with nine.
“That was the main thing we were focused on defensively,” Cooper guard Zene Thompson said. “We knew the rebounds would be long so we had to box out and get them. They had a lot of screening action. It was hard to know what they were going to do next because they all could shoot.”
Cooper (14-3) hosts Campbell County on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
Conner 56, Green County 36
The Cougars won their fourth straight, handling the 5th Region opponent in the the Simpson’s Tree Classic/H+W Sports Classic at Franklin County.
Anna Hamilton made her usual contributions making three three-pointers on her way to a team-high 17 points, but eighth grader Kayci Covelle stepped forward and made four 3-pointers for 12 points.
“We’ve figured out how to put the ball in the hole,” Conner head coach Michelle Gambrel said. “I think it wasn’t a bad thing when Anna was struggling because other kids had to step up. It’s been a different player each game. It’s hard to game plan for us. Some of younger players are gaining confidence. I have some seniors, but many are not varsity experienced. They’re gaining confidence.”
Senior forward Aubree Depenbrock has been putting up solid numbers lately. She scored nine for the Cougars.
“I think our team is starting to work together and the more we do that, the better that we perform,” Depenbrock said. “We’ve even told Anna Hamilton after a couple tough shooting games to keep shooting and never give up. Once she started hitting, everyone wanted to be part of it.”
Conner (6-9) travels to Simon Kenton on Wednesday for a 7:30 p.m. game.
Campbell County 65, Harrison County 14
The Camels bounced back from a tough loss to Conner on Friday with a sound 10th Region road win.
“That’s what we talked about before the game was to bring effort. We didn’t bring effort in the first half (Friday). It showed and we dug ourselves in a hole we didn’t get out of,” Campbell County head coach Davey Johnson said. “(On Saturday) we came out and pressed. We denied the ball well and rotated well. We got a bunch of steals, got a lead and were able to build on that. We played well for sure.”
Macie Peoples scored 12 points to lead the Camels and Izzy Jayasuriya scored eight. Freshman Josie Feebeck made her first career varsity start.
“I feel like the team has really good chemistry altogether,” Feebeck said. “If one person is down, another person will pick her up. We all came together and told each other we had to pick ourselves up and keep going on regardless of the loss (Friday).”
Campbell County (11-3) travels to Cooper on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
Notre Dame 54, Russell 51
The Pandas held on for a huge win over the solid 16th Region opponent in the Simpson’s Tree Service /H+W Sports Classic at Franklin County.
Sophia Gibson led Notre Dame with 18 points and Maya Lawrie scored 11. The Pandas won despite making just 12-of-24 free throws.
Notre Dame (12-2) hosts Simon Kenton on Monday at 7:30 p.m.
Grant County 54, Simon Kenton 38
After beating Grant County 53-42 back on Dec. 9, the Braves returned the favor on Saturday by beating the Pioneers on their home floor.
This one happens to matter more as a 32nd District seed game, the December matchup in the championship of the Billy Hicks Classic at Scott County.
Simon Kenton did not have anyone reach double figures. Brynli Pernell, Meg Gadzala and Haylie Webb all scored nine points each to lead the Pioneers.
The Pioneers (10-4) will try to bounce back at Notre Dame on Monday at 7:30 p.m.
Lloyd Memorial 50, Frankfort 25
The Juggernauts won their second straight, cruising past Frankfort in the state capitol.
Sierra McCoin led the way with 16 points, Keirstyn Young adding 11 while Maleah Ham had seven.
Lloyd Memorial (5-8) returns to action on Tuesday at Boone County at 7:30 p.m.
Other Girls Basketball Scores
South Laurel 61, Ryle 56
Lexington Christian 66, Holmes 38
Boys Basketball
Beechwood 84, Newport Central Catholic 74 (20T)
The Tigers pulled out the 9th Region win after giving up a 13-point lead entering the fourth quarter.
Both teams took 57 shots, but Beechwood made 28 compared to 21 for NewCath. The Tigers made 10 three-pointers and the Thoroughbreds hit eight.
Carson Blackburn and Jack Sullivan scored 24 and 22 points, respectively, to lead Beechwood. Owen McCormack and Austin Navin followed scoring 14 and 10, respectively, as Beechwood hit 24-of-32 free throws.
NewCath also had four players score in double figures. Ian Mann scored 28 to lead the way. John Luhn, Caleb Eaglin and Louie Collopy scored 14, 12 and 11, respectively, to lead the Thoroughbreds.
Beechwood (7-6) snapped a three-game losing streak with the win. The Tigers face Villa Madonna in the All “A” 9th Region Tournament at Bellevue on Tuesday at 7:45 p.m.
NewCath (4-10) has dropped three straight. The Thoroughbreds play in the All “A” 9th Region Tournament at Bellevue on Wednesday at 6 p.m. against the winner of Bellevue/Dayton.
Campbell County 75, Conner 53
The Camels capped off the week with a sound win over the Cougars.
“You know (the Cougars) are going to be prepared. They’re going to round into form sooner than later because (Matthew Otte) is a great coach. That’s for sure,” Campbell County head coach Brent Sowder said. “We came out hot in the first half. We hit a bunch of threes and kind of forced them out of that (2-3) zone. Scoring 29 in the first quarter was good.”
Campbell County displayed its usual balanced scoring. Broc Sorgenfrei scored 19 to lead the way with Xavier Fancher and Cole Johnson scoring 17 and 16, respectively.
“We just got rolling. We actually play really well as a team,” Fancher said. “We share the ball really well and none of us are selfish. We have a bunch of guys who can score in double figures. We don’t depend on one or two people.”
Conner also tried to be balanced. Finn Louden and Brady Bushman scored 10 points each to lead the Cougars with Chase Huff scoring nine.
The Camels (11-2) have won three straight. They travel to Mason County on Tuesday for a 10th Region matchup at 7:30 p.m.
Conner (3-10) has lost three straight. The Cougars host Covington Catholic on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Lexington Christian 50, Highlands 48
The Bluebirds dropped a tight one at home.
Nathan Vinson led Highlands with 20 points. Hank Shick and Brayden Moeves followed with 13 and 12, respectively.
Highlands (8-7) hosts Cooper on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.
Other Boys Basketball Score
All “A” 10th Region Tournament at Nicholas County
Bracken County 69, Calvary Christian 52