Bishop Brossart could almost see it Friday.
After the Lady ‘Stangs took a 38-34 lead at Highlands on Ava Walters’ 15-foot jumper with 2:06 to go in the third quarter, it looked like the end of a nine-year losing streak against the Bluebirds.
Until it wasn’t.
Highlands rode a 21-4 run and Marissa Green’s 21 points and 13 rebounds to a 55-42 win.
“We just had to keep working on defense,” Highlands coach Jaime Richey said.
Friday’s win also allowed Highlands (15-6) to forget about a 59-36 loss to Ryle on Jan. 26. Saylor Macke, Avery Barber and Katie Bucher helped the Bluebirds erase the bad memory – both Macke and Barber scored eight points, and Macke and Bucher served up four assists.
Macke’s total included 6-of-6 from the free throw line; Highlands made 18-of-23.
“That’s the best night I’ve had from the line this year,” Macke said. “We’ve been focusing a lot more on free throws in practice.”
Barber left the locker room with her left shoulder wrapped. She said it hurt a little bit, “but I sucked it up.”
“I kind of, like, popped it the other day in practice,” Barber said. “I was icing it and hoping that I’ll be OK.”
Richey, meanwhile, was overjoyed to have a healthy team Friday. Thursday’s practice was the only one the Bluebirds had this week.
“We had lots of sickness and injuries,” she said.
The first thing you noticed Friday was Brossart’s (14-7) willingness to challenge the 6-foot-3 Green. Walters fronted Green most of the night, and when Green received a pass, one or two ‘Lady Stangs swiped the ball from behind her.
“It was definitely hard; it wasn’t easy,” Green said. “I wasn’t really flustered; I’m used to getting double, triple-teamed.”
The Lady ‘Stangs took a 23-15 lead with 2:07 to go in the second quarter on Zoey Woosley’s top-of-the-key 3-pointer and Zoee Meyers’ bucket. Meyers led Brossart with 16 points, and Kylie Smith was next with 11.
“I don’t think our kids were intimidated at all,” Brossart coach Steve Brown said. “If anything, I think we came out and battled.”
After Walters’ third-quarter bucket, Green began the comeback with a bucket, and Barber’s 3-pointer with 50 seconds left in the third put the Bluebirds ahead to stay, 39-38, after three quarters.
The rest of the night was frightful, at least for Brossart. The Lady ‘Stangs scored just four points – Smith had them all.
“We did a really good job on Zoee Meyers in the fourth quarter,” Richey said. “She didn’t score any.”
Barber’s two free throws opened the fourth quarter. Macke followed with a 6-foot runner, Amaya Barton scored, Macke knocked down two free throws, Green hit a 15-footer from the free throw line, Barber added an and-1, Kaylee Mills scored two, and Green finished the night with a free throw.
“I thought we were in the game ‘til probably about midway through the fourth quarter,” Brown said. “We had to start chasing some things. It is what it is this time of year.”
Highlands meets Montgomery County in the 9th vs. 10th Hardwood Classic at noon Saturday at Augusta. Bishop Brossart has a big one on Wednesday at Scott in a 37th District battle.
BLUEBIRDS 55, LADY ‘STANGS 42
BISHOP BROSSART 11 12 15 4 – 42
HIGHLANDS 13 7 19 16 – 55
Bishop Brossart (42) — Guidugli 3, Woosley 4, Walters 4, Smith 11, Z. Meyers 16, Shewmaker 2, Kramer 2. 3-Pt. FG: 6 (Z. Meyers 4, Guidugli, Smith). FT: 4/4. Fouls: 22. Fouled out: None
Highlands (55) — Macke 8, Mills 4, Green 21, Barton 4, Bucher 6, Gross 4, Barber 8. 3-Pt. FG: 1 (Barber). FT: 18/23. Fouls: 4. Fouled out: None.
Records: Bishop Brossart 14-7, Highlands 15-6.