Highlands Wins 400th Game Under Walz-Richey’s Guidance

Like many coaches, Jaime Walz-Richey will point out the former and current players are the ones who made the baskets, passes, grabbed the rebounds and stole the balls among other things for this achievement to happen.

Not her.

But the fact the 44-year-old’s name is listed among the greatest head coaches in Kentucky girls basketball history can not be ignored. The Highlands Bluebirds girls basketball team (8-12 overall) helped Highlands to its 400th victory since Richey took over as head coach in 2002 with a 43-33 win over the Bishop Brossart Lady ‘Stangs (15-9) on Monday.

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The Bluebirds are an even 400-200 since Richey became the head coach. That is good for 36th all-time in wins in Kentucky history. That win total ranks sixth in the three northernmost counties in Kentucky and ninth among active head coaches.

Former Highlands Head Coach Luci Cecil suggested Richey take over the program in 2002 at the age of 24 after Richey served as an assistant for one season. Richey moved back to the area after scoring more than 1,000 points at Western Kentucky University. She scored 4,948 points during her career at Highlands. That point total still stands second all-time for both Kentucky boys and girls players.

Richey credits current and former assistants for helping build the great culture in the program over the years. That includes the likes of brother Brian Walz, husband Bert Richey, Angela Healy-Jones, Karmen Graham, Kayla Umberg, Katie Allen, Jon McSorely and Olivia Huber-Bryant.

“I think it all goes back to just basic fundamentals,” Walz-Richey said. “I really get after these girls to be able to dribble with their left hand and dribble with their right hands. We have to have basic fundamentals to carry out in games and (with) this group, we’ve been working on them every day. These girls believe in what the coaches are telling them. They do the things we ask for the most part and I think that shows up in games.”

A couple of former Highlands players are coaching at the middle school. They are 2016 graduate Brianna Adler and 2017 alum Taylor Baioni.

“It was an honor and privilege to not only play for Jaime, but to now coach under Jaime,” Baioni said. “I’ve learned a lot from her. Clearly she knows what she’s doing considering she just had her 400th win.”

They attended the game along with 2016 graduate McKenzie Leigh. Leigh is the junior varsity girls coach at Bellevue and teaches fourth grade at Grandview Elementary in Bellevue. Leigh was a freshman when the team recorded the 200th win under Richey during the 2012-2013 season.

“Jaime is the main reason the tradition for Highlands girls basketball is as good as it is,” Leigh said. “So many of the things that she taught me when I was a player and when I was her student, I am transferring to me being a teacher and coach now. Jaime is incredible. She always kept us accountable. She always made us shoot for the best and always have positive attitudes. That is something I can see myself instilling in my players now.”

Freshman 6-foot-2-inch center Marissa Green scored the game’s first two buckets and the Bluebirds never looked back. Green finished with a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Walz-Richey pointed out Highlands had not played Bishop Brossart since Jan. 30, 2020. The Bluebirds won that game 33-25 in Alexandria. Bishop Brossart won the 10th Region last year losing 50-48 in the first round of the state tournament to 4th Region champion Bowling Green.

“The girls came out hot. They were excited,” Walz-Richey said. “They did what we asked them to do. Thankfully, we got that big lead and then we found a way to win at the end.”

The 400th win came on Senior Night. Senior 6-1 center CC Shick helped the cause with 13 points and seven rebounds. The other senior in guard Meg Gessner made the team’s lone three-pointer on her way to six points.

Highlands made 16-of-43 shots for 37 percent and 10-of-20 free throws for 50 percent. The Bluebirds also collected 33 rebounds.

The team knows good things happen when Shick and Green touch the ball, especially deep in the paint. It’s comes down to not forcing things.

“I think sometimes we just get a little nervous and throw the ball away,” Gessner said. “But we just need to calm down when we’re under pressure and just make good decisions. It’s about taking a deep breath, being ready to play and not being scared of making mistakes.”

Highlands led 16-5 after one quarter and 22-18 at halftime. The Bluebirds extended the lead to nine at 30-21 entering the fourth quarter. Bishop Brossart cut the margin to 36-30 at one point in the fourth quarter. But junior point guard Alyssa Harris made 7-of-8 free throws in that quarter for her seven points to help stave off the Lady ‘Stangs.

“We knew what our game plan was,” Shick said. “We got a little ruffled in the middle of it. But we came back stronger. We worked on our communication and moving the ball around and I think we’ve gotten a lot better. It’s come a long way and that’s really exciting for us and for the future.”

Walz-Richey could not say enough about the seniors and the Highlands defense. Bishop Brossart made just 11-of-46 shots for 24 percent including 5-of-19 from three-point range for 27 percent and 6-of-9 free throws for 67 percent. The Lady ‘Stangs also had 29 rebounds. Senior guard Madison Parker led Bishop Brossart with nine points.

But Highlands held Bishop Brossart’s leading scorer to six points. Junior forward Molly Kramer averages 10.5 points per game.

This season has had its challenges with injuries and inexperience. But players such as eighth grade forward Katie Bucher have grown through the storm.

“I can look forward to greater things in the future,” Bucher said. “She just pushes us to do our best and when we do that, it really shows how we’ve grown this season.”

Walz-Richey’s oldest daughter Jenna is a freshman at Highlands. Jenna Richey and her younger sister Bailey Richey grew up coming to the gym. Jenna Richey said she has more of the golf genes in the family while Bailey has more of the basketball genes. Their dad served as head coach of the Grant County girls program years ago.

“My parents are very adamant about me wanting to play and not wanting to play for them,” Jenna Richey said. “That’s really what’s kept me going as opposed to living up to my mom’s legacy, which for me, I don’t think that’s possible. But going up to the gym with them has really helped me love the sport for it and not just for their legacy.”

Highlands takes on Bellevue (12-7) on Wednesday on the road in 36th District play. Game time is 7:30 p.m.