Early returns are telling folks in Northern Kentucky that there’s never a day off in the 9th Region, especially with teams considered in the upper half.
Night in, night out, you’re going to see a game come down to the wire.
Saturday afternoon was no different when Highlands took down Ryle 61-60 in Fort Thomas, thanks to Nathan Rickard’s putback with 3.8 seconds remaining.
The Bluebirds started strong, saw a 10-point lead evaporate into a six-point fourth quarter deficit before rallying for the victory.
“Our kids stepped up, made a couple big time plays,” Bluebirds coach Kevin Listerman said. “Thought we handled some situations very well and did a pretty good job of keeping our composure. Guys stayed pretty even keeled and in the moment.”
Rickard paced Highlands with 23 points, attacking early and often with eight first quarter points and putting up nine points in the fourth. He stayed aggressive through the entire afternoon.
“Just wanted to bring the physicality and attack the rim early and set the tone for the rest of the team to follow,” Rickard said.
Now sitting at 10-3, it’s a Highlands team that was a bit unknown entering the season without a senior on the roster and considered a fringe top 10 team in the 9th Region. Saturday’s victory continued to show the growth with each game.
“I know this group has a way about them. I’ve seen it the last seven years with my son (Vinny),” Listerman said. “They have a way of figuring things out in the game and we’re excited about being 10-3. With no seniors to grow as we have in the last few weeks I’m super proud of this group.”
Tayden Lorenzen followed Rickard with 14 points, Finn Bouldin adding eight and Vinny Listerman with seven. Charlie Messmer and Owen Ebert hit crucial 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions in the fourth.
Ryle was faced with the tough task of a Friday night game (a 58-54 victory over Beechwood), Saturday early afternoon turnaround and the affects of it showed early on. It took the Raiders nearly four minutes to put their first points up on the board and found themselves in a 13-6 end of first quarter hole. They trailed by as much as 12 in the first half.
Highlands would take a 30-22 lead into the break.
PHOTO SLIDESHOW: Ryle-Highlands (provided by Charles Bolton)
The Bluebirds stretch the lead out to 36-26 nearly midway through the third, but Ryle flipped the switch at that point. The Raiders closed the third on a 15-2 run to take a 41-38 lead into the fourth. Landon Lorms ignited things, scoring 14 points during a Ryle 22-6 run.
The Raiders led 48-42 with less than five minutes to play, then it was the Bluebirds time to respond.
A Finn Bouldin triple was followed by a Rickard 3-point play to tie things up at 48 with 4:23 to go.
The two would trade blows from there, Ryle’s Holden Smith hitting a triple followed by Messmer and Bouldin’s try balls to give Highlands a 56-53 edge.
After taking a 59-57 lead on a Messmer free throw, Ryle’s Landon Lorms was fouled on a 3-point attempt, hitting all three free throws for a 60-59 lead with 10 seconds to play.
Highlands took it the length, Listerman’s shot in the lane unable to fall, but Rickard was there at the right time for the putback.
“We had a little back door cut, so I was just back door cutting, and Vinny shot it, and I guess it just ended up being the right place,” Rickard said. “The ball kind of fell into my lap where I had cut and got it up at the rim.”
Ryle had one last chance to win it, but Lorms’ desperation shot from about 30-feet was unable to draw iron.
Lorms led Ryle with 23 points, Jonathan DeGroff with 14 while Anthony Coppola added 13 points. Ryle dropped to 4-6 as they’ll face Dixie Heights in Edgewood on Tuesday. Saturday was the first of five straight road games for the Raiders.
Highlands gets back at it on Wednesday at Bishop Brossart.