SECOND ROUND BOUND

The Lady Highlanders varsity basketball team is headed to the second round of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association Playoffs after a 66-43 win over Hiwassee Dam, Tuesday night.

“It’s pretty difficult to play a team three times, let alone four and win, but it is what it is and is how the playoffs came out,” HHS head coach Brett Lamb said. “We took care of business. We let them hang around in the first quarter, but we finally turned the tempo up, made some shots and got to play some girls off the bench, as well.”

Highlands started off strong, with Bella Wilson, Hayley Borino and Reese Schmitt scoring back to back to take the lead 6-0.

With 4:43 left in the first period, the Eagles got on the board with a jump shot, but Reese Schmitt answered with a three pointer to make it 9-2.

Borino made a floater with 3:45 left in the first period to increase the Lady Highlander lead 11-2.

After a couple of free throws from both teams, Borino connected with Reese Schmitt who made a layup to make it 14-3, with 2:46 left in the first period.

Hiwassee hit a jump shot to cut the Lady Highlander lead 14-5, then hit another jump shot with 1:34 left in the first period to make it 14-8. Julia Schmitt answered with a jump shot at the end of the first period to end it 16-8.

The Lady Eagles opened the second period with a pair of free throws, making a slight come back to make it 16-12.

Julia Schmitt hit a jump shot to increase the Lady Highlander lead, but Hiwassee answered to keep it a four point game.

With 5:30 left in the half, Reese Schmitt hit a layup and had a steal and layup to make it 21-14.

Julia Schmitt hit a free throw and had a layup to make it 26-14, followed by a three pointer by Reese Schmitt to make it 29-14.

With 2:54 left in the half, Julia had another layup, but the Lady Eagles answered, making it 31-16.

Hiwassee made a free throw with 2:01 left in the half, but Ezra Branham answered with a layup to make it 33-17.

To end the half, Reese Schmitt hit a three point and a free throw and Borino hit three free throws to go up 40-18.

Reese Schmitt opened the third period with a layup, but Hiwassee answered, making it 42-20.

With 6:40 left in the third period, Julia Schmitt hit a layup to make it 44-20 and Reese Schmitt hit a free throw, followed by a free throw from Borino to make it 47-20.

Reese Schmitt hit another layup with 4:05 left in the third to make it a 19-point game.

With 3:22 left in the third period, Hiwassee hit a layup, but Julia Schmitt knocked down two free throws to make it 51-22.

The Lady Highlanders kept on making baskets with Bella Wilson hitting a three pointer and Julia Schmitt hitting a layup to go up 56-22 before the Lady Eagles hit a shot, making it 56-24.

With 1:22 left in the third period, the Lady Eagles hit a shot, but it was answered by Ava Schmitt’s jumper to make it 58-24.

Hiwassee Dam made a free throw before the end of third period making it 58-25.

The fourth period opened up with Hiwassee Dam making a free throw and a three pointer to cut the Lady Highlander lead 58-30.

With 5:47 left in the game, Ava Schmitt hit a layup, but it was answered by Hiwassee Dam to make it 60-33.

Beatrice Bryson hit a layup for the Lady Highlanders, before several free throws were made to make it 66-36 with 2:17 to go in the game.

Hiwassee was able to hit a three pointer and two layups before the end of the game, ending the scoring effort at 66-43.

Reese Schmitt led the scoring effort for the Lady Highlanders with 19 points. Julia Schmitt was right behind her with 15 points.

Lamb said the Lady Highlander motto right now is “just be us.”

“We don’t need to worry about what everybody else does, it is all about what we do and if we do it well, we will be ok,” Lamb said. “We will find out later who we will play and go from there.”

With the win, the Lady Highlanders improve to 16-9 on the season, and face Avery County (6-18) in the second round of the NCHSAA playoffs tonight.

- By Christopher Lugo