Highlands Brent Sleight inbounds the ball to Gig Chalker during their game Tuesday night.
In a back and forth contest where points were at a premium, the bank stayed open for Blue Ridge.
Three big second half bank shots helped the home team take down Highlands 37-34 on Tuesday night in the season opener for both teams. The contest was a non-conference game added to the schedule to try to fill open dates. Blue Ridge and Highlands will play a pair of Little Smoky Mountain 1-A Conference tilts later in the year.
“We had a tough night on the offensive end, especially in the first half, and I think a big part of that is guys still trying to figure out what their roles are,” Highlands coach Brett Lamb said. “We have a lot of young guys out there and they are going to have to find their fit.”
Neither team could take the lid off the basket in the opening quarter as the teams traded turnovers and missed shots to a 4-4 tie. Highlands found a little better flow in the second quarter but continued to struggle with outside shooting. At the half the Highlanders held a 12-8 lead.
Blue Ridge stepped up its defensive intensity in the third quarter and began to find lanes through Highlands zone. A banked three point shot from Jacob Pressler pulled the Bobcats even late in the third quarter and a driving layup by C.J. Jennings gave Blue Ridge a 24-22 lead after three periods.
With Blue Ridge ahead 27-26 midway through the fourth, Pressler banked in his second jumper from behind the arc to extend the lead. Highlands answered with a three pointer from Brent Sleight and the game remained a one-possession battle until the final minute.
Clinging to a 35-34 lead with 47 seconds to play, Blue Ridge turned the ball over in the backcourt but Highlands failed to capitalize on three shot attempts. With seven second left Highlands turned the ball over and was forced to foul.
Corbin Walters banked in a free throw and then swished his second attempt to put the Bobcats up 37-34 with five seconds remaining. Highlands was unable to get off a buzzer beater.
“You have to give a lot of credit to Blue Ridge, they out-hustled us in the second half,” Lamb said. “They played physical, rebounded, did all the little things that it takes to win a close game.”
Pressler led the Bobcats with 10 points. Carsen Williams added nine points and four rebounds. Collin Bryson and Walters each finished with five points.
Sleight paced Highlands with a game-high 14 points. Lane Tingen added 10 points and three rebounds. Gig Chalker finished with six points and six boards.
Highlands (0-1 overall) will open Little Smoky Mountain 1-A Conference play against Hiwassee Dam on Friday night.