Highlanders split with Blue Ridge

Highlands and Blue Ridge set the table for the 2019-20 rivalry between the two schools with a middle school doubleheader Wednesday  in Glenville.
The Highlands girls held off a Lady Bobcat 8-0 run in the fourth quarter to win 33-26 and improve to 3-0 on the young season.
In the twin-bill’s nightcap, the Bobcat boys jumped out to a 15-3 lead to start the game and made it stick, holding on to win 27-22 over the Highlanders.

Highlands 33,  
Blue Ridge 26
In the twin bill’s opener, the Lady Highlanders (3-0 overall) jumped out to a 14-5 first quarter lead they would not surrender.
Jaylia Raby led the Lady Highlanders with 10 points, while MacKenzie Wood added nine points and Abby Doerter chipped in seven.
Raby, Wood and Doerter helped HHS increase its lead to 24-8 with a tight press defense and balanced scoring.
Coach Tim Dearth said the two teams were evenly matched and his team played hard for all 24 minutes.
“We executed and made our shots,” he said following the game. “Jaylia, MacKenzie and Abby helped spread out our offense. We matched up well with Blue Ridge. They are a good, young team.”
Blue Ridge (0-2 overall) battled back in the second half to cut the 16-point halftime deficit to five points early in the fourth quarter, but could draw no closer than 30-25 as time ran down.
Vanessa Russell led the Lady Bobcats with 10 points and Taylor Robinson added six to pace Blue Ridge.
Coach James O’Berry said his team took too many shots they had no chance of making.
“We played well, and the girls gave 100-percent for all four quarters,” he said Thursday. “But we have to have better shot selection. We were taking shots five-and-six feet beyond the three-point arc.”
The two teams squared off again at Highlands on Monday, but due to early holiday deadlines, game results were not available by press time.

Blue Ridge 27, Highlands 22
In boys action, the Bobcats applied the pressure from the opening tip, shutting down the Highlander offense over the game’s first six minutes with a suffocating full-court press, opening up a 15-3 lead after a quarter and then held off a furious Highlander comeback to win 27-22.
Highlands had no answer for the Blue Ridge press in the opening six minutes, mustering just three points in the first stanza.
Harrison Gates’ scored a pair of buckets in the second half as Highlands (3-1 overall) trimmed the lead to keep the Highlanders in the game trailing 21-11 in the half.
In the second half, it was Highlands’ turn for the tight defense, limited the Bobcats to just 12 points over the game’s final three quarters. The Highlanders pulled to within five points but couldnever muster the key buckets necessary to pull out the road victory.
Sam Stiwinter led HHS with eight points with Harrison Gates adding six points from inside and J.D. Head chipping in four points for the Highlanders.
For the Bobcats Owen Madden led all scorers with 13 points with Eric Puskarich tallying nine points and point guard Cameron Fowler adding five points to pace the Blue Ridge offense.
Both teams were to meet in Highlands for a rematch on Monday, but due to early holiday deadlines, results were not available by press time.