The Highlands boys basketball team stumbled coming out of the gate in its season opener to Tallulah Falls, losing 69-25 on Monday.
The Highlanders are young and inexperienced according to coach Brett Lamb who lost nine seniors off last year’s team to graduation.
Lamb knew replacing that kind of production from a team that advanced to the state playoffs was going to be difficult. Nights like Monday were to be expected, he said.
“I felt that Tallulah Falls got the tempo at a pace we are not ready for yet,” Lamb said. “We had too many turnovers and they capitalized on them in transition. They got off to a hot start from the 3-point line and we could not recover from that.”
The Highlanders fell behind 9-2 to start the game and never recovered. The Indians expanded the lead to 15 points, up 25-10 at the end of the game’s first eight minutes.
Highlands’ deficit increased to 21 points by halftime and 39 points by the end of the third quarter as TFS continued to apply pressure.
Reid Carrier led Highlands with nine points and Bill Miller chipped in six points to lead the Highlander offense.
Lamb said the game, while tough, would hopefully be something they build on moving forward. He called it an experience builder.
“We do have the majority of our team that has very little varsity experience but with hard work and doing things like limiting our turnovers, blocking out and playing at a pace that we are comfortable with we will be fine as we go forward,” Lamb said. “Our team’s goals are still intact and we will continue to get better every day on the court and in the weight room.”
The Highlanders host Rosman on Friday, with tipoff at 7:45 p.m. and travel to Towns County, Georgia, on Nov. 25 before breaking for Thanksgiving.
“Rosman will be a great test this coming Friday,” Lamb said.