The three ball was flying for the Lady Scots (7-12, 5-8) against reigning KMAC champion Mount Gilead (10-11, 6-6) on Feb. 6, and while the Indians made a push at some late game heroics, Highland took a 48-45 victory to stop their three game skid.
“It was a great bounce-back win last night after a tough week,” Coach Matt Bradley said. “We lost at Shelby and Clear Fork, two high-level opponents. It was exciting to see our girls shoot the ball so well with 11 made threes. We were able to get the lead early and actually never trailed. That was huge for us.”
Aubree Bellamy got thing started from deep early, as Addie Mullins found her open beyond the arc for a three to go up 3-0. After Mount Gilead tacked on a free throw, Kate Clements found Reagan Maibach in the corner who sank a three to go up 6-1. Bryleigh Young also hit a three in the quarter, and after one it was a 12-5 lead for Highland. Maibach led the way with five points and a blocked shot.
Young kicked off the scoring in the second quarter with a three ball to go up 15-5. After Mount Gilead put another point on the board to cut the lead to nine, Bellamy showed off her defensive skills with a block near the basket. Maibach also had a block in the quarter for Highland. Mount Gilead outscored Highland 11-9, with Olivia Young hitting a three, and at halftime it was a 21-16 lead for the Lady Scots.
In the third quarter it was a 23-18 lead for Highland when Clements sank a three, and Young followed with one of her own, making it a 29-18 game with four minutes left. Young hit two threes in the quarter. Makaylee Merckling had a steal and Clements had a block, and both players hit threes.
Mount Gilead finished strong with an 18-12 fourth quarter, led by Danielle Pohlkotte’s five points, but it wasn’t enough and Highland held on for the victory.
Young led all scorers with 15 points and drained four threes. She also grabbed four rebounds in the win for Highland. Merckling put up 11 points and hit three from downtown. She also had four boards. Maibach had eight points and three rebounds. Mullins scored seven points and grabbed six rebounds. Bellamy put up four points and three boards, while Clements hit a three and controlled the game as the team’s point guard.
Mount Gilead was led by Pohlkotte’s 12 points. She hit a three and went 3-for-4 from the foul line. Aubrey Thomas and Greer Simpson each had 10 points. Faith White put up seven points and Long hit two threes for six points.
