Saturday, February 13, 1999
HIGHLANDS 64, SIMON KENTON 55
Bluebirds knock off No. 1
BY NEIL SCHMIDT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Derek Smith saw a reporter leaving the locker room and called out, “So who's the new No.1?”
The Highlands senior forward had helped his third-ranked Bluebirds stake their claim, beating No.1 Simon Kenton 64-55 Friday night at Highlands. But his question was accompanied by a shrug.
• Highlands (16-6) is hottest, but must account for Ninth Region losses to Holmes and Newport.
• Simon Kenton has an area-best 21-3 mark, and Friday was its first local loss.
• Second-ranked Holmes is 20-4 with a victory over Highlands.
• Even No.5 Newport (19-5) can lobby. It beat Holmes Friday and has also beaten Highlands.
“Simon Kenton, Highlands and Holmes are all No.1,” Highlands senior guard Joe Herald said. “You can't pick one yet. It won't be settled until the (regional) tournament.”
On this night, though, the Bluebirds were bulletproof. Suffocating Simon Kenton with their trademark half-court defense, they re-established themselves as favorites in their bid for a third consecutive Ninth Region title.
“Tonight was a good game, but we pulled away late,”
Smith said. “In the regional tournament, it'll be a better game. It'll be an awesome game.”
Perception exists that these are the two teams to beat. Simon Kenton is ranked sixth in the state; Highlands is eighth.
So many fans showed up Friday, the fire marshall ordered the doors shut an hour before tipoff. Then the Bluebirds ordered the three-point line off-limits.
Simon Kenton led the state in three-point shooting (.467) last year and makes 40 percent of its long-range bombs this year, but Highlands hounded it into 4-of-21 three-point shooting (.190) Friday.
“We couldn't get our shots,” Simon Kenton senior guard Brenden Stowers said. “Their half-court defense was sharp, and we didn't take care of the ball.”
Early on, it was Smith who wasn't careful. Highlands led 18-11 after one quarter, but Smith picked up his third foul less than a minute into the second quarter and sat until halftime.
The Pioneers took advantage inside, as senior center Mike Burns scored 15 of his 19 points in the first half and helped his team forge a 27-27 halftime tie.
With Highlands clinging to a 35-34 lead midway through the third quarter, Smith took over. The Bluebirds repeatedly lobbed inside, and the 6-foot-6, 245-pound Smith made six consecutive bank shots, scoring 15 points in a 21-10 run that won the game.
“With him on the bench so long, he had the freshest legs on the court,” Herald said. “We were gonna jump on his back and ride him the rest of the way. He carried us.”
Smith had made just 2-of-8 first-half shots, many of them jumpers, so Highlands coach John Messmer directed the offense inside.
“He's tough to stop,” Messmer said. “He's a horse.”
With 3:41 left, Highlands led 51-44 but had made only 6-of-18 from the line. It made its final 11 free throws — eight of them by Herald — to clinch matters.
Herald scored a game-high 23 points and added eight rebounds, and Smith totaled 20 points and seven rebounds. Senior forward Jared Lorenzen had another good all-around night: 13 points, 17 rebounds, four steals and two assists.
Highlands has now won seven straight.
“This is the time of year you want to be playing well,” Messmer said.
Still, there was no panic in the other locker room.
“It's still just Feb. 12,” Simon Kenton coach Scott Humphrey said. “This won't hurt our spirits.”
SIMON KENTON (55) — Burns 6 7 19, B.Stowers 7 2 16, Washnock 4 0 11, Gaskins 2 0 5, Arrowood 1 0 2, Coppage 1 0 2. Totals: 21 9 55.
HIGHLANDS (64) — Herald 6 11 23, Smith 8 4 20, Lorenzen 5 1 13, Gibson 1 0 3, Leftin 1 0 2, Grover 1 0 2, Barone 0 1 1. Totals: 22 17 64.
Simon Kenton ....... 11 16 11 17—55
Highlands ....... 18 9 15 22—64
Three-point field goals: SK—Washnock 3, Gaskins; H—Lorenzen 2, Gibson. Records: Highlands 16-6, Simon Kenton 21-3.
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