Saturday, March 06, 1999
Highlands wins again, can taste Sweet 16
Smith nets 25 in Bluebirds' semifinal game
BY RAY SCHAEFER
Enquirer contributor
HEBRON — The writing on the chalkboard in the Highlands locker room after Friday's Ninth Region semifinal against Simon Kenton tells the story — 32 minutes to Rupp.
Senior forward Derek Smith put the Highlands in position to take the final step. His 25 points helped the No.5 Bluebirds to a 63-49 win over Simon Kenton at Conner High.
Standing in the way of Highlands' third straight regional title is traditional rival Covington Catholic (7 p.m. today).
The winner meets the Second Region champion in the opening round of the Sweet 16 state tournament 2:30 p.m. Thursday at Rupp Arena in Lexington.
“CovCath is on a good roll right now,” Highlands coach John Messmer said.
Smith is treating tonight's game as if he is outdoors in October.
“It's a rivalry between schools,” he said. “It's CovCath versus Highlands in everything, in football, as well as basketball.”
CovCath coach Dan Tieman isn't exactly looking forward to facing Smith and senior Jared Lorenzen.
“We definitely should be the underdog,” Tieman said.
Simon Kenton certainly wished it didn't have to deal Smith and Lorenzen on Friday. Lorenzen scored 10 points, grabbed 19 rebounds and had eight assists. Smith was 10-of-18 from the field with seven rebounds and two assists.
“Highlands is just a mismatch for us,” Simon Kenton coach Scott Humphrey said. “Their size bothers us. We've lost four times to them in two years.”
Simon Kenton started with the same defense Holy Cross tried in Tuesday's first-round game — four players in man-to-man and senior center Mike Burns in the lane. Smith scored 21 seconds into the game, and senior guard Joe Herald's three-point play and a Lorenzen three-pointer made it 8-3 four minutes in.
The Pioneers (26-5) missed five of their first six shots. Senior guard Eric Washnock made two three-pointers to close Highlands' lead to 11-9.
Simon Kenton trailed 30-26 with 1:44 left in the half.
It was the last time Simon Kenton was that close.
By the fourth quarter, Highlands had a 46-33 lead.
HIGHLANDS (63) — Leftin 4-0 8, Herald 7-1 16, Barone 1-0 2, Lorenzen 4-0 10, Smith 10-5 25, Grover 1-0 2. Totals: 27-6 63.
SIMON KENTON (49) — B. Stowers 8-2 18, Gaskins 2-0 6, J. Stowers 0-2 2, Washnock 4-0 12, Rump 3-0 6, Ballinger 0-2 2, Burns 1-1 3. Totals: 18-7 49.
Highlands ....... 13 21 12 17—63
Simon Kenton ....... 14 12 7 16—49
Three-point goals: H-Lorenzen 2, Herald. SK-Washnock 4, Gaskins 2. Records: H 24-6, SK 26-5.
Eighth Region • Shelby County 77, Grant County 49, at Henry County — Shelby County took control of the game during an 18-9 run in the second quarter.
Grant County was paced by Dustin Mulberry with 16 points.
GRANT COUNTY (49) — Colson 0 1 1, Shafer 5 0 10, Meade 3 0 6, Jones 3 5 11, Mulberry 6 0 16, Garrett 2 1 5. Totals: 19 7 49.
SHELBY COUNTY (77) — Green 6 8 20, Casey 5 2 12, Clark 4 3 11, Brown 3 0 8, Turley 3 2 10, Howard 6 2 14, Pritchett 1 0 2. Totals: 28 17 77.
Grant County ....... 16 9 13 11—49
Shelby County ....... 18 18 17 24—77
Three-point field goals: G—Mulberry 4. S—
Brown 2, Turley 2. Records: S 23-6, G 16-14.
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