Sunday, March 07, 1999
Regional title sweetest for Highlands seniors
BY RAY SCHAEFER
Enquirer contributor
HEBRON — There's no room in the Highlands gymnasium for any new Ninth Region boys basketball championship banners, but after Saturday's title game between the Bluebirds and Covington Catholic, the Fort Thomas school board might want to consider an addition.
Senior forward Derek Smith scored 18 points and senior guard Joe Herald and senior forward Jared Lorenzen added 16 apiece in a 58-37 Highlands victory at Conner High School.
The Bluebirds meet Henderson County in the opening round of the Sweet 16 state tournament at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at Rupp Arena in Lexington. Henderson County was a 79-64 winner over Christian Co. on Saturday.
Highlands (25-6) became the first team to win three straight Ninth Region crowns since Holmes did it between 1976 and '78. What Bluebirds coach John Messmer will remember most is the way his team rebounded from midseason losses to Holmes and New port.
“There were a lot of people who doubted that we could repeat,” Messmer said.
Smith has been a part of two Class AAA football crowns (1996 and '98) in addition to the basketball championships. He said the last football and basketball titles are the most satisfying.
“They're all three nice,” said Smith, the tournament's most valuable player. “But for my senior year, and to know that this is my last shot to play high school basketball in Northern Kentucky, to come out and win it, there's really no match. It's your senior year, it seems like it makes it that much sweeter.”
Lorenzen grabbed 16 rebounds Saturday and Smith pulled down seven, and they each had four assists.
“I don't think there's a coach in the Ninth Region that isn't glad to see them go, other than John,” CovCath coach Dan Tieman said. “We had a good run. I'm proud of our kids.”
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