Highland can’t keep pace with Columbus

RIVERSIDE — Highland held control over Columbus after a quarter of action on Friday, but the Huskies couldn’t keep up with the Wildcats over final three quarters as Columbus took the win 60-43.

To start the Southeast Iowa Super Conference North matchup, it was a back and forth affair.

Over the course of six minutes, three points was the largest advantage held by either team.

The Huskies got up 10-7 and 16-13 with a three ball from Ethan Paisley and a pair of free throws from Nicolas Oriano, but each time Columbus answered first with a three ball from Grant Watson to make it 10-10 and a two from Timothy Hills to cut it to one, 16-15.

Highland’s largest lead of the game came in the final minute of the quarter. After a two, from Watson made it a three point game at 20-17, Paisley buried a three the make it a six point game, 23-17, after one.

Scoring became a problem from then on out for Highland.

Columbus grabbed a hold of the lead after four and a half minutes into the second quarter. The Wildcats scored eight straight points for the lead, 25-23.

The Huskies first points came from the foul line with just 3:02 to go in the period. Highland was able to take the lead again on a Logan Bonebrake two with just under two minutes to go, 26-25, but Columbus scored three straight to end the quarter to make it 28-26 heading into the half.

Highland scored just three points in eight minutes in the second.

In the third, Columbus put together its best offensive basketball of the night.

The Wildcats outscored the Huskies 16-2 up until the 3:19 mark in the third period. By that time, Columbus led 44-28.

Tyler Thompson who scored the previous two points for Highland ended the spell with a free throw with 3:19 to go.

Columbus’ Watson followed with a three and a layup to give the Wildcats a 20 point lead, 49-29, the largest lead of the night.

Highland was able to gain some momentum to the end of the quarter with a 5-0 run to make it 49-34, but Columbus was able to hang on.

The Huskies got it down to nine, 49-38, in the opening moments of the fourth on a pair of layups, but Columbus ended with an 11-5 to seal it.

Watson scored 22 points and pulled down 11 rebounds for the Wildcats in the win. Oscar Alcala finished with 12 points and 15 rebounds. Daniel Martinez had nine points and eight boards. Timothy Hills ended with nine point as well. Christian Colby and Ryan Coil each had three.

Paisley led Highland with 11 points. Bonebrake had 10 points and nine rebounds as well. Logan McFarland finished with eight points. Oriano tallied six.

Columbus improves to 3-16 with the win, while Highland drops to 1-18.