Highland completes comeback in OT

RIVERSIDE — In a Class 1A Region 6 first round matchup with the Lisbon Lions on Thursday, the Highland girls basketball team battled tooth and nail, even after leading scorer Abbi Stransky went down late with a knee injury.

After sustaining a barrage of deep balls from the Lions in the first quarter, Highland fought back over the next three quarters to force overtime, coming away with a round one victory, 54-52.

“That’s been our team, they’ve fought all year,” Highland head coach Jody Fink said. “We’ve never laid over and died and I’m very proud of our girls for doing that. They fought. The girls persevered ... very proud for what they did there.”

The Huskies’ comeback was in large part due to Stransky, who finished with a team-high 21 points. Highland never held a lead until the beginning of the fourth quarter, in which Stransky dropped in five quick points to give the Huskies the advantage, 39-38.

“We just tried to get it into the paint to open up the outside,” Stransky said. “Shooting outside really helped open up the middle for Sarah (Burton) and Jess (Jessica Kraus).”

Lisbon quickly answered back by scoring five of its own to lead 43-39. Stransky brought it back within one, 43-42, with her fifth three of the game.

With two minutes and forty one seconds to go, a bucket from Sarah Burton put Highland back on top, 47-46.

With just over a minute left in the fourth, Stransky went down while trying to grab a rebound following a Lisbon steal.

Stransky hobbled her way back to the bench to cheer on her team and it sparked the Huskies.

“I thought we just needed to step up,” Sarah Burton said after Stransky’s injury. “One of our best players went out, but we can still pull together as a team. She’s supporting us on the bench and I think we had to win that for her because she’s gotten us so far this season.”

Lisbon would take the lead once more before a Burton two would tie the game at 49-49.

The Huskies had a chance to win in regulation, and got two looks at a game winner. The first was off the mark and then a look by Burton was wide left off the rim.

To begin overtime, the Lions did what they had been doing all game, hitting a shot from outside. Lisbon’s Kali Nelson hit her seventh three of the game for a game-high 34 points. It would be the Lions’ sole basket in the extra period.

Following the Lisbon basket, Highland scored four straight, which included one of the biggest plays of the game, a steal by Dani Laughlin that led to a bucket, giving the Huskies the lead 53-52.

Laughlin struggled from beyond the arc, but says she’s got to stay confident.

“When I’m not shooting well on the outside, I just need to look different, and drive in,” Laughlin said. “Layups are another good thing I can do and I just need to believe in myself.”

Mackinze Hora found herself at the line with under 10 seconds to go with a chance to ice the game. She hit one of two, to give Highland a two point advantage, and it would be enough as Lisbon struggled to get the ball up court.

Highland was torched from three in the first quarter, with Lisbon hitting five total and building a 17-8 lead after one.

The Huskies found their offensive rhythm and settled in on defense from then on out. Highland trailed 27-24 after the second and 38-34 following the third. After being outscored in the first, Highland outscored Lisbon, 47-35 between the second quarter and overtime period.

Besides Stransky’s 21, Burton tallied a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds all while shooting and efficient seven for eight from the field. Dani Laughlin added eight. Emma Soukup and Jessica Kraus finished with four. Mackinze Hora chipped in three.