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Highland remains unbeaten
Huskies take down Lone Tree
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
Highland girls basketball and Lone Tree did their best to slow down the other team’s stars in a battle between two of the top sides in the Southeast Iowa Super Conference North division. The Huskies and Lions battled in a tight contest through the first three quarters, but Highland was able to find enough scoring late.
A 21-point fourth quarter propelled Highland to a 61-46 victory over Lone Tree on Tuesday. The win improved the Huskies to 9-0 in SEISC North play and 11-1 on the season.
Highland entered the fourth quarter up by just four points. Star Kamryn Fink was the target of Lone Tree’s box and 1 defense, which successfully held Fink to just 1 of 12 from the field.
“The first couple of trips down the court when they were running that, we were a little impatient, just kind of throwing the ball around and not taking our time,” Highland coach Jody Fink said. “We got some travels, got, some turnovers off of that. (When) we sit there and take our time down there we’re able to sit there and reverse it a couple of times, spread the floor out and now we get that movement in the middle.”
Kamryn Fink still had plenty of impact on the game, scoring eight of her 11 points from the free throw line and leading Highland with 19 rebounds. She also racked up six steals and six blocks defensively, but with the game still in the balance in the fourth, Highland needed other scoring avenues.
The Huskies found those avenues mainly through a strong presence inside. Freshman forward Kinzie Ruess broke out, scoring eight points in the fourth en route to a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
“Kinzie Ruess, really the last few games, is really stepping up.” Jody Fink said. “(She’s) finding a little power dribble in there, being able attack the basket. Little things that’s going to make her a bigger threat and open up the outside for us a lot more.”
The Huskies showcased their scoring depth all game. Emersyn Schultz and Katelyn Thomann each scored five in the fourth quarter. Schultz finished with 10 points, while Thomann had nine, along with eight rebounds, four assists and a block.
The Huskies played a chip on their shoulder at both ends, which led to 23 fouls. But it also helped them stay ahead defensively thanks to its constant effort to mark Lone Tree stars Finley Jacque and Ava Christofferson out of the game.
Jacque ended up with 17 points, forcing the issue in the second half. But Highland’s emphasis held Jacque under her season average of 19.5. Huskies junior Hailey Brun frequently shadowed Jacque the entire length of the floor.
“She’s an amazing basketball player, but being able to guard her was good,” Brun said. “I know I had a big role to keep her below average and I thought I did pretty well. But overall, when I wasn’t in Katelyn Thomann did amazing (guarding) her.”
Highland’s grit and adjustments to Lone Tree’s defensive game plan helped the Huskies go on a 7-2 run to close the first half and find the late surge needed to pull away from a scrappy Lions side. The result is the Huskies’ 11th win in a row and a comfortable lead atop the SEISC North.
The Huskies will look to keep it rolling away at Hillcrest Academy on Friday. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.
Here are the other area small school girls basketball scores from Monday and Tuesday.
Cardinal 51, Seymour 13
No. 12 Mid-Prairie 69, Alburnett 54
Pekin 36, Winfield-Mt. Union 25
WACO 53, Wapello 51
Van Buren County 54, Central Lee 48
Louisa-Muscatine 61, Columbus 28
Danville 82, New London 5
