Huskie defense powers win

The offense wasn?t coming as it normally did for the Highland boys? basketball team on Friday night, but that didn?t matter in the long run.

The Huskies? stifling defense provided them with the help they needed as they earned a 52-36 victory over the Bulldogs on Friday.

?That was our best team defensive game,? Highland head coach Marcus Hall said. ?We weren?t gambling or getting out of position, and we had solid closeouts. That gave us a number of turnovers.?

While Highland struggled to get going offensively, senior Nick Sandburg did not, notching 15 of Highland?s 26 first-half points. He finished the game with 19 on the night.

?I felt like I had a hot hand,? Sandburg said. ?Since  I was making my shots, I wanted to keep taking them. It worked out for us.?

The Highland win ends a two-game skid, which saw them drop games to Pekin and Lone Tree, and fall a couple of games behind in the conference race.

However, they weren?t ready to call this a must-win game quite yet.

?I wouldn?t call it (a must-win),? Highland junior Trent Lasek said. ?We have been in a slump for a bit, but we just need to be playing the best we can going into districts. It felt good to get the win.?

Highland did much of its damage in the third quarter, when they outscored the Bulldogs 18-11, thanks to eight third-quarter points from Lasek.

Then the Huskies held Mediapolis to seven fourth-quarter points to close out the game, and Hall believes his team is becoming tougher as the season goes.

?That?s a credit to the kids,? Hall said. ?You get knocked back by Lone Tree and it would be easy to finger point and separate. They actually have become more connected. That speaks to their maturity. There?s a lot to play for. I thought we played like a veteran ball club tonight.?

The Huskies will travel to face Columbus on Tuesday night.