Huskies fall short in second half

MT. PLEASANT - Highland and Notre Dame traded punches in an entertaining first half at the No. 2 SEISC Shootout game at Iowa Wesleyan University on Friday night, but when the second half came around, Notre Dame got red hot and Highland went ice cold. The Nikes used a huge third-quarter run to knock off the Huskies 59-44.

The game was tied 12-12 after one period, but Highland took a one-point lead into halftime. Zack Lasek scored eight points in the second quarter and 10 total in the first half to lead the Huskies into the locker room with a 28-27 advantage.

Notre Dame turned it on at both ends in the third quarter. Not only were they able to hold the Huskies to just three third-quarter points, but they made shot after shot to win the quarter 17-2, and take a 44-30 advantage into the last eight minutes.

'We just didn't adjust,” said Highland head coach Bill Zywiec. 'They picked it up defensively and played us a little more aggressive.”

Highland's offense was able to pick it back up in the fourth quarter, partially due to six points from Mason McFarland, but Notre Dame kept scoring, and the Huskies ran out of time for a comeback bid.

McFarland ended the night with a team-leading 14 points. Lasek had 13. Cole Adamson scored eight. Bill Laughlin finished with six. Conner Grinstead had two, and Colby Stokes scored one.