Defensive Intensity Leads Highland Over St. Joseph, 45-42

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Story by Joshua Andrews

St. Joseph’s Women’s Basketball came into Highland Highschool tonight looking for a win. Coming off an impressive 66-14 win just the game before, St. Joseph was looking to stay hot against a strong Highland team.

A super close game with multiple lead changes, from the jump ball to the final whistle. The Highland Hornets led early, with it being 14-12 at the end of the first. Both teams were laying it all on the floor, exchanging points near the end of the first half. Coming out of the locker room to start the 2^nd half, SJHS look to be rejuvenated, crisp passes, tight defense.

Just when you thought a team might’ve started to pull away, HSH went on an 8-2 run to get themselves back into the game and boast the highest lead of the game, Highland by 4. Both teams refused to give up

Coming out of the start of the second half, the entire feeling of the game changed. You could feel the want to win from both teams, and especially from the seniors, you could tell neither team wanted today to be their last game of the season.

For SJHS, their team was lead by Junior, Ella Neitzel, leaving her mark everywhere on the floor from hitting a pair of threes in the first half, to hustling on the floor for loose balls, she lead the team in scoring as well, with 17 points. Another key point of SJHS’s offense was the passing and leadership of Senior, Charlotte Adler along with the defensive ability of Junior Ava Haddad.

Highland walked away with a win tonight because of their defensive prowess. Senior Alexis Furyes set the mood early in the first with multiple blocks, ending with 6 on the night. Both Senior Lindsey Fredrick and Senior Kendall McCormick led the Hornets with scoring, putting up 10 each. They also had other players like Sophomore Alayna Tessena, and Junior Madison Miller step up and chipping in.

Now with Highlands win, they advance in the OHSAA Division 1 Tournament to the district finals against #4 Medina on February 26^th, at 7pm.