NKyTribune staff
It’s the high-scoring offensive attack of Highlands taking on the stingy defense of Muhlenberg County at 11 a.m. Thursday in the Sweet 16 at Rupp Arena.
Highlands is No. 2 in the state in scoring offense at 83.5 points per game. Muhlenberg County is No. 3 in the state in scoring defense at 43.5 points per contest. Tempo will likely decide the winner of the game, which features two contrasting styles of play.
Senior guard Sam Vinson of Highlands (left) is a candidate for Kentucky Mr. Basketball (Photo by Dale Dawn)
Highlands (26-4) captured the 9th Region championship by combining the state’s most prolific 3-point shooting (322 made treys) with Kentucky Mr. Basketball candidate Sam Vinson, who averages 22.2 points per contest.
The Bluebirds also feature two of the state’s top 3-point shooters in Luke Muller (107 treys) and William Herald (93 treys). Muller averages 16.5 points per game, while Herald is scoring 13.7 points per contest.
Highlands owns a 17-game winning streak going into Thursday’s showdown. The Bluebirds have not lost since Feb. 12, when Beechwood pulled out a 67-63 decision over Highlands in Fort Thomas.
Beechwood held Highlands to 5-for-17 shooting from 3-point range in that victory.
Muhlenberg County is 19-1 after winning the 3rd Region championship with a 46-31 triumph over Owensboro Catholic. The Mustangs cruised to that win despite shooting just 39.4 percent from the field.
BROSSART GIRLS WIN 10TH REGION CHAMPIONSHIP: The Bishop Brossart girls basketball team captured the 10th Region Tournament championship on Tuesday night in Winchester with a 61-47 win over Montgomery County.
Marie Kiefer and Lauren Macht each scored 10 points in the first half as Brossart took a 25-22 lead at the break. The Lady Mustangs extended that advantage to 38-24 in the third quarter with a 13-2 run as Kiefer, Rosie Jump and Madison Parker all drained 3-pointers.
Marie Kiefer
Kiefer scored 22 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead Brossart, which shot 40.9 percent from the field. Macht finished with 11 points while Jump and Parker both added 10 points.
Brossart improved to 21-5 and won its first regional title since 2001. The Lady Mustangs will meet Bowling Green (18-10) in the Sweet 16 on April 7 at 2 p.m. in Rupp Arena.
Bowling Green claimed the 4th Region championship with a 49-38 win over Barren County. The Purples will enter the state tournament with a 10-game winning streak.
Kiefer, Macht, Parker and Jump were named to the 10th Region all-tournament team. Earlier this season, Brossart also won the 10th Region’s All “A” Classic tournament title.
Kiefer averages 20.1 points and 10.9 rebounds per game this season. The 6-foot-3 senior has scored 1,761 career points at Brossart, and she will play collegiately at Ball State next season.
