For the first time since 2015-16 season the Highland women's basketball team will not be playing for the Region VI Championship as the Scotties saw their season come to an end on Tuesday night at home falling 86-75 to Johnson County in the Region VI Semifinals.
The loss caps the season at a 21-4 record for the Scotties who's four losses are all to Top 20 teams.
An early 5-0 spurt by the Scotties gave Highland a 7-3 advantage but Johnson County countered with a 9-0 run that included a technical foul on the Scotties and momentum was in the favor of the Cavaliers. Johnson County utilized a 10-12 performance from the free throw line in just the first quarter to lead 21-15 at the end of the first.
Highland pushed back in the second quarter behind a pair of three-pointers from
Tiana Gipson with the second one giving Highland the 25-23 lead their first lead since the 5:18 mark of the first quarter. However that would be the last lead the Scotties would have Johnson County snatched the lead back and by halftime Highland trailed 39-33.
The second half was ultra-similar to the first as the Scotties drew within one-point in the third quarter but Johnson County continued to hold Highland at bay. Foul trouble continued to be an issue for Highland down the stretch and Johnson County took advantage extending the lead to double figures for the first time in the game in the fourth quarter and that advantage proved too much for Highland to overcome as the Scotties fell 86-75.
Scotties shot just 37.1% from the floor while Johnson County countered with a 44.8% shooting night and the Cavaliers won the rebounding battle 55-27. Free throws played a big factor in the game with 64 combined fouls called leading to a total of 77 free throws shot (27-45 Johnson County & 18-32 Highland).
In the loss a quartet of Scotties tallied double figures with 17 points from
Erin Randle leading the way as she added five rebounds and two assists.
Khaliah Hines posted 16 points including four three-pointers, while Gipson chipped in 13 points with four assists.
Charlay Conway off the bench recorded 11 points.
Highland loss capped the season for the women at a 21-4 record for the 2019-20 season.
