The Varsity girls basketball team conquered the court in a long and tough game against Holy Cross last night at 6:00 p.m., with a final score of 48-46, Highlands. Led by seniors Kelsey Listerman, Rory O’Hara, Emma Mallery, Emma Riccobene, and Kate Vaught, the team stands at nine wins and four losses.

     Highlands started strong with a five-point lead in the first quarter, 16-11. The Birds continued their lead through the second and third quarters, scoring 32-20 by halftime and 38-33 by the end of the third quarter. However, Holy Cross quickly caught up during the long fourth quarter, tying the game at 43-43. 

     Senior Emma Riccobene reflected on this intense moment, saying, “I wasn’t expecting the score to be as close as it was, but I think I can speak for the whole team in saying we were trying to keep [Holy Cross] from scoring so we could go into overtime instead of just losing.”

     The Bluebirds fought back during overtime as the anxious crowd cheered them on. After several time-outs and impressive gameplay, the Birds finally took the cake and defeated Holy Cross with a close score of 48-46. 

     “Tensions were high and we really had to focus in the final seconds of the game,” stated Riccobene. “Nonetheless, I’m incredibly proud of how we were able to pull out a win.”

     The Ladybirds’ next game will be against Boone County this Saturday, February 6. The freshman team will play at 11:00 a.m., junior varsity at 12:00 p.m., and varsity at 1:30 p.m. Go Birds!