Wednesday, January 17, 2001
Scott finally breaks Highlands jinx
First Eagles win in Fort Thomas since 1989
By Ray Schaefer
Enquirer contributor
Jamie Medved
(Jeff Swinger photos)
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The last time Scott won a boys basketball game over Highlands in Fort Thomas, it was 1989. Twelve years of misery ended Tuesday.
Senior guard Bryan Stevenson's 21 points led the Eagles, ranked No.3 in The Enquirer's coaches poll, to a 69-63 win over the No.6 Bluebirds.
Scott coach Jeff Trame was busy leading Holy Cross to the Ninth Region final — which Scott won — in 1989. He felt relieved that a win in Highlands' gym was finally a reality.
“We're 14-2, but I don't think we've played our best basketball,” Trame said. “We're just a bunch of skinny guys scrapping for everything we get.”
Justin Morris
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Scott won its sixth straight game despite shooting just 46.8 percent from the field.
But the Eagles were 8-of-18 from 3-point range, including 5-of-9 shooting by Stevenson. Junior center Ben Lye scored 18 points, senior guard Chris Thompson added 17 points and nine rebounds, and senior forward Jamie Medved had nine points and six assists.
Which left Stevenson wondering when Scott will be noticed.
“We feel like if we keep putting W's on the board, the press will come,” Stevenson said.
Scott got Highlands' attention in the first quarter.
In a contest of contrasting styles — Scott's speed vs. Highlands' taller front line of 6-foot-4 senior Gino Guidugli and 6-7 sophomore Ross Neltner — speed won early.
Scott took a 12-5 lead on 3-pointers by Thompson and Medved. Stevenson finished the first quarter with eight points — including two 3-pointers — over the final 2:05, and Scott led 22-12.
To try to cope with the outside shooting, the Bluebirds switched to a 3-2 zone. The results were mixed — Scott went 3:53 without a point but still led 31-24 at halftime.
A 3-pointer by Thompson with 1:16 to go in the half showed how things went for Highlands on defense.
When Scott junior guard Justin Morris took the ball near the right sideline, all five Bluebirds went to him. Morris then passed across the court to an all-alone Thompson, who hit the shot from near the left baseline.
“They're experienced players,” Highlands coach John Messmer said. “I felt we did a pretty good job on them. They hit their foul shots. Scott's a pretty tough team to guard.”
Guidugli led the Bluebirds with 22 points.
Scott took a 48-36 lead after three quarters, but the Eagles were about to venture into treacherous territory. Against Covington Catholic and Washington County, Scott held leads of 12 and 15 points, respectively, before losing in the fourth quarter.
It almost happened again Tuesday. Highlands sophomore guard Kevin Gilles hit three of his five 3-pointers in a 37-second span, and the Bluebirds trailed 66-63 with 23 seconds left.
Scott's free throw shooting was the final answer. Stevenson hit one and Thompson hit two in the last 15 seconds to secure the victory.
“We shoot 69 percent (from the line) as a team,” Trame said. “That'll get you to the top of the region in most cases.”
SCOTT (69) — Morris 2 0 4, Stevenson 6 4 21, Thompson 6 3 17, Lye 5 8 18, Medved 3 2 9. Totals: 22 17 69.
HIGHLANDS (63) — Rider 1 0 3, Forbes 2 0 4, Gilles 5 0 15, Moeves 4 0 9, G. Guidugli 8 5 22, Neltner 4 2 10. Totals: 24 7 63.
Scott ....... 22 9 17 21—69
Highlands ....... 12 12 12 27—63
3-point goals: S-Stevenson 5, Thompson 2, Medved.; H-Gilles 5, Rider, Guidugli, Moeves. Records: S 14-2, H 10-4.
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