Highland girls win 10 in a row, remain unbeaten in SEISC North

DES MOINES

Back-to-back games separated by 24 hours and 125 miles resulted in consecutive wins last week for Highland High School’s fast-moving girls basketball team.

The Huskies defeated Pekin 40-31 at Casey’s Center in Des Moines on Friday, then went back home Saturday for a 53-31 win over Louisa-Muscatine for their ninth and 10^th consecutive wins.

Highland is the only unbeaten team in Southeast Iowa Super Conference North play with an 8-0 record. The Huskies, 10-1 overall, host SEISC North rival Lone Tree at 6 p.m. Tuesday and then play at Hillcrest Academy on Friday.

The Huskies led Pekin by five points, 22-17, at halftime, then held off the Panthers for their ninth consecutive win. Pekin trimmed the lead to one point, 24-23, triggering shouts from Highland head coach Jody Fink.

“We’re not talking, we’re not moving,” he said.

The Huskies responded with a 6-3 run to close out the third quarter with a 30-26 advantage. After Pekin again closed the deficit to one point early in the fourth quarter, 30-29, the Huskies went on a 10-2 run to close out the game. Highland sophomore Kamryn Fink scored 6 of her team-leading 11 points in that stretch.

Mackenzie Davis, a senior, had a team-high 11 rebounds.

“A great experience for both teams there,” Jody Fink said. “We get them at our place the end of the month. It’ll be the same dogfight there.”

Freshman forward Kinzie Reuss added 9 points and 6 rebounds, and battled Pekin senior forward Anna Hadley in the paint for most of the game. Hadley was held to 5 points, and also grabbed 6 rebounds and had 4 steals.

“She did a great job,” Fink said of Reuss. “She’s stepped up a lot just before Christmas. She’s starting to see some different things and build her experience. Rip through, take a dribble, and power move up.”

Highland 53,

Louisa-Muscatine 31

Highland rallied from a 3-point deficit in the first quarter to post a 22-point win Saturday against Louisa-Muscatine for its 10^th consecutive win.

Kamryn Fink led the Huskies with 13 points and 13 rebounds, and freshman forward Kinzie Reuss also had a double-double with a career-high 12 points and 10 rebounds.

After leading 22-18 at halftime, the Huskies went on a 15-4 run in the third quarter to take command.

“Our girls came out a little slow to start the game with an early start time on this Saturday and after a long bus trip the night before,” Highland head coach Jody Fink said. “They responded well in the next three quarters. … We did a good job of getting to their shooters throughout the game and were able to disrupt their offense.”

Kamryn Fink and Hailey Brun each had 5 steals to help the defensive effort.

GAME STATS

HIGHLAND 40, PEKIN 31

Highland   11  11   8  10  -- 40

Pekin           6  11   9    5  -- 31

Highland scoring: Kamryn Fink 11, Kinzie Ruess 9, Emersyn Schultz 7, Katelyn Thomann 5, Hailey Brun 5, Mackenzie Davis 3.

Pekin scoring: Carlie Gambell 12, Abby Guise 11, Anna Hadley 5, Maddy Petrehn 3.

Highland rebounding leaders: Davis 11, Ruess 6, Schultz 5.

HIGHLAND 53, LOUISA-MUSCATINE 31

Louisa-Muscatine   9   9    4     9  -- 31

Highland                  6  16  15  16  -- 53

Highland scoring: Kamryn Fink 13, Kinzie Ruess 12, Hailey Brun 8, Katelyn Thomann 8, Mackenzie Davis 6, Autumn Guseman 3, Joslyn Prottsman 3.

Highland rebounding leaders: Fink 13, Ruess 10, Schultz 8, Davis 8.