Bluebirds Pull Away from Yellow Jackets, Stay Undefeated at 11-0

Highlands Bests Another 7th Region Opponent

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham, Fort Thomas Matters. Highlands senior Hunter Ahlfeld (left) sets up a play in a recent game.

The closest anyone has come to the Blue and White this season is seven points.

The Highlands Bluebirds boys basketball team stayed undefeated at 11-0 and made sure another team did not come within single digits by pulling away for a 64-52 win over the Louisville Central Yellow Jackets (4-7) on Thursday. The game marked the first of three in the City of Middletown Holiday Classic at Louisville Eastern.

"They did a great job of not letting us get out in transition," said Kevin Listerman, Highlands Head Coach. "They did a good job in the half-court of speeding us up just a little bit more than we play. It was tough to get into an offensive rhythm. We played solid defensively the entire game and did a good job stretching the lead in the fourth quarter."

Juniors Sam Vinson and Luke Muller recorded double-doubles to lead the Bluebirds. Vinson had 24 points and 12 rebounds with Muller scoring 21 point and nabbing 10 rebounds. Vinson also had seven assists and four steals.

The Bluebirds made 21-of-44 shots for 48 percent 11-of-22 free throws for 50 percent to go with 44 rebounds, 10 steals, 17 assists and 15 turnovers. The Yellow Jackets made 22-of-34 shots for 65 percent and 4-of-11 free throws for 36 percent.

The reserves may not have seen the minutes they have in recent games. But players like freshman guard William Herald have learned a lot from the upperclassmen.


"They're fun to be around. They keep me into it," Herald said. "We see how hard they work and how they don't get too overconfident. They always play as hard as they can every single time."

Highlands plays the Lexington Lafayette Generals (4-8) on Friday back at Eastern. Game time is 6 p.m.