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Paul Wedig has a plan for Highland boys basketball this season.
Play team basketball.
The team worked that plan pretty well Tuesday and picked up an opening game non-conference win over Monticello, 56-44. Four of the five players who scored finished in double figures.
Spencer Linscheid and Bray Drury both put in 15 points while Al Michek added 12 and JR Linscheid 10. Derek Miller was the fifth scorer with four.
The Cardinals exercised another part of the Wedig plan and that was strong team defense.
"We forced a lot of turnovers and scored many of our points in transition," Wedig said.
The Cardinals were able to mount a 20 point lead early in the second half but the Ponies went on a run and cut it to 12. Highland answered with a second run to send the margin to 20 but Monticello sniped away to get within 12 at the end.
"We were a little up and down but it was our first game and that is to be expected," Wedig said. "We had some good stretches. Overall I am happy with how we played and I am happy with the way we played team basketball. That is what we will have to do to win."
Junior Jonathan Errthum led the Ponies with 14 points. Freshman Reece Rufer added 13 and senior Zach Price 12.
This is Wedig's first year at Highland. He has coached previously at Lancaster, Darlington, Richland Center, Monticello, Cassville and Wauzeka-Steuben.
SCORE BY HALVES
Monticello 17 27 44
Highland 34 22 56
INDIVIDUAL SCORING
MONTICELLO 44: (fg-ft-tp) Price 4-3-12, Ryan 1-0-2, Gafner 1-0-2. Errthum 5-4-14, Rufer 5-3-13 Totals 16-10/19-44 Fouls-10
HIGHLAND 56: S. Linscheid 6-2-15, B. Drury 6-0-15, JR Linscheid 4-0-10, Michek 6-0-12, Miller 2-0-4 Totals 20-2/5-56 Fouls-18
3 point goals:
M-Price 1, Gafner 1
H-Drury 3, JR Linscheid 2, S. Linscheid 1