1000 points in Highland finale
Highland boys basketball coach Ryan Hill knew the season had been tough on his team after winning the Six Rivers West title a year ago.
The 2025-26 squad faced adversity all season, starting with low numbers then losing a key player in Cooper Oleson to an ACL injury sustained in football. Then came illness, injury and other issues that took players out of action.
Hill knew when an opportunity came for a positive for the team they should embace it. So when Jack Tarrell scored on a jumper in the lane for his 14th and 15th point in the second half of a 78-41 loss to Belmont Tuesday Hill took a time out. The reason he brought Tarrell and the rest of the Cardinals to the bench was to let the Highland faithful salute Tarrell on reaching 1000 points. Tarrell has been a starter since his sophomore year and was the workhorse of the squad this season. He and Kaden Washa accounted for most of he points game in and game out.
Tuesday was no different as Tarrell led with 18 and Washa added 14 for all but nine of the total put in by the Cardinals.
Belmont took the win in the WIAA Division 5 Regional opener and will host River Ridge Friday.
Hill acknowledged it was a tough year but he was proud of the team never hanging their heads and playing hard every game.
“They came to practice and worked on getting better,” Hill said, “They were always ready to compete.”
About Tarrell Hill said he was always the player who drew the top defender and he had to work for every point.
“I wish we could have won a few more games but Jack and Kaden had to do so much to keep us in it. We needed more players to score but that did not happen.”
“Jack deserves to be recognized for his 1000 points,” Hill noted.
Tommy Freeman a 6-5 sophomore, led the Braves with 23 points.
SCORE BY HALVES
Highland 18 23 41
Belmont 37 41 78
BOX SCORE:
HIGHLAND 41 (fg-ft-tp): J. Tarrell 7-1-18, K. Washa 6-2-14, A. Hay 2-0-5, K. Zadrazil 1-0-2, W. Fritsch 1-0-2, B. Nankey 0-0-0, P. Brown 0- 0-0, B. Bedward 0-0-0, I. Pierick 0- 0-0, L. Thielorn 0-0-0. Totals 17-3/4-41. Fouls- 8.
BELMONT 78: T. Freeman 10-3- 23, W. Temperly 5-2-14, L. Kress 6- 0-13, C. Richers 4-0-8, G. McNett 2-1-7, I. Austin 3-0-6, C. Miller 1-0- 3, B. Bowers 1-0-2, B. Galle 1-0-2, B. Gill 0-0-0, J. Barr 0-0-0. Totals 33-6/9-78. Fouls- 4.
3 Pointers Made:
HI- J. Tarrell 3, A. Hay 1. BE- W. Temperly 2, G. McNett 2, L. Kress 1, C. Miller 1.