Highland boys open conference play with win victory

By John Dalton

Three Cardinal players had double-digit games Thursday night in Highland to help the Cardinals defeat the Shullsburg Miners 64-53 in the Six Rivers West.  

Kaden Washa scored 17 of his game-high 28 points in the first half. Jack Tarrell added 16 points while Koyer Zadrazil pitched in 12 points.  It was a see-saw game for the first 10 minutes of the game, and it was tied at 15 apiece when Tarrell hit a 3-point shot with 6:30 left in the half and the Cardinals never looked back.  Zadrazil’s 3-point shot at the halftime buzzer put Highland up 31-19.

In their previous game against Dodgeville, the Cardinals struggled to protect the ball, but against Shullsburg, the team worked in practice on better ball protection, and it showed.  “We learned against Dodgeville how valuable taking care of the basketball is and we did a much better job of that,” Highland Head Coach Ryan Hill said following the game.  "We were able to make adjustments, and we played a different defense as well.  We did not allow them to have a player in double figures, and we held them to only three, 3-point shots.”

The second half of the game was played evenly as Shullsburg could not gain any momentum.  Any attempt at a run, Highland had an answer with buckets by Liam Thielorn, Brady Nankey, and Arthur Hay.  Zadrazil’s second 3-point shot from the corner near the end of the game helped secure the win.  

Hill said Washa had a nice game with his 28 points and Jack Tarrell continued his strong play as he added 16.  "It was good to get Koyer Zadrazil back, and his three at the buzzer to end the first half was a big momentum builder," Hill said.  

Hill said he was also impressed with Brady Nankey's play.  "He battled hard underneath the hoop," Hill said.  "We didn't shoot our best at the free throw line but Jack and Kaden hit theirs down the stretch," he said.

Highland played at Benton on Tuesday, and you can see that story elsewhere in the sports section.  They will play at Barneveld Thursday night.  For video highlights of the Highland – Shullsburg game, you can find it on the Dodgeville Chronicle’s Facebook page.  

Box Score

Highland    31 – 33 – 64

Shullsburg 19 – 34 -- 53

Highland (fg-ft-tp); Kaden Washa 11-5-28, Jack Tarrell 5-5-16, Koyer Zadrazil 5-0-12, Liam Thielorn 2-0-4, Brady Nankey 1-0-4, Arthur Hay 1-0-2. 

3-pointers; Zadrazil 2, Washa 1, Tarrell 1.

Shullsburg (fg-ft-tp); Connor Doyle 4-0-9, Lane Marten 4-0-9, Colton Fennell 4-0-8, Logan Nethery 3-0-8, Parker Mullen 3-0-6, Aden Wiegel 3-0-6, Logan Grunenwald 1-1-3, Hudson Wiegel 1-0-2, Liam McGovern-Stierman 1-0-2

3-pointers; Doyle 1, Martin 1, Nethery 1.