SPARTA — With the season winding down and one of the best players in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference coming to town, Highland girls basketball coach Betsy Morrison issued a challenge to her team.
The Scots met that challenge Thursday, knocking off Jordyn Ute and the Elgin Comets, 42-34.
“This was a great win,” said Morrison. “Before the game, we challenged everybody defensively. ... Everybody stepped up. It was a collective effort defensively. You can’t complain when you hold a team to 34 points.”
Ute, a 5-foot-2 senior guard, came into the game averaging more than 17 points a game. She scored 16 against the Scots, but had to earn every point. Ute made just one basket on the night, a 3-pointer, and had to make 13 of 19 free throws to get her points.
“She’s a great player — their catalyst. She makes everything happen,” said Morrison. “We talked a lot about extending challenges to people. The guards had to contain her. Everybody took a turn. ... You try to stay in her grill and defend her dribble drive. She might have gotten one or two open looks tonight. She had to earn her points.”
