[Stardust]

Replacing veterans with more veterans

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The Highlands girls' basketball team ended last season with a regional semifinal loss to Boone County, then said goodbye to seven seniors - and four starters.

But these are the perennially powerful Bluebirds, so reloading is rarely a problem.

And that's where seniors Katie Allen, Bekah Towles and Hope Cutter come in.

All three have been on the team since their freshman year.

"We are looking forward to sending them out with a bang," said coach Jaime Richey. "But we will only go as far as those three will take us."

Which could be pretty far, actually.

Richey said she believes Allen and Towles form the best guard-post combo in the Ninth Region.

"They make each other look good and also make their teammates look good," she said.

Towles and Allen have been playing together for years on AAU basketball teams, in addition to the three years of varsity experience.

"We know what each person is going to do before we do it. We know what we are going to do without saying it," said Towles.

Richey's critique of her stars is that they pass the ball a little too much and don't look for enough opportunities on the offensive side. The coach said the Bluebirds will need to implement a versatile game plan.

"We are going to mix it up - get up and go - and other games we will slow it down," said Richey. "Our season is what these three seniors can do for us and how the freshmen can step up and perform."

Last season the Bluebirds finished 25-6 and were ranked at or near the top of the Enquirer coaches' poll all year. But the season came to a halt in a 55-47 loss to Boone County in a Ninth Region semifinal.

"None of us were ready for the season to be over, and it was tough because everyone thought that was our strongest year with all the seniors," said Allen, who averaged 14 points per game. "Losing last year with everything we had will definitely motivate us for this year."

The Bluebirds have a difficult schedule. In the district, Newport Central Catholic will present tough competition behind senior guard Courtney Sandfoss and senior center Mariah Tabor. In the region, Ryle has guard Jenna Crittendon who can take over games, and defending champion Boone County features standouts Joscelyn Davis and Sydney Moss.

"I don't feel any pressure because nobody thinks we are going to be as good - but I do," said Towles.

Allen agreed.

"People will be underestimating us all season because we lost so many players, but our seniors this year are all strong and have a lot of experience," she said.

The Bluebirds' season starts Dec. 5 at 4 p.m. against Montgomery