[Stardust]

When the Highlands boys’ basketball staff scouted Holmes in preparation for Friday’s game, it saw an outmanned Ryle team upset the Bulldogs on the strength of a zone defense.

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They kind of got happy shooting jumpers,” said Highlands coach Mike Flynn. “We wanted to limit them off the dribble, so we zoned them. That’s what Ryle did and it worked.

“But they shot that down right away.”

Literally and figuratively.

• Photos: Bulldogs 69, Bluebirds 58

The defending state champions made a case that the in-region loss was an isolated incident. And if Friday’s 69-58 win at Highlands was any indication, area coaches who thought they’d found a blueprint to beating the Bulldogs might want to go back to the chalkboard.

The victory was Holmes’ fourth straight since losing to Ryle. The victories have come by an average margin of 25 points.

“We’ve been playing like a team that shouldn’t have lost that game – a team that knew it was slacking and has stepped it up,” said Holmes senior forward Elijah Pittman. “We were losing focus of who we are and what we want to be. We were looking at ourselves as last year’s state champions. It’s a new year.”

Highlands, which never led, threatened twice in the second half. Both times Holmes answered.

The Bluebirds cut the lead to 44-38 with 2:47 remaining in the third quarter. But then Holmes senior Ricardo Johnson hit a contested 3-pointer that started an 11-2 run.

“That was the biggest shot of the game,” said Flynn. “That’s the kind of shot that players like him make.”

Pittman picked up where Johnson left off. He caught an alley-oop pass from Jeremiah Johnson for a dunk. Then, after Jaydayle Herndon hit a 3-pointer to end the third quarter scoring, Pittman scored the Bulldogs’ first nine points of the fourth quarter.

Pittman led all scorers with 23 points.

“He’s so long and he’s learning how to post up and score in the post,” said Holmes coach David Henley. “Last year he didn’t know how to score in the post. Now he’s hard to handle one-on-one down there.”

With 2:31 to play, Highlands cut the lead to 61-54 on a Zach Lother 3-pointer, but Holmes closed out the victory at the free throw line.

Henley gave his team’s performance a mixed review.

“We have to get to the point where we’re more consistent, instead of playing well for a spurt here and a spurt there,” he said. “But you have to give Highlands credit too. They have experienced players who know how to execute. You’re not going to blow everybody out.”

Early on, it appeared Holmes would have another blowout victory. The Bulldogs hit eight of their 10 3-pointers in the first half and led by as many as 18 points.

Pittman finished with six rebounds, three blocks and three assists. He also hit three 3-pointers. Ricardo Johnson tallied 15 points to go with five rebounds, three blocks and two assists.

Both teams are scheduled to play at Holmes Saturday night.

Highlands will play Simon Kenton in the first game of a double-header. Holmes will play Warren Central. The game will feature a reunion of Holmes’ 1990 state runner-up team, which Flynn coached.