Highland Courtwarming Ends With a Sweep

The Highland Cougars’ Courtwarming festivities wouldn’t be threatened by the weather, but the Macon Tigers were set on spoiling the feel-good energy. With the Class 3 District 6 seedings just days away, both teams aimed to build momentum heading into the playoffs.

In addition to the Courtwarming celebration, the Highland community came together to honor Pittsfield Lady Saukees freshman standout Reese Ramsey, who was tragically killed in a three-vehicle accident on Illinois Route 106 in Pike County on Tuesday. Fans were encouraged to wear red in Reese’s memory, creating a powerful tribute in the stands.

Lady Cougars Explodes in the Second Half

Coach Ashton Jaco and her squad continued their march toward securing the top spot in the district, picking up another Clarence Cannon Conference victory with a dominant 53-27 win over the Macon Tigerettes. The Lady Cougars controlled the game, outscoring Macon in all but one quarter and pulling away in the second half with a 31-19 scoring advantage.

Addie Abell and Kierra Rothweiler led the offense, each finishing with 15 points, while Josie Murphy added 10. With the win, Highland improved to 22-3 on the season. They will close out the regular season at home next Friday, February 21, against the Palmyra Panthers.

Macon was led by Reece Barnett, who finished with 10 points, while Makenzie Hessel added six. The Tigerettes dropped to 7-17 and will return home for a two-game stretch, hosting Fulton on February 19 and Monroe City on February 21.

Cougars Sneak Some Momentum Away From the Tigers

Coach Edmonson and her Cougars picked up much-needed momentum with a thrilling 48-47 victory over the Macon Tigers. Highland trailed by around 10 points for most of the game in what proved to be a physical battle, as a total of 34 fouls were committed throughout the night. However, the Cougars mounted a dramatic 16-2 run in the fourth quarter, clawing their way back to share the lead. Foul trouble ultimately doomed the Tigers, sending Highland to the free-throw line, where they sealed the win. The Cougars dominated the final period, outscoring Macon 20-6.

Lane Hinton led Highland with 15 points, while Briscoe Post contributed 13. With the win, the Cougars improved to 3-20 and will close out their regular season at home against the Palmyra Panthers on February 21.

After the game, Coach Edmonson reflected on the key adjustments heading into the fourth quarter.

“I think the biggest adjustment was telling the boys to play with heart, to believe in themselves, and to have confidence,” Edmonson said. “A lot of what we’re doing this year is about building confidence, and they really knew they could do it—and they executed well.”

Edmonson also emphasized how important this win was for building momentum heading into Palmyra and districts, calling it “huge.”

For Macon, Kace Hollman led the way with 14 points, followed closely by Evan Newland with 13. The Tigers dropped to 6-17 and will wrap up their season with a three-game home stretch, facing Hannibal on February 17, Fulton on February 19, and Monroe City on February 21.