Author: Quinn Hull

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Campus News Sports

Sports Update

After another week of high-quality play, the Houghton College women’s basketball team found itself in a position to make a run at a berth in the Empire 8 conference tournament.

With an overall record of (10-7) and (6-2) in conference, the Highlanders were sitting at the third spot, trailing only Sage and St. John Fisher in the Empire 8 standings. If there was any doubt that the Highlanders deserved that third spot, it was quickly erased by their 60-52 statement win on the road at Sage College. Houghton came into the game full of confidence and essentially controlled the game from start to finish surrendering a two-point lead only once in the second quarter. It was a team effort from the Highlanders. The team had three players make their way into double digits scoring the ball, and the team passed the ball well totaling 16 total assists. “I’m honestly super excited to be where we are right now…the overall focus in our locker room is to take it one game at a time, one quarter at a time, one minute at a time, and one position at a time. and to just build on what we have already accomplished this year.” Said sophomore guard Cori Beck. The win goes a long way, letting the rest of the conference know that the highlanders are here to compete. The Highlanders will have a chance to defeat the only other team ahead of them in the conference on Tuesday night at the Neilsen Center at 8:00.

The men’s basketball team’s struggles have continued as the team fights to get back into the win column. The teams biggest bright spot continues to be their offensive production. In their contest with Utica College in which junior guard Dylan Lambert was sidelined, it was Carl Holmes that stepped into the spotlight. Holmes tallied 23 points and 4 assists while converting on three out of five attempts from beyond the arc. Unfortunately, the Highlanders were defeated by a score of 76-57. The team will look for their first conference win on Tuesday night against St. John Fisher College.

 

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Sports Update

The Houghton College Women’s Basketball did not have a strong start to the 2017-18 season. After dropping their first three games out of conference, however, the team was able to shake off the rust and win their next four straight. By averaging about 60 points per game, and holding teams to about 57, the Highlanders have been able to keep pace with the rest of the conference and continually put themselves in a position to win late in games.

The team may have stumbled a bit out of the gate, but they have not been dissuaded. “Our season has gone really well. We played some tough competition in our non-conference schedule, which helped prepare us for conference play.  We lost a tough game to Stevens last week but came back with two great wins against Hartwick, Elmira, and Fisher…I’m really proud of how we bounced back. Starting the season 0-3 didn’t faze us. In order for us to finish the season as one of the top teams in our conference, we just need to keep playing our game. Our strength is playing team basketball. We’re really learning how to play with each other and it’s hard to stop chemistry.” said senior guard, Laurie Call ‘18.

It is a realistic expectation to see this team towards the top of the Empire 8 standings when the the season begins to wind down. The team already owns a (4-2) record in conference and has plenty of opportunities to improve on that down the stretch.

Houghton Men’s basketball started hot this year, earning back to back victories in their first two games and making their way to a (3-1) start. Since then however, the Highlanders have struggled to find their stride, losing in each of the following eleven games. “So far this year has tested the resiliency of our team. Early on we learned how to win some tough games and as of late we’ve been on the other side of some very competitive, close games.  Both Coach McMullen and Coach Zurich are doing a great job preparing us to bring our best every night.  Our attitude and effort in both practice and games may not reflect our record, but our team continues to give it their all.  The culture we are building is based on hard work and staying connected” Said junior guard Dylan Lambert ‘19, who surpassed 1,000 career points in their loss to St. John Fisher. “Scoring 1000 points in my junior year is a great honor and something I’ve worked very hard for, but I know I couldn’t have done it without the guys around me… Although I have many personal goals I have yet to achieve…my number one goal is to do my part in getting Houghton Basketball in the Empire 8 conversation,” said Lambert on his accomplishment.

On the offensive side of the floor, the team has been mostly efficient. The team averages about 67 points per game and only turns the ball over about 17 times per game. It is on the defensive end of the floor that the majority of the team’s struggles come from. The Highlanders have given up an average of 79 points per game and have only been able to force opposing teams into 10 turnovers per game. Despite the efficiency the team displays on offense, scoring 80 points a night is not easy. The team will be given many chances to get back on track as they square off with teams exclusively from the Empire 8 for the rest of the season.

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Campus News Sports

Weekly Sports Update

Houghton College field hockey has already made history this season and is looking to do something no Houghton team has ever accomplished before. Led by the the play of the Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Week, Nicole Jennings, the team earned the final berth of the Empire 8 postseason tournament with an overall record of 10-7 and a conference record of 4-3. It will be the first time that the team has ever made an appearance in the tournament. On November 3, the team will square off against the number one seed Washington and Jefferson; a team to which they lost to by a score of 1-0 during the regular season. “We are all really excited. We’ve improved a lot over this season and even over the last four years. We are really thankful for the opportunity and we really hope to represent Houghton well this weekend.” Said senior Alyson DeMerchant. The team is taking it one game at a time. Looking at the big picture however, if they are able to win the conference tournament, they will go down as the first team in the history of Houghton College athletics to make an appearance in the NCAA Division III national tournament.

Men’s soccer came to an end this weekend after a 2-1 loss to Nazareth College. The team finished the season with a 6-9-2 overall record and a 1-5-1 record in the Empire 8. The finish stings a bit for the team, especially those who have now played their last game as a Highlander. “Playing for Houghton College has been my childhood dream… I’ve always wanted to be a Highlander… Houghton soccer is so much more than wins and losses. It’s a tradition and a brotherhood that will always be there for you. And it’s hard to say goodbye to such a huge part of my life, but Houghton Soccer has given me so many opportunities to grow as a Christian, as a soccer player and as a teammate.” Said senior captain, Jordan Mullen.

Houghton’s women’s soccer will also miss out on postseason play this year. After a 3-0 loss to Stevens, their 3-4-1 record in conference will not be enough to earn them a spot in the tournament. The team may not have made their way into the postseason this year but it was a hard fought season for a team which battled injuries and other obstacles all year long. They will look to finish their season out with a win against Alfred State on Tuesday October 31.

Houghton’s volleyball season also came to an end over the weekend. The team took one of their three games beating Keuka and falling to Canton and Allegheny. Senior Naomi Prentice reached the milestone of 1,000 kills in here career as a Highlander. Her 17 kills on Saturday put her at 1,011 in her career.

At the Empire 8 championships, both Houghton cross country teams finished 4th out of 9. Both Shelby Langlois and Tyler Deuschle received First Team All-Conference honors. Langlois placed 5th with a time of 24:36.2. in the women’s 6000m. Deuschle finished 9th with a time of 28:37.4 in the men’s 8000m.

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Sports Update

After a rocky start to their season, the Houghton women’s soccer team still finds themselves in fourth place in the Empire 8 Conference. After their last four conference matches, the Highlanders came out with a record of 2-2. The play on the defensive end was outstanding. Led by the play of junior goalkeeper Sadie Dunnett ‘20 the team surrendered only 3 goals over the stretch. “Although we’ve had a bit of a rocky season, we’re feeling optimistic looking forward. We played well against Nazareth who is a solid team, despite an unfortunate result,” said Dunnett. “We commit every season to the Lord and we hope to play out the next few games in a way that is pleasing to Him.” The Highlanders will travel to Stevens on Saturday, Oct. 28 to play in what will be their most important contest of the year. After claiming a 3-3-1 record in conference, the team needs only one more Empire 8 win to clinch a berth in the Empire 8 tournament; Stevens will be their last chance to do so.

After six straight disappointing contests, the men’s soccer team finally made its way back into the win column against Alfred State College on Thursday, Oct. 19. In the 4-0 victory, three Highlanders were able to hit nylon for the first time time in their collegiate careers. Those goals were scored by sophomore forward, Dan Bussy ‘20, junior defender Darcy Mitchell ‘19, and sophomore defender Caleb Kaiss ‘20. Junior midfielder, Zach Shilvock ‘19 also contributed a goal of his own. Unfortunately, the team will not be making the Empire 8 tournament, but the future looks bright for this young squad. The team will head to Nazareth College on Saturday to play their last game of the season.

The women’s tennis team made history this season by becoming the first team in their program’s young history to compete in the Empire 8 tournament. The team played hard, but was defeated by Nazareth College with a score of 5-0. “It was very exciting to see all of our team’s hard work moving towards an achievable goal. Making it to the final four tournament this season was a great bonding experience for us. I am very thankful to be a part of tennis here at Houghton,” said team captain Amanda Carl ’19. The win was a huge step in the right direction for a program that is now threatening to make themselves the top team in the conference.

The cross country teams had another solid outing at the Highlander Invitational at the Field of Dreams. The weather held up for the men’s team, and it showed. The team had six runners finish in under 29 minutes led by Matthew Gostomski ‘19, followed by Daniel Burdo ‘20, Tyler Deuschle ‘20, Joel Wheeler ‘21, Dominik Sullivan ‘21, and Dillon Bell ‘21. The team’s top five was an average of 27:43.7. “It was nice to be able to see what shape we were in and what we can do in good conditions,” said Daniel Burdo about the race. Unfortunately, bad weather rolled in for the women’s team. The top five averaged a time of 26:08.2, led by Shelby Langlois ‘20, followed by Emily Blosdale ‘20, Rachel Hummel ‘18, Gwen Stokes ‘20, and Anja Oberg ‘21.

Women’s volleyball, currently on a four game losing streak, will look to make their way back into the win column this weekend when they host Canton, Keuka, and Allegheny. Unfortunately, the team will not be making an appearance in the conference tournament. Despite the disappointing end, the Highlanders fought well all season. This young squad will be one to contend with in the coming years.

Women’s field hockey came up with a huge conference win against Elmira, jumping out in front early and cruising to a 4-1 win. The win improved their conference record to 2-6 and kept their playoff hopes alive. The rest is out of their hands. Saturday’s games will determine who snags the last spot in the tournament. The team will play their last game here at home against SUNY Morrisville on Saturday, October 28 at 2:00 p.m.

 

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Campus News Sports

Weekly Sports Update

The Houghton men’s soccer team started the week with a 2-0 loss to SUNY Geneseo. It was apparent that the absence of senior captain, Jordan Mullen ‘18 was something the team had quite a bit of difficulty dealing with. With Mullen back in the lineup however, the Highlanders were able to pick up a 1-0 road win at Elmira. It was the team’s first contest in the Empire 8 and the victory helped improve the team’s conference record to (1-0). “It was nice to see Darcy Mitchell get his first career start on Wednesday and play well. The week long break allowed me to focus in on what I needed to do to help the team get ready for Elmira. I was proud of the way we played Saturday. It’s always a childhood dream come true when I get to put on the Houghton jersey and compete. It’s awesome to be able to carry on the Houghton tradition,” said Mullen.

After a rocky start to their season, the Houghton women’s soccer team bounced back with two wins on the road. At Pitt-Bradford, the Highlanders dominated play, recording 14 shots to Pitt-Bradford’s 3, in route to a 1-0 victory. It was more of the same on Saturday when the team traveled to Lancaster Bible College to take on the Chargers. The team netted a season high 4 goals coming in pairs from junior defender, Meagan Barry ‘19, and senior striker, Nikki Garns ‘18. The effort would prove to be enough to earn the team their second straight win by a score of 4-2.

A game winning goal against Pitt-Bradford, and a pair of assists at Lancaster Bible earned senior captain, Jessica Beattie ‘18 the honor of being named NCCAA Offensive Student-Athlete of the Week. “To be recognized as the NCCAA’s offensive Student Athlete of the week is quite an honour. It wouldn’t have been possible without my teammates playing hard alongside me during the games and practices. Our team chemistry has progressed this week and although we can always improve, our desire to win and play well was evident in our games,” said Beattie.

The Houghton Men’s and Women’s Cross Country teams have gotten off to an impressive start. At the Highlander Short Course Twilight Invitational, the men’s team was led by sophomore, Tyler Deuschle ‘20 in their 5000m race. Deuschle placed 22nd overall, and shattered his personal best by posting a time of 16:31.4. Seconds later, it was junior, Matthew Gostomski ‘19 coming in at 25th overall with a time of 16:44.5.

In the Women’s 4000m races, it was sophomore, Gwen Stokes ‘20 leading the way for the Highlanders. Stokes placed 28th overall and posted a time of 16:16.4. Soon after it was sophomore, Shelby Langlois ‘20 coming in at 33rd with a time of 16:31.2.

The Highlanders also ran at the PSU-Behrend Invitational. Three Highlanders finished in the top 25 of the men’s 8000m or the Women’s 5000m races. For the women it was Langlois who placed 15th with a time of 20:53.7. For the men it was Deuschle placing 11th, with a time of 27:41.6 and Gostomski coming in at 25 with a time of 28:36.7.

The Highlanders will compete in the Harry F. Anderson Invitational in Rochester, NY on September 23.

The Houghton volleyball team dropped games to Buffalo State, York College of Pennsylvania, and Messiah this week. Each game was tightly contested, but the Highlanders struggled to finish in the end. Saturday, September 23 may prove to be a pivotal point in the Highlanders’ season as they open up conference play against both Stevens, and Utica at the Nielsen Center starting at 11AM.

Unfortunately, Houghton field hockey dropped both of their games against SUNY Cortland and Utica this week. With the losses, the team will fall to an overall record of (3-3) and a conference record of (0-2).  The team will look to rebound against conference opponents St. John Fisher, and Hartwick in upcoming contests.

 

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Sports Update

Men’s Soccer

The Houghton Men’s Soccer team kicked its season off at the Oswego tournament on September 1. After dropping the first game to Oswego by a score of 5-0, they were able to rebound and squeak out a 3-2 win in an overtime contest with SUNY Purchase. In their home opener the Highlanders fell behind Hiram due to a penalty kick scored by the Terriers. The equalizing goal came from junior striker, Ben Lawrence; it was his first of the season. Lawrence would go on to win Empire 8 offensive player of the week. Twenty minutes later, game winning goal was scored by junior midfielder, Zach Shilvock. The goal was Shilvock’s first as a Highlander and could not have come at a more important time. “After taking a year off, it felt great to be able to start off strong and help the team right away.” said Shilvock.

The Highlanders split their games in the Fredonia tournament and currently hold a record of (3-2). You can see the team in action on Wednesday, September 13 at 7:00 on Burke Field as they take on SUNY Geneseo.

Women’s Soccer

Women’s soccer stumbled out of the gate losing games to Mary Washington and Brockport. Despite the early hiccups, the team is still in great shape. Perhaps one of the brightest spots is the young talent joining the team this year including freshman striker, Kealy DeForest. DeForest’s first career goal as a Highlander was also the first of the team’s season. “Pure excitement of the fact that I had just scored my first collegiate goal! I’m so thankful for the amazing supportive team, and coach I have. They have really helped me grow as a person, and player!” said DeForest.

“We are excited to have such a large freshman class joining our team this year…many of them have the ability to start, or play a fair amount of minutes” said senior captain, Jess Beattie.

The start may not have been what they expected, but that doesn’t change the way the team sees their season. “Every year our team expectation is to play good soccer for the glory of God. The team goal this season is to advance to the NCAA tournament… Besides the rough start, the team expects to come out with some wins over the next couple weeks to turn our season around.” said Beattie.

The Highlanders will look to do just that on Wednesday, September 13 as they travel to the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford.

Women’s Field Hockey

The Houghton Field Hockey team came out firing to open their season winning their first three contests against SUNY Oswego, Keystone, and Keuka. Unfortunately, the first misstep came in the form of a 1-0 loss to Washington and Jefferson on Saturday, September 9. “We’ve had a strong start to our season and we are really hoping to prove our consistency as the season progresses. Overall we aspire to be a team that models excellence for the glory of God on the field, in the classroom, and in our lifestyles.” Said senior Alyson DeMerchant.

The Highlanders will travel to SUNY Cortland on Tuesday September 12.

Volleyball

Brianne Starks got off to a great start in her premier season as head coach of the Highlanders Volleyball team. The team won three out of four in their St. Lawrence Tournament. The team now holds a record of (5-4) after dropping three of their next five. “We’re hoping to redeem ourselves tomorrow against [Buffalo] State, who we beat in three a couple weekends ago. They are a strong team but we managed to outplay them last time.” said sophomore Jaimee Glendenning.

Women’s Tennis

The Houghton Women’s Tennis team started off slow this year dropping two conference matches between St. John Fisher, and Nazareth. Fortunately the team fired back against the newest member of the Empire 8, Sage College, beating them by a score of 5-4. That momentum carried into the team’s most recent match as they rolled to an 8-1 win over Pitt-Bradford. “Last year we ended up fifth in our conference, this year we are looking to be fourth in the Empire 8” said Senior Jacqi Lewis. Achieving that goal would land the Highlanders a spot in the conference tournament.  

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Spring Sports Near Season End

Highlander softball snapped a six game win streak in two close losses to Utica College last week, 5-8 and 6-7. The Utica double header commenced conference play for the women, followed by Ithaca College on Wednesday and an away double header this afternoon at Elmira College. While the six-win streak was non-conference play, it was the longest streak Highlander softball has been able to string together since the program rebooted in 2012. Now in its fifth year and under its fourth set of coaching staff, it remains to be seen how the team will fare this season.

Baseball sits at 8-10, with one win and four losses in conference play. On Tuesday, the team faced Alfred State College. The team will face Empire 8 foe, Utica college, at home this afternoon at 4 p.m., and tomorrow for a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m.

Men’s tennis turned out strong, shutting out their first two conference competitors Hartwick and Alfred University 9-0. The men will continue their season at home tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. against conference opponent Stevens Tech.

Women’s tennis closed last Saturday with a loss to Geneva College. After making steady gains in conference play since the program was inaugurated in 2013, the women have stalled with nearly the same overall and conference records as last year. They finished 3-5 in the Empire 8 conference, and 7-8 overall.

Men’s and Women’s lacrosse, both relatively new programs in their fifth season, have struggled to find their footing this year. Each team recorded a 0-3 start in the Empire 8 conference. The men face Steven’s Tech at home tomorrow at noon. The women will battle St. John Fisher away tomorrow at 1 p.m.

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Winter Sports Close On High Note

Men’s and women’s basketball as well as men’s and women’s indoor track and field came to a close on Saturday. The Nielsen center was packed with over 300 people who came to see Highlanders play host to cross-town rival Alfred University. Down by 8 early in the game, the Highlanders had their work cut out for them. With Phil Pellegrino ‘17 coming into the game with 999 career points, the Highlander faithful were just waiting to erupt. When Pellegrino stepped up to the free throw line the anticipation was palpable. After draining the first basket, the crowd’s excitement couldn’t be contained any longer as they cheered on their 1,000-point scorer. “Scoring 1,000 points was something that I never really thought of my whole college career. I hear of so few people doing it that it never registered to me that it was a possibility. Being able to do it in front of a home crowd on my last game was something out of a dream. The amount of support that whole Houghton community gave me throughout the process was an unforgettable experience,” said Pellegrino.

The Highlanders went on to defeat Alfred on the backs of Dylan Lambert’s ‘19 41 points and a clutch three-point shot from Pellegrino that would prove to be the game winner. “…It was the ultimate high note. Having transferred from Alfred U after my freshman year it was a pretty sweet victory for me personally. Every senior contributed a ton to the game, so it really sent us all out with a good taste in our mouths. I can’t say enough about the support and love that all my teammates and the Houghton community has given the entire year. I couldn’t have asked for a better college basketball experience,” he said.

Though the Highlanders failed to reach their goal of making the playoffs, the team posted a final record of 10-15. “It was great to win against a rival to end the not only the last game of the season but my college career as well… [it] was just all you could ask for” said Johnathan Stowe ‘17.

The Houghton Women’s basketball team closed their season out in an exciting way as well. Unfortunately, the outcome was not as favorable as the men’s game. The Houghton crowd thought the game was won when Madison Detwiler ‘19 converted the two most crucial points of the game at the line giving the Highlanders a two-point advantage with five seconds to play. Instead it was Alfred’s Jamie Wilcox to the rescue, scoring a two-point jumper as time expired to force overtime. Despite the Highlander effort, Alfred prevailed by a score of 83-78. “The end of the season is always tough, even more so after an overtime loss. That hurt. We did improve from last year, but I wouldn’t be telling the truth if I said I thought our team wasn’t capable of more as far as wins and losses go. I am most thankful for my time here because I have made amazing lifelong friends…I can’t wait to see what the team does next year,” said Elle Reed ‘17 after her last game as a Highlander.

The team may see a bright future. Major contributors such as Laura Call ‘18, Brittany Lenart ‘19, Madison Detwiler ‘19, Leslie Moose ‘19 and Cori Beck ‘20 will be returning next year for another run at the Empire 8 tournament.

The Houghton indoor track and field team also had a productive season. In the Empire 8 Championships the team recorded 20 personal best performances. A school record was set in the men’s 4 x 4 by Cory McCarty ‘17, Dan Burdo ‘20, Nate Moore ‘18, and Will Baggs ‘20. The men’s team set a school record by scoring 16 points in a conference meet, and Nikki Garns ‘18 set the Division III era school record in the 200 meter. To top off conference competition, Leland Roberts ‘19 pole vaulted his way to becoming an Empire 8 Champion.

At the National Christian College Athletic Association national tournament, Gwen Stokes ‘20 earned All-American honors in the high jump, making third place with a leap of 1.52 meters.

Rebekah White ‘18, Stokes, Garns, and Emma Fox ‘20 now hold the school record for the women’s 4×400 meter run, after sprinting to a time of 4:14.39 at nationals. The foursome finished in 6th place overall.

 

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Former Pros Draw Students To Baseball Clinic

Three former major-leaguers and dozens of junior high and high school baseball players gathered in the Kerr-Pegula Athletic Complex on Saturday to participate in the Elite One Day Baseball Clinic. The clinic was hosted by the Houghton College baseball team. The clinic was split into two sessions. One took place from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and was geared towards varsity and junior varsity players. The other took place from 2:30 to 4:30 and was geared more towards junior high players, according to a Houghton College press release.

Players who attended the clinic had the opportunity to meet and learn from former pro players like  Dan Cevette (Cleveland Indians and Pittsburgh Pirates), Brian Jones (Team USA), and Ron Bush (Detroit Tigers). All players had a chance to split up and work on things like hitting, base running, and spin recognition in groups, according to the event website. Baseball team members and baseball coaching staff assisted in running the clinic.

According to the clinic schedule, players split up into position groups and worked on drills specific to certain positions. Catchers worked on skills like popping up after catching the ball. Infielders worked on turning double plays, and quick hands. Outfielders worked on reading fly balls.

Houghton pitcher, John Kopicky ‘19, said the pitchers’ program varied a little from the other position groups. Instead of throwing on the mound and doing drills, they took the opportunity to learn from the professional players leading the clinic.Kopicky said,  “Dan Cevette, who was drafted in the third round out of high school talked to all the pitchers and gave tips and just a talk focused on pitching…pitching is a little different and they benefitted more in the short time by hearing tips and asking questions rather than throwing on the mound”.

Though this was not a recruitment camp, Houghton may see a few of those in attendance as Highlanders in the future. “Well the intent was to help players get better. We weren’t really bringing them to recruit them, but some caught our attention,” said Kopicky.

The clinic is one of several like clinics which have drawn people to the field house in the last few semesters. Athletic Director Harold “Skip” Lord said, “in ways that are both missional and also draw prospective students.” The athletic department plans to run two to three such clinics per year, featuring elite athletes who “fit” the mission of Houghton College and the athletic department, Lord said.

 

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Highlanders Push for Playoffs

 

It has been a season of ups and downs for the Highlander men’s basketball team. Behind guard, Dylan Lambert’s (‘19), nineteen points per game, and captain Jonathan Stowe’s (‘17) nineteen total blocks, the team looked capable of advancing in the Empire 8 tournament. However, the team has stumbled in conference play, managing a record of only 2-5 against Empire 8 teams. The Highlanders currently sit three spots outside of a playoff berth behind Hartwick, Nazareth, and Utica. With the remainder of the schedule consisting of only conference opponents, the Highlanders have their work cut out for them. “We have proven that we can compete at a high level with all of the Empire 8 teams the first time around. For the second time, we play them this season we are expecting to win a lot more,” said captain, Phil Pellegrino ‘17.

The one thing the Highlanders have yet to do this season is maintain a winning streak beyond  five games. Stowe emphasized taking it one game at a time and stated,  “We need to get back on track to playing our game, working together as a team to set each other up to score, and then play defense consistently and stick to the scouting report.” If the team can manage to put together a streak of conference wins to end the season, the Highlanders may have the opportunity to be a competitive force in the conference playoffs.

The women’s basketball team is in a similar situation as they hit the halfway point in the season. Led in scoring by captains Elle Reed ‘17 and Hannah Manwaring ‘17, the Highlanders have earned their way to an 8-8 overall record while also posting a 2-5 in conference record. Much like the men’s team, the women have a remaining schedule consisting of only Empire 8 opponents. They, too have the chance to make their way into the conference tournament if they can put together a sizable run to end the season. “At this point we have come so far; we need a strong finish, which I know we are capable of. Our team cohesiveness is a huge factor. We all get along so well on and off the floor giving us an advantage going into the games coming up,” said Reed.

With team chemistry already one of their major strengths, the only thing left to fix is executing late in games. Manwaring stated “Our team is known to fight back and be resilient when faced with a challenge… We have lost a few games by only a few points so with a few changes for the second round of playing [conference teams], we should come out with wins.” If ihe Highlanders do learn how to better execute their game plan late in games, the team has the potential to advance in the Empire 8 postseason.