Highland Players Earn Conference Honors

Two members of the Highland Community College women’s basketball team and one on the men’s team have been recognized by the Conference for their contributions in the the 2011-12 season.  Kathryn Thomas and Sharniece Lewis from the Scottie women’s team and De’Andre Upchurch from the men earned Jayhawk East honors.

After having the most successful season in the history of the College, freshman Kathryn Thomas (Flint, MI) is the Jayhawk East Conference Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year. Sophomore Sharniece Lewis (Warrensburg, MO) made Honorable Mention.

The Scotties finished the regular season 27-3 and in second place in the Jayhawk East, both school records as they prepare for post-season play. “It’s great for both of these young ladies to be recognized for their work, and even better, I think it’s great for our team and our program.  Our team has overcome many hurdles, and players never get there without great teammates,” said Scottie head coach B.J. Smith.

Sophomore De’Andre Upchurch (Flint, MI) has been named an All-Jayhawk Eastern Conference First Team selection.

Scottie Men Fall to Cavaliers in Overtime

The Highland Community College men’s basketball team ended their season with an overtime loss at home to the Johnson County Cavaliers on Tuesday night by the final of 79-77.

The Scotties jumped out to a 10-2 early lead but the Cavaliers responded with a 12-0 run to take a 14-10 lead. Johnson County would lead the rest of the first half and took a 30-28 halftime advantage. In the second half, the Cavaliers led by as many as seven points before the Scotties responded with a rally that would give them a late lead. Highland was able to tie the game with 12 seconds to play but a Scottie foul with just .1 seconds to play that gave Johnson County two free throw attempts. The Scottie crowd responded and almost lifted the roof off Allen Field House as the Cavalier player shot and missed both free throw attempts. In overtime, the Scotties led by four points with just one minute to play but a lack of defensive discipline would ultimately cost them their season as the Cavaliers finished the game and advanced to the Region VI Division II championship game against Brown Mackie College.

Sophomore Roderick Camphor (Baltimore, MD) led all scorers with 29 points. Sophomore De’Andre Upchurch (Flint, MI) finished with 18 points. Sophomore Brandon Stacker (Overland Park) had 12 rebounds and four points.

“It was disappointing that we did not play with more urgency in such a big game,” said head coach Jerre Cole. “The little things that have hurt us all year got us again. I appreciate all the effort this group of sophomores gave us the past two years. It is too bad it had to end this way.”

Highland Baseball Downs Minnesota West  

Alex Head (Topeka, KS) had three hits and three RBIs, and five Scottie pitchers combined to allow just one run on two hits as Highland defeated Minnesota West 10-1.  Vance Gorman (Osawatomie, KS) had two hits and two RBIs, while Craig Hill (Morris, OK) and Josh Reynolds (Gretna, NE) had two hits each.   Craig Hill (Morris, OK), Nick Middleton (Olathe, KS), and Bryce Eberly (Clarinda, IA) also had RBIs.  Tyler Parsons (Lansing, KS) added a solo home run in the sixth inning; his second of the season.  Tyler Hinkle (Omaha, NE) pitched two scoreless innings to pick-up the win.

Scottie Softball Splits With Johnson County

The Highland Community College softball team traveled to Overland Park to face Johnson County in their first Conference action of the 2012 season. In the first game of the double-header, multiple mistakes would prove very costly for the Scotties. Highland committed five errors in the game, giving the Cavaliers all the momentum they would need for a 2-0 victory. Despite seven strong innings, Zuzana Kudernatschova (Czech Republic) would take the loss for the Scotties.

Highland Women Compete at National Track and Field Championships