Highlands boys upend Franklin Regional for 1st-place tie

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, January 24, 2018 | 5:11 PM

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Highlands coach Tyler Stoczynski thought his team got “out-toughed” in its first meeting with Franklin Regional.

That wasn't a problem for either team in the rematch.

In an intense, physical game that boiled over with five technical fouls in the fourth quarter, Highlands knocked off No. 4 Franklin Regional, 87-68, Tuesday night to move into a deadlock with the Panthers atop Section 3-5A.

“We always say, ‘Stronger together than alone,' ” Stoczynski said. “Those guys, they embody what a team is and what it means to have each others' backs in all aspects of the game. We wanted to come out with incredible intensity.”

With a chance to even the section standings in its sights, Highlands took advantage with its ninth consecutive victory.

That winning streak began after a 70-46 loss to Franklin Regional on Dec. 22, a game where Highlands never seriously threatened the Panthers.

The Golden Rams (11-3, 5-1) turned the tables Tuesday. They never trailed, leading by as many as 24 points in the second half as Franklin Regional's defense allowed a season high in points.

One major difference Stoczynsi cited from that first matchup was Highlands' health: Sixth man Romello Freeman left that game early. Tuesday, he scored 14 points and provided his usual energy off the bench.

More importantly, Stoczynski said the Golden Rams brought more fire.

“At their place, we didn't match their intensity,” Stoczynski said. “We wanted them to come here and them have to match ours. We just really executed those first few minutes, got into a little bit of a lead tonight. We were so unselfish tonight.”

Five Highlands players reached double figures in scoring: Ryan Signorella (17 points), Luke Cochran (17), Freeman (14), Shawn Erceg (16) and Johnny Crise (13). Signorella hit five of Highlands' 10 3-pointers, and frontcourt players Crise, Erceg and Freeman gave Franklin Regional problems down low and on the boards.

Franklin Regional (11-4, 5-1) came into the game allowing 39.6 points per game in section play and 47.2 ppg overall. Highlands scored 40 points in the first half alone, rolling to a 40-20 lead at halftime.

“They pounded us on the glass,” Franklin Regional coach Steve Scorpion said. “They played harder than us in the first half, moved the ball, got open shots. That's what good teams do.”

The Panthers offense picked up in the second half after they converted just five field goals in the first half, but the defense couldn't get enough stops to make a serious dent in Highlands' lead. Hunter Stonecheck led Franklin Regional with 17 points, Nate Leopold added 14 and Aidan Sadoski and Jake Rosenberg had 10 apiece.

The physical game featured 52 fouls, but it got uglier in the fourth quarter when Franklin Regional's Nick Leopold and Cochran each were assessed technical fouls on a play with 3 minutes, 33 seconds remaining. Resulting shouting between the benches led to technicals on Scorpion and Stoczynski. Nate Leopold also received a technical in the fourth.

“I told my kids these are my kids, and I'm going to protect them no matter what,” Scorpion said. “I don't appreciate people saying stuff to my kids, so I'm going to stick up for them. I'll never question my kids' heart, and I'm going to go to bat for them no matter what. I didn't appreciate some of the things that were said or directed toward my kids, so that's why I said something, too. It is what it is.”

Said Stoczynski: “Both coaches know what's at stake, and both teams know what's at stake. Both teams are giving it their all, and you can't expect anything less than that. That's two really good teams battling it out once again. It's just part of basketball, and I think the refs did a good job keeping it under control, and you go from there.”

Doug Gulasy is a Tribune-Review staff writer.

Tags: Franklin Regional, Highlands