The Highland boys and girls basketball teams host English Valleys Thursday for a non-conference doubleheader with the Bears. The Highland boys enter the game with a mark of 0-7 this season after a 59-49 loss to the Pekin Panthers Tuesday. The Huskies score 33 points per game and give up 52. They are shooting 33% from the floor this year 23% from downtown and 57% at the line to go along with 20 rebounds, three assists, nine steals and 18 turnovers per game. Individually, Highland is led by Chase Schultz with 10 points and four rebounds per game. Connor Grinstead leads the team with an assist and steal each night.
English Valleys is 5-4 overall this year, 3-4 in the South Iowa Cedar League. The Bears were a 47-37 winner over the BGM Bears their last time out on Tuesday. They are scoring 46 per game and giving up 49 while shooting 38% from the floor, 22% from long range and 67% at the line. They pull in 29 rebounds, dish out 11 assists, grab 10 steals and commit 15 turnovers per night. Individually they are led by Kaden Hall who is averaging a double double of 21 points and 10 boards per game. He also has a team best three steals each night. Govenor Lightfoot leads the Bears with two assists each game. These teams met last year with the Bears beating the Huskies 69-59.
The Highland girls are 5-5 this year, 4-3 in the Superconference. They were beaten by Pekin Tuesday 56-52. On the year, the Huskies are scoring 47 points per game while giving up 41. They shoot 37% from the floor 31% from three and 47% at the line. They average 38 rebounds, 13 assists, 14 steals and 21 turnovers each night. Individually, they are led by Abbi Stansky at 13 points and three assists per game. Sarah Burton leads the Huskies at nine rebounds per game. Dani Laughlin has a team best four steals each night.
English Valleys is 9-1 this year. They beat BGM Tuesday 59-25. On the year the Bears are scoring 51 points per game while giving up 39. They shoot 38% from the floor 31% from three point land and 55% at the line. They average 34 rebounds, 15 assists, 16 steals and 15 turnovers per game. Individually they are led by Mia Ayers scoring 12 points per game. Kennedy Axmear leads EV on the glass with seven rebounds and three steals each night. Carly Stanerson has a team best three assists per game. These two teams met a season ago with the Bears winning 57-50. Action starts tonight at 6p.m. at Highland High School.