It was a top three battle for the Region VI Championship on Tuesday night at Hartman arena in Park City, Kansas as #1 Highland men's basketball team took on #3 Johnson County for the right to get to the National tournament.

Scotties looking for another Region title and return trip to Nationals had a battle on their hands against rival Johnson County and it went down to the final portion of the game as Highland's comeback attempt fell short in the matchup falling 85-76. The loss caps the season for Highland with a 28-3 record.

Highland took the initial lead and went back and forth early in the first half with Johnson County but ultimately trailed 15-11 at the 12:32 mark after a 6-0 Johnson County run. Scotties hung close the rest of the first half and even tied the game at 29-29 with just over two minutes before halftime but Highland entered intermission trailing 34-32.

Scotties swung the lead in their favor multiple times early in the second half but Johnson County would take it right back and the Cavaliers mounted another run to grow the lead to double figures. Down the stretch the Scotties would get as close as five points but Johnson County would dwindle clock and hit some free throws to secure the game handing Highland the 85-76 loss.

In the loss Highland had a solid evening from the field shooting 54.7% from the floor, but Johnson County also was 54.7% from the floor in the contest. The turnovers piled up for the Scotties at a higher rate than normal finishing with 20 in the game.

Taiveyhon Mason led the Scotties with 20 points and five assists, while Luiz Machado Jr. tallied 14 points and Tristen Hull notched a 14 point performance with four rebounds. DJ Doakes chipped in 10 points with four rebounds.

Highland wraps up the 2018-19 season finishing 28-3 overall, winning a share of the KJCCC Division II title and posted the most wins in a single season in school history, while also putting together the longest win streak in school history at 18-straight wins.