Looking to get retribution for a close loss back on January 28^th on the road #6 Highland men's basketball team welcomed #5 Johnson County to town and avenged their earlier season loss by picking up 82-68 win.

The win moves Highland to 23-2 on the season and 5-1 in KJCCC action and moves the Scotties into first place in the Conference by a half game. It also snaps a four-game losing streak to Johnson County.

After an early two-point lead for Johnson County the Scotties worked to a 12-4 lead at the 15:56 mark leading to a Cavaliers timeout after a Taiveyhon Mason steal and basket. Out of the timeout the Highland lead grew moving to double figures at 15-4 with just over 15 minutes remaining the first half. Cavaliers cut the lead to one at 27-26 in the first half at the 6:26 mark but the Scotties did not relinquish the lead and took a 40-34 advantage into the locker room at halftime.

A 5-0 run of the first minute of the second half gave the Scotties their largest lead of the game at the point going up 45-34. The lead then got to 13 points after a pair of Jaquan Daniels free throws but Johnson County had another run in them as they closed to within three at 61-58 with 9:22 remaining in the game. Scotties pushed the lead back out and down the stretch grew the lead even further grabbing the 82-68 win.

For the 14^th time this season the Scotties shot over 50% in a game as a team shooting 51.7% against Johnson County and notched 15 assists on 30 made field goals. Highland also had just eight turnovers in the game marking the eighth contest this season that the Scotties had less than 10 turnovers.

The starting five paced Highland on the night all finishing with double figures as Mason scored a game high 21 points and added four rebounds, four steals and three assists. Daniels filled out his stat line impressively scoring 15 points, while adding eight rebounds, four assists, three blocks and two steals. Tristen Hull had his 17^th double figure performance this season finishing with 14 points and added eight rebounds and career high five assists, while DJ Doakes drained four three-pointers scoring 12 points and grabbed five rebounds. Andre Jackson added 10 points for the Scotties to have all five starters in double figures.

UP NEXT
It's a pair of road games next week in KJCCC play for the Scotties as they travel to Parsons, Kansas on Wednesday, February 13^th to take on #16 Labette and then capping the week on Saturday, February 16^th with a road trip to Hesston.