The young Highland men's basketball team kicked off their 2016-2017 in the Best Western Angus Inn & Cougar Booster Club Basketball Classic hosted by Barton County over the weekend.

The Scotties finished the weekend 1-1 losing Friday night to Barton County 54-69 and winning Saturday afternoon over Washburn University JV 80-66.

The young team got off to a rocky start shooting only 20% from the floor and 14% from behind the arc in the first half of their season opener against Division 1 opponent Barton County. Barton took a 31-19 lead into the locker room.

The Scotties settled in more in the second half shooting 46% from the floor and 38% from three-point range. Although the shots started to fall more late in the game, Barton went on to defeat Highland 69-54. Freshmen guard Jaquan Daniels led the Scotties in scoring and was the only player in double figures on the night scoring 24 points and pulling down 10 rebounds; his first double-double of the season. Freshmen point guard Danmons O'Connor added 9 points followed by freshmen guard Dontre English with 8 points.

Highland won the rebound war over Barton 47-40 but had 18 turnovers throughout the course of the game that Barton was able to score 24 points off of.
 
Highland then faced Washburn University JV on Saturday afternoon and had a different outcome defeating the Ichabods 80-66.

The Scotties shot the ball much better in both halves on Saturday shooting 46% from the floor and 40% form behind the arc.

Highland was led in scoring by freshmen guard Dontre English who finished the game with 15 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals. Freshmen point guard out of Osage City, KS Ryan Haskins went 4-5 from three-point range and finished with 14 points and five assists. Jaquan Daniels added in 13 points and Stephon Jackson finished with 11.

Highland won the rebound battle 33-31 and forced Washburn into 23 turnovers while only turning it over 15 times.
 
Highland moves to 1-1 on the year and will play in another weekend tournament at Kansas City Kansas CC this Friday and Saturday.