HIGHLAND, Kan. - Despite dressing only six players to open the season, Highland (0-2) delivered a pair of electric contests in the HCC Scottie Classic. After falling 90-85 in the final minute to Central Community College (1-0), Highland hung in against Division I Murray State College (1-1) for three quarters before eventually falling 98-67.

In what was the first college game for a majority of Highland's roster, the Scotties dominated the Raiders for the first 30 minutes of the contest. After building a 48-39 halftime lead, Highland extended its lead as high as 18 points in the third quarter. Shamiah Johnson converted a three-point play to put Highland up 60-41 with 5:13 to play in the third, with Leilani McNeill finishing the quarter by knocking down a pair of free throws for a 70-54 margin.

McNeill opened the fourth quarter scoring for Highland with a three-point play of her own, drawing a foul as she finished a fast break after a block by Johnson and a rebound by Jailynn Knife. Unfortunately for Highland, McNeill would foul out of the game with 8:27 left in the game, leaving the Scotties with just four players in the contest as Zoe Clarke had drawn her fifth foul in the third quarter.

Even shorthanded, the Scotties were able to hold Central at arm's length for nearly seven minutes, maintaining a double-digit lead. With 1:31 left in the contest, contact in the lane resulted in the fifth foul whistled against Johnson, dropping the Scotties to five-on-three.

With 0:55 left on the clock, Brittany Jones was whistled for her fifth foul, leaving the Scotties in the unenviable position of playing five-on-two against Central.

In a near-miraculous turn of events, Highland was able to hold on to a two-possession lead for 22 seconds and then re-establish a two-possession lead a second later as Knife answered a steal and layup by Gabby Theis by drawing a foul on a fast break and knocking down both free throws. Unfortunately, with just two players, Highland struggled to inbound the ball and Central was able to take its first lead of the game with 14 seconds left.

On Saturday, Highland was clearly more settled, managing to open up a 22-21 first quarter lead against the Aggies. Back-to-back buckets by Johnson were followed by a swipe by Jones, who knocked down one of two free throws to turn a 21-14 deficit into a 22-21 lead at the first break.

The Scotties held on to the lead for the first four-and-a-half minutes of the second quarter, but Maddy Torres connected on a three-pointer followed by a layup to put Murray State in front 31-28.

MSC managed to pull away after halftime, taking advantage of a deeper bench.

Johnson delivered back-to-back double-doubles for Highland, with 18 pts and 17 reb. against Central and 16 pts and 11 reb. against Murray State. McNeill led all scorers for Highland on the weekend with 25 pts against Murray State, playing the entire 40 minutes.

Highland travels to Overland Park on Friday for the JCCC Classic. The Scotties take on Southwestern Community College in a 1 p.m. tipoff on Friday followed by a noon tilt against Iowa Lakes Community College on Saturday.