Senior Malakai Squires scored two points in the first quarter of Higbee’s 70-69 win over St. Elizabeth in the Harrisburg-Ramey Showcase Saturday in Harrisburg. He did not score again until six seconds were left on the clock when he dropped in the second of two free throws to put the Tigers ahead by one

“We practice free throws every day,” said Squires. “It’s kind of just a rhythm and something that we do. I missed the first one, so it was just going through my head to just get my form down and do what I’m used to doing, and it went down.”

The game was a rematch of sorts from the 2021 state tournament third-place game in which St. Elizabeth beat Higbee 57-44, so it bore special meaning for the Tigers. 

“It had the feeling of a postseason game,” said Higbee coach Tanner Burton.

After calling a timeout with six seconds on the clock and Higbee up by one, Burton reminded the team to not let St. Elizabeth junior Jace Kesel get open on the throw-in. Kesel had already put in 25 points and Burton did not want him set free to add more to win the game. Somehow.

Kesel eluded coverage and worked his way down the court with the inbound pass and pulled up for the shot about seven feet from the basket with three seconds on the clock. “That was not how we drew it up,” said Higbee sophomore Jordan Fuemmeler. “It was ‘Make sure he doesn’t get the ball,’ and that is not what happened.”  Fortunately for the Tigers, the ball clanged off the rim allowing Higbee to solidify the 70-69 win.

Higbee led 20-16 after the first quarter and pulled further out in front at halftime. The score was 40-33 at intermission.

The third quarter was the tightest of the game as St. Elizabeth scored 17 to Higbee’s 19. That still left the Tigers with a 10-point lead going into the fourth. The Hornets appeared to come alive in the fourth, scoring 19 points and holding Higbee to 11. The Hornets were able to tie the game at 65 apiece with under two minutes to go. At the 1:33 mark, Fuemmeler went to the charity stripe and connected on two free throws to put the Tigers up by two, 67-65. The Hornets fought back and tied the game again at 67 all. 

Fuemmeler then hit another two pointer that allowed Higbee to take the lead 69-67. Never giving up, the Hornets tied the game again at 69 with :45 left on the clock. Higbee held the ball, working for the final shot. As the clock wound down, Squires drove the lane and put up a shot that did not connect, but he was fouled in the process. The senior stepped to the line and missed the first shot, but calmly dropped in the second for the game winner.

“I was a little nervous, I’d never had a game-winning free throw or shot ever. So I just tried to get my flick of the wrist and tried to focus,” said Squires.

Higbee was once again led by Fuemmeler in scoring as he accumulated 29 in the game. “St. E is a phenomenal team, so it feels good to beat them and come out with a win,” said Fuemmeler. “ I hope we see them again in the state playoffs.”

Sophomore classmate Derek Rockett added 24, while senior Jamie Smith put in eight. Sophomore Jaxon Hudson added six. Squires finished out the Higbee scoring with his three points.

After receiving a bye in the first round of the CLAA Conference tournament, first-seeded Higbee defeated eighth-seeded Norborne 81-42 on Monday night.       Higbee has added a February 14 home doubleheader against Green City to the schedule with the girls beginning play at 6 p.m. and the boys at 7:30 p.m.