The Higbee boys came away with a convincing 30-point win over Brunswick in a return to CLAA action at home on Tuesday, 69-39.

Higbee sophomores Jordan Fuemmeler and Derek Rockett, along with senior Jamie Smith combined for 57 of the team’s 69 total points. Fuemmeler banked 22 points on 10-for-16 shooting from the field. He sank one of only two 3-point attempts and converted one of two shots from the line. He led the team with seven assists and had two steals.

Smith came alive with 18 points and made eight of nine field-goal attempts. “All eight field goals came from teammates making solid passes and him doing a great job around the basket finishing,” said Higbee coach Tanner Burton. When you watched clips on assists you just see how well they slipped the ball through small windows and executed.”

Rockett made two of four baskets from 3-point range on his way to 17 points on the night. He also had a team-high five rebounds, five steals, and made six assists.

“I thought tonight showcased how good we can be at moving the basketball and finding open guys,” Burton said.

Higbee jumped out to a 13-3 lead after one quarter and pulled away from there. The strong Tiger defense did not allow a field goal inside the arc until the fourth quarter and held the young Brunswick team to just dozen 2-point attempts all night. The Wildcats, who had four freshmen in its starting lineup, was forced to resort to taking outside shots, of which they made 11 of 25 baskets from behind the 3-point line. 

“I thought our experience caused problems for Brunswick, they are a young squad and play really hard,” Burton said. “ They should be a handful in a few years.”

The Tigers are now 19-1 overall and hold a perfect 9-0 conference record. They are back on the court Friday against Bucklin-Macon County in their final home game of the season. On Saturday Higbee will face No. 9 St. Elizabeth in a rematch of last year’s Class 1 third-place game in the Mid Missouri Invitation hosted by Harrisburg. Tipoff is set for 11:30 a.m.