Higley Girls Basketball Topples Highland 72-60, Signals Serious Playoff Ambitions
GILBERT, Ariz. — The Higley High School girls basketball team secured a pivotal road victory Tuesday night, defeating the Highland Hawks 72-60 to shake up the 6A Fiesta region standings. The double-digit win improves the Knights’ résumé as they position themselves for a deep postseason run in the upcoming Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) 6A playoffs.
Offensive Surge Leads Knights
Higley’s offense dictated the tempo throughout the contest, capitalizing on transition opportunities and consistent perimeter shooting. The Knights (improving to 10-4 overall) relied heavily on their core rotation, with junior forward Cadence Murdough and sophomore guard Sophia Moreira anchoring the scoring effort. Murdough, averaging over 17 points per game this season, continued her dominance in the paint, while the backcourt pressure led by Jayla Freeman generated crucial turnovers that disrupted Highland’s rhythm.
Validating Contender Status
The victory serves as a significant benchmark for Higley. Highland entered Tuesday’s matchup with a formidable 11-3 record and a strong defensive reputation. By putting up 72 points on the Hawks’ home court, Higley demonstrated they can compete with the upper echelon of the 6A conference. Head Coach James Lefebvre’s squad has now signaled that they are not just looking to participate in the postseason, but to advance past the early rounds that have historically been stumbling blocks for the program.
Challenges Ahead
Despite the comfortable margin of victory, the Knights face valid concerns regarding defensive consistency. Allowing 60 points to Highland suggests that defensive rotations may need tightening before facing arguably more explosive offenses in the region, such as Gilbert and Williams Field. Furthermore, the Knights’ schedule does not ease up; they must maintain this level of intensity through a grueling region slate that includes road tests against Desert Ridge and a rematch with a Williams Field team that has historically played them tough. Sustaining offensive efficiency while minimizing turnovers will be critical if Higley intends to convert this regular-season momentum into a state championship appearance.
Region Context
The win moves Higley into a more favorable position within the highly competitive 6A Fiesta region. With the regular season entering its final stretch, every region game carries significant weight for playoff seeding. Highland, led by Coach Clint Treadway, will look to regroup quickly, as the loss drops them further back in the region title race, though they remain a dangerous team capable of an upset.
The Knights next travel to face Desert Ridge, while Highland looks to bounce back in their upcoming region fixtures.
