The Recorder on January 08, 2026
Highland’s Colleen Adams shoots for two over Bath’s Addie Lockridge.
HOT SPRINGS — The Pioneer District basketball season tipped off back on Thursday, Dec. 18.
The girls from Bath County and the guys from Highland jumped into the win column.
The Charger girls put three players in double figures in a 43-26 win, and the Ram boys knocked down seven first-half threes and never trailed in a 64-33 victory to cap the doubleheader played in Hot Springs.
Girls’ game
It was a quick start that put Bath County in charge in the opener.
The Chargers used their flex offense to get lay-ups early, jumping to an 11-2 lead six minutes in.
Addie Lockridge scored twice off Macey Paxton feeds, Ryleigh Phillips knocked down a three, while Bre Mabe and Trinity Forbes each had a pair of buckets for a 15-7 first-quarter advantage.
After Makynley Smith hit the second of her three threes to start the second quarter for the Rams, Bath countered with eight straight to end the half up by 13.
Bath’s Ryleigh Phillips drives past Highland’s Amelia Good.
A 12-point deficit, on another Smith three early in the third, was the closest Highland could come in the second half.
“The first game all year that we really passed the ball and played well together as a team,” said BCHS coach Kris Phillips. “We ended up with four people right around double figures. Much better continuity on offense with movement. We were making much better passes and we didn’t turn the ball over as much. We just played together better.”
Forbes had 12 points and three assists for Bath, Mabe added 10 points, nine rebounds and three assists and Lockridge had 10 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Phillips just missed double figure points with nine and Paxton had three assists.
“I think most definitely this is like a growing stage for us,” Mabe said. “We’ve been together going on three years now, we’ve just kind of pieced it together more so recently. We’re starting to really grow it. I like it.”
Smith led the Rams with 11 points and Brooke Williams scored six points and grabbed nine rebounds. Adelaide Baxter added seven boards, Amelia Good had six rebounds and Colleen Adams had three assists.
Bath County’s Ryleigh Phillips tries to steal the ball from Highland’s Anna Meehan. (Recorder photos by Gavin Dressler)
“We’re still perfecting an offense that they understand and they can execute fluently,” said HHS coach Cappy Jackson. “All of them are sick, that didn’t help morale at all either. We are a young team. We’re getting there. To be fair, first district game, obviously a lot of mistakes, we’re still learning to speak the language. I can’t ask for much more.”
Boys’ game
The Ram boys closed the second quarter on a 17-4 run and took a 38-19 lead to the locker room at the halftime break in the nightcap.
Back-to-back threes from Preston Jaccard started the Highland onslaught, Zach Armstrong added a couple more triples and Patton Hull ended the period with a three.
The Rams were 7-of-14 from behind the arc in the first two quarters and owned a 43-25 advantage on the glass for the game.
Highland’s Preston Jaccard denies the steal attempt by Bath County’s Parker Cauley. (Recorder photos by Gavin Dressler)
After an even third quarter, Highland won the fourth 17-4, with the Charger coach Zach Woodzell turning to his bench.
“Tonight, we played more for the name on the back of our jerseys rather than the name on the front,” Woodzell said. “It’s time we remember who we are actually playing for.”
Luke Turner had 13 points and six rebounds for the Chargers, Nate Turner scored 12 and Jeffrey Hamilton pulled in four rebounds.
Armstrong paced Highland with 22 points, while Patton Hull — 18 points and 11 rebounds — and Elijah Good — 16 points, 14 rebounds — both had double-doubles.
“I don’t know if I would say it was a good game, but it was a good team win, everybody contributed,” Rams coach Cole Armstrong said. “Our three guys, our seniors, they are tough and they want to win every game. Those sophomores — they come in, we tell them to play good defense, score when they have the opportunity and don’t turn the ball over. They’ve been doing that for me.”
Highland Ram Levi Warner blocks the shot by Bath County’s Tommy Burke.
Girls’ boxscore
• Highland (26): Colleen Adams 3, Adelaide Baxter 4, Anna Meehan 0, Alissa Thompson 0, Amelia Good 2, Makynley Smith 11, Brooke Williams 6, Marley Jarrells 0
• Bath County (43): Chloe Forbes 0, Paighten Forbes 0, Addie Lockridge 10, Trinity Forbes 12, Cassie Thompson 2, Bre Mabe 10, Macey Paxton 0, Ryleigh Phillips 9
• Halftime: BCHS 23, HHS 10
• 3-point goals: HHS 3 (Smith 3); BCHS 1 (Phillips 1)
Boys’ boxscore
• Highland (64): Zach Armstrong 22, Patton Hull 18, Elijah Good 16, Levi Warner 0, Preston Jaccard 6, Chase Lupo 2, Owen Honaker 0, Matthew Wigal 0
• Bath County (33): Luke Turner 13, Miguel Rosado 2, Parker Cauley 0, Akio Long 0, Nate Turner 12, Cade Perdue 0, Jeffrey Hamilton 2, Owen Perdue 0, Tommy Burke 4, Michael Keyes 0, Bryer Nicely 0
• Halftime: HHS 38, BCHS 19
• 3-point goals: HHS 7 (Armstrong 3, Hull 2, Jaccard 2); BCHS 1 (L. Turner 1)