The Cooper (Union, KY) varsity basketball team will play a home non-conference game against Highlands (Fort Thomas, KY) today at 7:30 p.m.

Cooper vs Highlands Game Info:

What: Kentucky High School Basketball
Who: Cooper (KY) vs Highlands (KY)
When: Friday, January 31, 2025
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: Cooper High School
Live stream: Watch here

Game preview: Cooper vs Highlands

As the 2024-2025 basketball season progresses, two teams from Kentucky have stood out for their strong performances: Highlands and Cooper. With impressive overall records and notable achievements against common opponents, these two teams have had a competitive and exciting season. Let’s dive into a detailed comparison of their performances and key stats.

Overall Records and Performance

• Highlands:
  • Overall Record: 13-6
  • District Record: 3-1
  • Home: 7-3
  • Away: 4-1
  • Neutral: 2-2
  • Win Percentage: .684
  • District Win Percentage: .750
  • Points Scored (PF): 1,447
  • Points Allowed (PA): 1,218
• Cooper:
  • Overall Record: 11-4
  • District Record: 2-0
  • Home: 5-0
  • Away: 2-1
  • Neutral: 4-3
  • Win Percentage: .733
  • District Win Percentage: 1.000
  • Points Scored (PF): 929
  • Points Allowed (PA): 797

Cooper has had a slightly better overall win percentage (.733) compared to Highlands (.684), and they have an impressive undefeated record in district play. While both teams have performed strongly, Highlands has been slightly more prolific offensively, scoring over 500 more points than Cooper.

Team Scoring Averages

• Highlands:
  • Q1: 20.5
  • Q2: 11.5
  • Q3: 16.0
  • Q4: 25.0
  • Final: 76.2
• Cooper:
  • Q1: 14.4
  • Q2: 14.8
  • Q3: 18.2
  • Q4: 17.2
  • Final: 61.9

Highlands has been the more high-scoring team overall, with an average of 76.2 points per game. They are particularly strong in the first and fourth quarters, averaging 20.5 and 25.0 points, respectively. Cooper, on the other hand, averages 61.9 points per game, with their highest scoring quarter being the third (18.2 points). This shows that Highlands has been more explosive offensively, especially in the opening and closing stages of their games.

Head-to-Head with Common Opponents

Both teams have faced a number of the same opponents throughout the season, providing a valuable comparison of their performance against common competition.

• Highlands:
  • Record against common opponents: 4-4
  • Notable Results:
    • St. Henry: W 85-57
    • Fleming County: L 70-69
    • Lloyd Memorial: L 69-63
    • Boone County: W 80-58
    • Ryle: W 61-60
    • Dixie Heights: L 83-77
    • Covington Catholic: L 72-59
• Cooper:
  • Record against common opponents: 9-0
  • Notable Results:
    • St. Henry: W 73-47
    • Fleming County: W 64-51
    • Lloyd Memorial: W 61-57
    • Boone County: W 75-47
    • Ryle: W 63-49
    • Dixie Heights: W 69-65
    • Covington Catholic: W 69-65

The most striking difference here is the head-to-head record: Cooper is undefeated against common opponents, while Highlands is 4-4. Cooper’s dominance against these teams speaks to their consistency and ability to rise to the occasion. Highlands has been competitive but has struggled in some key matchups.

Record Breakdown: Home, Away, and Neutral Games

• Highlands:
  • Home: 7-3
  • Away: 4-1
  • Neutral: 2-2
• Cooper:
  • Home: 5-0
  • Away: 2-1
  • Neutral: 4-3

Highlands has been more effective at home, with a 7-3 record, and has had a solid away record (4-1). Cooper, while perfect at home (5-0), has struggled on the road and in neutral-site games, posting a 4-3 record in neutral games.

In-State vs. Out-of-State Performances

• Highlands:
  • In-State: 13-5
  • Out-of-State: 0-1
• Cooper:
  • In-State: 9-7
  • Out-of-State: 2-0

Highlands has had a strong in-state record of 13-5, while Cooper has been more balanced, with a 9-7 record in-state and an undefeated 2-0 record in out-of-state games.

Conclusion

As the season continues, both Highlands and Cooper have shown they can be formidable contenders. While Highlands has proven to be a high-scoring team with strong home performances, Cooper has exhibited a more consistent record against common opponents and remains undefeated in district play. Both teams will need to continue to refine their strategies as they head toward the postseason, with Cooper’s defense and Highlands’ offensive explosiveness being key factors in their respective successes. The upcoming games will be crucial for both teams as they look to cement their places as top contenders in Kentucky basketball.