Timely 3-pointers send Highlands past host Mustangs in double OT at Plum tournament

By: Josh Rizzo
Friday, December 26, 2025 | 10:15 PM

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Ty Hall missed the opportunity at the end of regulation to make a go-ahead 3-pointer. When the Highlands guard had another opportunity in the second overtime, he knocked one down to give the Golden Rams momentum.

While Highlands’ 85-82 double-overtime win over the host Mustangs on Friday night at the Plum Holiday Classic didn’t end their streak of uneven performances, it did put an end to a three-game losing streak.

“It’s fun,” said Hall, who scored 11 points. “I was playing like trash as people would say. But that’s basketball. The coaches tell me we’ll get more opportunities and to keep going.”

What stood out most was Highlands’ shot-making. Carmine Lacava made a 3-pointer at the buzzer to send the game into a second overtime. Lacava scored a team-high 26 points for the Golden Rams.

“He’s a great 3-point shooter,” Hall said. “He’s done that at Burrell. He’s done that everywhere we’ve played.”

Troy Bielak also scored 24 points for Highlands.

Highlands (5-4) needed some magic. The Golden Rams trailed by six at halftime. Highlands battled back to take the lead in the fourth quarter.

A jumper from Preston Foster put Highlands ahead 62-60 with 53 seconds remaining. Bryce Nabozny, who finished with 27 points, made a layup to tie the score 27 seconds later.

Xavier Barto scored a game-high 29 points for Plum. Barto and Nabozny are sophomores. Plum coach Dave Pucka said he was proud of how his team played. The Mustangs (2-7) had a number of players who returned from illnesses back in the lineup.

“You can’t expect guys to come back with their first game back and not have an adjustment period,” Pucka said. “ I could not have been prouder of our sophomores who are making great decisions.”

Plum led 72-69 in the second overtime after Barto made a pair of free throws. On the ensuing possession, the Mustangs chose not to foul, and Lacava connected on a long 3-pointer to tie the score.

“We have to learn how to close games,” Pucka said. “It will come. This one hurt.”

Hall said he believed Highlands would be able to rally for the win.

Plum led by six points at halftime. The Golden Rams didn’t take their first lead until a free throw to put them ahead 52-51 with six minutes left in regulation.

“We did what we were supposed to do,” Hall said. “We shouldn’t have been down at halftime. We just kept battling.”

Tags: Highlands, Plum