As the calender turns from January to February, the Highland Huskies girls’ basketball team (12-6 overall; 10-6 SEISC-North) is hoping to return to winning form. The Huskies ended the first month of the year with a season-long four game losing streak, with three of the losses coming just last week.

One of those losses came at the hands of the Columbus Wildcats (13-4 overall; 12-4 SEISC-North) 42-37 last Monday in Columbus Junction. Columbus senior forward Kelsey Pretz scored a game-high 22 points and grabbed down 10 rebounds in the victory while Highland sophomore guard Kelsey Hora had a team-high 10 points and brought down five rebounds in the setback.

Highland head basketball coach Jodi Fink says despite their current late season losing streak, he was extremely pleased with how his girls’ finished the month in a 49-46 loss on the road to Mediapolis, “Even though we came out on the losing end, they showed who they are and what they can be every night if they are able to give that effort all the time.” Fink said, “I was extremely proud of the effort they gave.”

For the second time in eight days, Highland and Columbus meet for a Southeast Iowa Super Conference North clash. The games at Highland High School start this afternoon at 4:30 p.m. with the junior-varsity girls’ game and the varsity battle set to begin at 6 p.m.