Late Barrage Keeps HP Alive in Playoffs

In the third round of the Class 5A boys soccer playoffs, Highland Park picked the perfect time for one of its best offensive showings of the season.

The Scots broke a halftime tie with four second-half goals during a 5-2 win over Longview in a Region II quarterfinal game on Friday in Athens.

Jake Whitehurst and Richie Paulus tallied two goals apiece as HP extended its winning streak to nine games overall. Jack O’Grady also scored.

The Scots (19-2-3) advance to meet Frisco Lone Star in the regional semifinals at 7 p.m. on April 8 at Standridge Stadium in Carrollton. The Rangers (20-1-3) blanked Frisco Reedy 1-0 in another regional quarterfinal on Friday.

That matchup will be preceded at the same site by another regional semifinal appearance by the HP girls, who rallied after halftime for a 4-2 victory over Joshua on Friday in Kennedale.

Kylie Bell scored twice for the unbeaten Lady Scots (24-0-2). Hattie Patterson and Ella Weathersby also found the back of the net as HP finished with three unanswered goals to keep its season alive.

The Lady Scots will play at 1 p.m. on April 8 against Frisco (19-1-4), which eliminated previously undefeated Prosper Rock Hill 2-0 to advance.

The winners of the boys and girls semifinal games on April 8 will meet in a doubleheader the following day with a berth in the 5A state tournament on the line.