Lake Highlands women’s basketball edged Richardson, 49-39, in the Wildcats’ last home game of the 2025-2026 regular season.

Lake Highlands basketball’s Kari Tillman cuts down her piece of netting following a 49-39 victory versus Richardson on Senior Night on February 6, 2026. Photo by James Baxley-Cross.

Eagle forward McKinna Shaw-Dixon got the ball down low and went up with a shot, getting fouled as the ball rattled into the basket. Her free throw was off but Richardson was there as Amor Green scooped up an offensive rebound. Green tossed it back into Shaw-Dixon in the post, who rebounded her own miss and layed the ball in to make the Eagle deficit just 27-25. 

Lake Highlands’ Reid Ragsdale responded with a pair of free throws before Shaw-Dixon converted on another shot in the paint. After a Wildcat miss, Richardson found Ma’Kayla Carr, who drove to the basket for a layup to tie the game at 29 points apiece. 

With just 3:54 left in the third quarter, Lake Highlands was forced to call a timeout. The way the last quarter-and-a-half went would dictate the game and potentially, the final district standings.

The teams swapped scores, bringing it to 31-31. Then, a set play for the Wildcats got their shooter, Brystol Steeley, open in the left corner for a triple. The shot fell and the scoreboard shifted to 34-31, igniting the run that Lake Highlands used to close the game.

Shortly after, senior guard Kate Duffield secured a rebound and raced down the floor, going coast-to-coast for a layup to extend the lead. By the end of the third, the Wildcats were on top, 38-32.

In the fourth, Lake Highlands rode its momentum to a win on a night when its seniors played their last-ever game at home.

The game began to look perilous for the Wildcats after the Eagles peeled off six-straight points late in the second quarter. Richardson used force to get to the rim, drawing fouls and free throws to fuel the run.

Steeley hit a free-throw line jumper to answer with under 20 seconds left in the period and lift the Wildcats to 23-16 at half, but Lake Highlands had surrendered its early double-digit lead.

Senior forward Kari Tillman was essential to the quick Wildcat start, recording nine of the first 10 points for her team. Her combination of size and speed enabled her to get to the basket with ease, drawing contact for free throws and setting up easy layups.

Carys Winburne chipped in four to close the first and Ragsdale added a point on a trip to the free-throw line to put Lake Highlands on the board. After the first frame, the Wildcats led 14-6.

The Eagles responded by attacking Tillman, putting her in foul trouble and limiting her usage in the second half. Despite picking up four fouls by the end of the third quarter, Tillman finished the game and led her team in scoring with 13 points.

Winburne was also effective down low, coming away with numerous rebounds and finishing around the basket. She recorded 11 points in the contest.

Steeley, whose 3-pointer set off the run that ultimately won the game for Lake Highlands, added nine.

Carr has led the Eagles’ offensive attack this season. The senior wing recently notched 1,500 career points and 800 career rebounds for Richardson. Further, she was named a nominee for the 2026 McDonald’s All American Game last week.

In her first game against the Wildcats this season, Carr recorded 15 points, seven rebounds, three blocks and three steals. Unfortunately for the Eagles, she couldn’t push her team over the top Friday night and the Wildcats walked away victorious. 

Lake Highlands did a good job swarming Carr defensively, although there were times she couldn’t be stopped down low. On a few possessions, smaller Wildcat defenders switched on to Carr and she made it look easy, scoring at will. 

But Lake Highlands’ defense was good enough for long enough and Carr could only manage 12 points. Although Shaw-Dixon added a team-high 13 for Richardson, the Eagles simply didn’t have enough down the stretch.

Richardson will close its regular season against Irving MacArthur (10-21, 1-9) at 7 p.m. Tuesday at home.

The Wildcats will wrap up their regular season slate at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday on the road at Irving (9-19, 0-10).