HIGHLAND – Highland Coach Daryl Cunningham agreed that sophomore Trent Kronk did have a good game on the evening in the loss on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, to Granite City at Granite City, but the first-quarter run by Granite set the tone for the game, and the Bulldogs couldn’t recover.
Kronk led the Bulldogs with 22 points, while Cameron Coziar had eight points for the Bulldogs.
“Give Granite credit,” Cunningham said. “They did a really good job. Not a lot of teams play a 1-2-2 (zone defense); they do a really good job in it. We struggled with it at times, at times, we did well with it, at other times, when we struggled, they converted turnovers into points pretty fast.”
Kronk would up with 22 points on the night to lead Highland and he shows flashes of what will come in his future with the Bulldogs.
“We know Trent can play,” Cunningham said. “As a freshman, he was our best freshman and had a knee injury. He didn’t play any this summer, and he started some early in the season. He knew what he was capable of. When he’s shooting the ball well, and passing, it definitely makes us a lot better, and we know he’s capable of being a very good player for us.”
It has been, for the most part, a good season for Highland, if a bit up-and-down. The Bulldogs have played well, but have also struggled in some games. It just passed the turning point of the season, and there are still many good things that can happen for the team.
“I totally agree, and that’s what I told the guys,” Cunningham said. “We’ve shown that in a couple of games. We’re up-and-down a little bit, and hopefully, we’ll put it together in the second half. I believe we’re capable of it, and hopefully, we’ll get there.”
Cunningham is very hopeful of good things happening to his club the rest of the way, and there are some things that need to improve on.
“Basically, we struggle with reads,” Cunningham said, “the reads during the games at times. We need to take care of the ball, and that’s been our problem all year. We’re just adjusting’ some of these guys, it’s their first year playing, and they’ve had half a season experience now.”
The coach continued: “Carter Powell has played the post, has played inside most of his career, even his freshman year at Highland. I just moved him on the perimeter last year, and now, all of a sudden, I have to move him to some point guard, which he is not, but we need someone to handle the ball. Kyler Koerkenmeier’s really given effort, and really trying. He’s not as tall, and not as athletic. But we’re really trying, and we’re going to keep pushing, and keep trying to get better and scratch out some wins.”
Highland is now 4-13, and stays on the road, with games at Mascoutah on Friday night, Jan. 16, 2026, and at Okawville next Tuesday, both games starting at 7:30 p.m., then plays at Jacksonville Jan. 27 at 7 p.m.
