So, I’ve been kicking around a story idea about property values for some time, since they’ve stagnated pretty much everywhere across the country.

I’m getting the data on this from the appraisal district, but I wanted to throw the question out to you all as well: has your home valued declined? Secondly, does this bother you? For instance, if you’re not trying to sell it right now, the lesser evaluation would mean lower taxes, so it probably wouldn’t matter much.

Just an idea I’ve been playing with, and since I don’t own a house in the Park Cities, thought I’d throw it to you.

Highland Park's Megan Gittins (left) dribbles the ball past Lovejoy's Rebecca Gleason. (Staff photo: Alana Harrison)

The Highland Park Lady Scots dominated their own tournament last week to open the regular season.

Not only did Highland Park win all four games against quality opponents Austin Lake Travis, Lovejoy, Wichita Falls Rider, and Longview, the Lady Scots allowed just one goal in the process. Highland Park outscored those four opponents by a combined total of 21-1. Lovejoy was the only team that scored on the Lady Scot defense.

Highland Park (4-0-0) will look to build on that torrid start when it hits the road to take on Arlington Martin at 7:15 tonight.

Highland Park's Chase Fletcher looks for an open teammate. (Staff photo: Chris McGathey)

Sole possession of first place in the District 10-4A standings is up for grabs tonight when the Highland Park Scots (17-2, 4-0) travel to McKinney to tangle with the Lions (13-7, 4-0) in a 7:30 p.m. contest.

These two teams had an epic battle last season at Highland Park. The Scots got a school-record 53 points from David Allen in an 87-79 triple-overtime victory. The Scots also won the second meeting, 53-50, for a season sweep.

McKinney’s last two games have gone to overtime. The Lions won both, beating Pearce, 97-94, in double overtime and Wylie East, 83-80, in just one extra frame.

I’m going out on a limb and saying things might come down to the wire tonight.

Scots captains Andrew Barnes, Chase Fletcher, and David Allen with Alfonzo Santiago from Cantina Laredo.

The Highland Park boys basketball program will hold its sixth annual “Hoops & Hot Sauce” event Friday, Jan. 20.

The fundraiser, which includes dinner and an auction, goes to raise money for technology, including video production and live streaming broadcasting, for the basketball program.

Tickets are on sale now and will also be available at the door for $10 per person. Dinner will be from 5-7 p.m. in the HPHS cafeteria and will be catered by Cantina Laredo, with enchiladas, tacos, and all of the trimmings. The varsity team will then take on Wylie East at 7:30 inside Highlander Fieldhouse. Game tickets are $4 for adults and $2 for students.

For more information, email Cathy Fletcher at cathyfletcher@mac.com.

Detective/town spokeswoman/general nice human being Marty Nevil will be leaving Highland Park at the end of the month to spend more time with her family, she said.

I’ve always enjoyed working with Detective Nevil, and I’ll be sad to see her go. Reporters tend to set the bar pretty low when it comes to police and government spokespeople, but Nevil always soared over it. She’ll be replaced by Sgt. Lance Koppa, an 11-year veteran of the department.

Good luck, Marty.

Highland Park’s Kaitlyn Read (44) is fouled by Richardson Pearce guard Cara Thomas (23). I’ve been shooting a lot of high school and college basketball lately. Have any questions or tips on how to take and get great action photos. Share them with photo editor Chris McGathey at photo@peoplenewspapers.com.

While hanging out at Highland Park Town Hall, waiting for the Town Council to emerge from an executive session, I spied two notices of Board of Adjustment hearings scheduled for Wednesday morning.

Robert Campbell, a resident of the 3100 block of Beverly Drive, will go before the board because of his plans to build a 10-feet-square outdoor cooking area. The town’s zoning ordinance requires a setback of 7 feet from the side of a yard, and Mr. Campbell’s cooking center would infringe upon that area by 2 feet.

Robert and Lois Glasgow, also of the 3100 block of Beverly, want to build a 6-feet-tall, 42-feet-wide fence in their front yard. The proposed fence would connect to the brick wall at the dead end of Beverly. The Glasgows need the town’s OK because front-yard fences are prohibited in Highland Park.

Both hearings are scheduled for 8:30 a.m., so somebody’s going to have sit through their neighbor’s appeal.

According to the agenda for Monday’s Highland Park Town Council meeting, the folks at Dallas Country Club want to launch a fireworks display on April 11 to celebrate the completion of their new facility.

Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford leaves the field after leading Detroit to a 34-30 win over Dallas on Oct. 2 in Arlington. (Staff photo: Chris McGathey)

Former Scots quarterback Matthew Stafford didn’t exactly draw a favorable match-up for his first NFL postseason start. Stafford and the Detroit Lions will be in the Big Easy on Saturday night to take on the New Orleans Saints in a battle of starting quarterbacks from Texas (Saints QB Drew Brees played at Austin Westlake).

The Saints (13-3) beat Detroit, 31-17, early last month in New Orleans

Having said that, Sttafford has had a beyond phenomenal season, guiding Detroit (10-6) to its first playoff appearance since 1999 with 5,038 yards and 41 touchdowns through the air. Get this: Stafford’s year ranks fifth all-time among single-season passing yards. And that’s in his first full season to start after battling injuries his first two seasons. And who do you think has the most all-time passing yards in a season? Yep, Brees. He’s got 5,476 yards with 46 touchdowns this year.

Anyone catch this Boston Globe travel story over the holiday? It’s flattering in general.

Highland Park and SMU made the shortlist of Dallas highlights (“jaw dropping,” the writer says of the former), but I’m curious to know what you (y’all) think of the story overall, namely the ol’ tourist-in-a-cowboy-hat part. And the TV references too, I guess.

Thoughts?