Holly uses early lead to burn Hornets
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
HOLLY — Christmas break as more like boot camp for Holly’s boys basketball team.
The Bronchos went through multiple tough practices to gear them up for the bulk of the Flint Metro League schedule.
The end result is geared towards the school’s fourth Flint Metro League title in 11 seasons and third in eight years. Holly recorded a key win Friday night against Flint Kearsley.
Nic Stoll, Holly’s 6-foot-7 senior center, finished with a game- and season-high 21 points to go along with seven rebounds, five blocked shots and three steals to pace the Bronchos to a 51-42 win.
“We have worked so hard lately,” admitted Stoll, who singed with Michigan Tech. “We have great (on-court) chemistry. It’s all about the team.”
That is a message that Holly coach Lance Baylis has preached to his troops. An unbeaten mark one month into the season is the current result.
“We worked as hard as we ever have over the least three weeks,” admitted Baylis who is in his seventh-year at Holly. “Our three-week break was brutal on a daily basis. The guys competed every day. The intensity in our practices over the past couple weeks was unprecedented for us.”
Holly, off to a 5-0 start overall and 5-0 in league play, never trailed in the contest, opening with an 8-0 run. By the end of the first quarter, the Bronchos led 19-8 and never allowed the Hornets (3-2, 3-1) a chance to cut the deficit to under five points the rest of the way.
“This team is going to run by the four senior (starters),” noted Baylis. “Three of them are three-year starters. If those guys bring the intensity and leadership, we’re going to have a really good team.
“We have a great mixture of young and old with the old guys leading the way,” continued Baylis. “It all seems to be coming together.”
Holly built a 30-23 lead at the break, withstanding Kearsley’s 13-5 run over the final 4:52 of the second quarter.
The Bronchos led by as many as 10 points in the third quarter and carried a 42-34 advantage into the final frame. Holly finished the night shooting 48 percent from the floor (19-for-42) with assists coming on 14 of their 19 baskets.
“The coach that gets his team to pass wins games. It’s as simple as that,” said Baylis, praising his players for making the extra play while working the Bronchos’ offense. “We preach it al of the time.”
The pesky Hornets whittled the lead down to 42-37 with 5:59 left on a bank shot from Julian Jarrett.
A senior guard, Jarrett finished with 12 points, nine in the second half, with five assists. Senior forward Paul Adas scored 17 to lead Kearsley, while Peter Nagy twined 11 points with six rebounds and Zachary Link grabbed nine rebounds for the Hornets.
Freshmen Parker Rowse and Isaac Casilas combined for 15 points off the bench and senior point guard Jered Plawski chipped in with a fine floor game which included six points, seven rebounds, seven assists and three steals.
Austin Hopkin chipped in with five points, five rebounds and four assists for the Bronchos.
“We have great athletes who bring the intensity,” said Baylis. “We work hard. We’re trying to build a couple of months of hard work for a lifetime of memories.”
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