Final

 

Bolden game MVP with 18 pts.

Palmer 10 pts

Englemon 10 pts, 7 rbs

Coston 8 pts

Chames 4 pts, 6 rbs

Pouncy 3 pts

Hill 2 pts

I'll have more stats and my article on the game up soon.

I was at the game today. Holmes looked pretty good. The program had only 3 seniors listed on the team. If that's true they're going to be pretty good with many underclassmen they play. They go about 10 deep. I looked across the stands and noticed Brandon Hatton sitting with Goose Cohorn. I know Cohorn plays football there, I guess Hatton was doing some scouting on his own.

I was at the game today. Holmes looked pretty good. The program had only 3 seniors listed on the team. If that's true they're going to be pretty good with many underclassmen they play. They go about 10 deep. I looked across the stands and noticed Brandon Hatton sitting with Goose Cohorn. I know Cohorn plays football there, I guess Hatton was doing some scouting on his own.

 

Brandon goes to a lot of games when he's not playing.

Bolden was the best player on the court today. He is smooth. Didn't know his outside shot was that strong.

Englemon was very active, but was in early foul trouble and sat most of the 1st half.

I didn't know that. Smart basketball player. What's the connection between Hatton and Cohorn?

Brandon goes to a lot of games when he's not playing.

I didn't know that. Smart basketball player. What's the connection between Hatton and Cohorn?

 

Cohorn played at Dixie and I believe he and Hatton used to play for the TarHeels when they were younger.

Here is my recap and story of the game. Will post the link tomorrow.

 

Holmes 58 Oak Hills, OH 42

Big first half for Bolden paces Holmes’

 

Games on Sunday afternoons aren’t the norm here in Northern Kentucky and especially 9th region but on Sunday afternoon the Holmes Bulldogs took down Oak Hills 58-42 behind 18 points from sophomore James Bolden in the first game of the Bluegrass-Buckeye Charity Classic at Thomas More in the Connor Convocation Center.

 

Early on, it looked like Holmes might blow the Highlanders out of the gym as they raced out to a 14-2 lead. After a Chris Englemon lay up to start the game, Bolden would score 10 of the next 12 point with two 3 pointers, a 15 foot jumper, and two free throws.

 

“ They were sagging off me to begin with” Said Bolden. “So I just shot it and it went in. I had my rhythm going and I just stuck with it.”

 

The Holmes run prompted Oak Hills to call a timeout and calm the team down, which seemed to work as the Highlanders would go on a run of their own. Oak Hills would go on an 8-2 run to close within 16-10 but a Zach Pouncy three from the corner would stop the run and move momentum back to Holmes some. At the end of one quarter, Holmes led 19-12.

 

In the second quarter, Oak Hills made some defensive adjustments to a 2-3 zone look which seemed to give Holmes some problems. Holmes began turning the ball over and settling for jump shots and Oak Hills continued the run as they would get within 3 at 19-16.

 

The success in the zone wouldn’t last long, though. After the Oak Hills run, senior BJ Coston hit back to back treys to push the lead to 25-17. Quan Palmer then made a free throw and Jr Daequon Glover hit a 3 to give Holmes a 12 point lead at 29-17.

 

After two Oak Hills free throws, senior Quan Palmer hit a three to extend the lead to 13 at 32-19.

 

“I just wanted to keep everybody under control.” Said Palmer.

 

Oak Hills closed the half on a 6-0 run to make it 32-25 but a lot of that run could be attributed to Chris Englemon of Holmes sitting out the entire second quarter due to foul trouble. Despite the foul trouble, and Oak Hills making their runs, Coach Booher was pleased with how his bench stepped up.

 

“ I’m pleased with my 5-7 guys sitting over on the bench” Said Booher. “ When they come in off the bench, I have all the confidence in the world that they can come in and give the same effort as the starters. We’re a deep team this season.”

 

That depth would be on full display in the second half as Holmes amped up the defensive pressure and came out with a physical style on defense that allowed them to force turnovers and get points in transition.

 

“ Coach told us to get back to what we were doing the first 5 minutes of the first quarter (to build a double digit lead) and keep playing good defense like we usually do.” Said Bolden

 

After allowing 72% inside the arc first half, Holmes cut that down to just 50% in the second half and forced Oak Hills to take more outside shot, rather than giving them easy baskets. With Oak Hills taking more outside shots and missing, Holmes was able to get more easy baskets in the lane and force the Oak Hill foul number to mount.

 

With both Chames and Englemon back in the game, the front court would take over for the Dogs in the third quarter as they would go on a 15-0 run to build a 47-27 lead behind 9 points from the trio of Englemon, Chames, and Hill.

 

“I started off with two fouls but felt I needed to come back in and do work.” Said Englemon “ I sat on the bench for a whole quarter so I had to get my blood flowing and get back in and help my team out with my defense and post game.”

 

Englemon would finish the game with 10 points and 7 rebounds.

 

The rest of the game was all Holmes as they built a 21 point lead and never led by less than 15. At the end of three, Holmes led 50-32 but still their free throw shooting, or lack of, kept them from pulling away and really burying the Highlanders. For the game, Holmes shot 52% from the field, 46% from 3 point range, but just 46% from the charity stripe as they finished 15-32.

 

“ The first two games of the year we shot really well and only missed a few free throws.” Said Coach Booher. “ I don’t know it was a lack of concentration because of being up 20 points and kids seem to lose focus a little bit more than if it’s a tight game, but after the game I told those guys we can not shoot like that because that’ll get you beat come district and region time.”

 

Still, Coach Booher was happy with the overall performance of his team and the way they played throughout.

 

“I was really proud of our defense, not only in the full court press, but also in the halfcourt. It was really good tonight. We’re growing as a team on the offensive end. Our defense is really good right now but I’m proud of the offense as well. Hopefully we can continue to grow at that end.”

 

Coach Booher was also pleased with the match up his team received in this event.

 

“I told our coaches before we walked out, this is the perfect game for our team to play –to prepare for 9th region play- because they’re big and strong, they execute well, they’re patient on offense, they try to play half court man to man and play physical on you, defensively.”

 

With the win, Holmes improves to 3-0. Their next game is a home match up Tuesday night , December 4th, against Pendleton County. They will also play at Walton Verona Thursday December 6th and travel to Bourbon County December 8th to play Lincoln County.

 

Box Score:

 

Holmes (3-0): Bolden 6 4 18, Palmer 3 2 10, Englemon 3 4 10, Coston 2 3 8, Chames 1 2 4, Pouncy 1 0 3, Glover 1 0 3, Hill 1 0 2. Totals 18 15 58.

 

Oak Hills (0-2): Richmond 7 4 19, Laumann 2 0 6, Walter 2 1 5, Ruffin 2 0 4, Elliott 1 2 4, Seamann 1 0 2, Chisholm 1 0 2. Totals 16 7 42.

 

3 pt: Holmes 7 (Bolden 2, Palmer 2, Coston, Pouncy, Glover) Oak Hills 3 (Laumann 2, Richmond)

Great coverage Walter.

 

Are you going to cover other games or just Holmes?

Great coverage Walter.

 

Are you going to cover other games or just Holmes?

 

I'll be doing a lot of games this season both for nkysports and bluegrasspreps covering 9th region hoops.

A few of my thoughts from today:

 

1. James Bolden is really good. He doesn't turn the ball over and his handle is one of the best I've ever seen. Jamel Riley was very good handling the ball, and I would put Bolden on the same level as him even as a sophomore. He also has a very smooth stroke from outside. He honestly surprised me with how good his shot is. Finished 7-8 from the field today and 4-5 from the charity stripe. Mature far beyond his age.

 

2. Chames and Englemon are going to win a lot of games for Holmes with their defense. They do a lot of small things that allow the guards to be more aggressive. I felt some of the fouls on both were questionable but to their credit, they made the proper adjustments in the second half to stay on the floor and key a huge Holmes run to start the 3rd and allow the Dogs to pull away.

 

3. Quan Palmer continues to show why he needs to be in the discussion for best guards in nky. Very smart player and simply doesn't make bad decisions. His shot wasn't falling (3-8 from field) so he started driving and getting his other teammates easy shots from outside. (Bolden, Glover, Coston)

 

4. As stated in the story, Holmes didn't shoot well from the charity stripe. 15-32 simply isn't going to get it done, but considering they shot well the first two games, I wouldn't be too concerned if you're a Holmes fan. Chames and Englemon were a combined 6-16 but the fact that they're getting to the foul line is good for Holmes because it's forcing other teams to get in to their bench. This could be extremely crucial against teams like Cooper and Newcath who have good front lines.

 

5. Overall a solid showing for Holmes. The starting 5 looked very good but there wasn't much of a drop off when Booher put in other guys. One thing is constant with this team, regardless of who is in the game...DEFENSE.

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MVP James Bolden and Holmes' Scholar Athlete Quan Palmer

I went to some football games in the past and knew about Cohorn and him setting numerous receiving records at Dixie, but I didn't realize him and Hatton really knew eachother. Isn't Hatton getting close setting the scoring record at Dixie?

Cohorn played at Dixie and I believe he and Hatton used to play for the TarHeels when they were younger.

 

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.545530825456971.132880.100000001760626&type=1

It appeared to me that Holmes could have won by as many as they deemed necessary. Holmes, like so many other 9th Region teams, appear to be a real factor.