Final. Tale of two halves. Bolden with game winning 3 with 111 left.

 

Englemon 21 pts, 5 rbs

Bolden 16 pts, 9 ast, 6 rbs

Palmer 16 pts

Chames 5

Coston 5

Glover 5

 

Campbell 18 pts, 10 rbs, 6 blks

Pouncy 14

McClendon 13

M. McClendon 9

Tiberi 6

Gabbard 5

 

More when I get home.

Holmes (16-0)- 23...25...10...10... 68

Holy Cross (7-6)- 11...12...25...17... 65

 

Ft

Holy Cross 6-12

Holmes 5-6

 

Fg

Holy Cross 19-32 59%

Holmes 21-39 53%

 

3pt

Holy Cross 7-17 41%

Holmes 7-11 63%

 

Rebounds

Holy Cross 25

Holmes 22

Delete

Stats mirrored the score of the game. Very close battle.

A few shots made here or there and we have a different winner.

Congrats to Holmes.

Tell me about HC's D in the 2nd half. I heard something about guards chasing Holmes.

Did Holmes pack their bags and go home at halftime?

As Walter said this was a tale of two halves. Holmes did not do anything wrong the first half. Palmer was on fire, they got 2 fouls on Campbell in the 1st quarter and just rolled out to a 25 point half time lead. In the 2nd half Holy Cross did not miss much. They lit it up with 3's and it did not matter who shot it. Absolutely no fouls called in the 2nd half they were allowed to play and that allowed Campbell to block a bunch of shots. Who knows if he fouled on some of them it didn't matter at either end because Englemon and Chames blocked some to. Really the 'dogs did not handle the 2-3 zone as well as they should have. It was obvious they were ging to penetrate and try and get Campbell in foul trouble. They just did not shoot from the outside. This plan did not work with the way it was officiated. I am not saying the officials were bad, they were consistent in calling nothing and I think Holmes should have adjusted by shooting, they can shoot it. When it was 65 -65 with about 40 seconds left Bolden did hit a big three to make the final score. Holy Cross only had one fould up to this point and missed their time down the floor and had to start fouling. They fouled 4 times to cut it 19.9 seconds and Bolden slipped on the floor and walked. HC missed the final three with no time on the clock. A lot of chatter on the floor and the 'dogs Palmer got a "T' for saying scoreboard to a HC player early in the 4th when Holmes was still up by 12. Really they could have called that stuff on any of players on the floor, guess Pompillio had enough. Holmes should clearly handle them easily, but not tonight, good job to HC for hanging in there. It is tough to be 16-0 and not have a stinker half or game. This should get their attention. You can't give a good team any hope when you are up by 25. if the 'dogs play like the 1st half no one in the 9th will beat them. Quite a few will if they play like the 2nd half.

So Quan had 16 in the first half and zero in the 2nd?

So Quan had 16 in the first half and zero in the 2nd?

 

He had 15 in the first half I think. They just quit giving it to him and attacked the basket trying to get Campbell in foul trouble. Campbell is going to block his share and alter shots although Holmes did make some layups throughout. They misse 3-4 layups in the 3rd that should have buried the game, but that changed the tide because HC really got hot and confident. That and the 'dogs got real sloppy with the ball. I thought Bolden did not play his best game. When it gets tough usually Palmer takes over, not tonight. Holmes really got rattled and this has happened twice in the last couple of weeks, against Scott and HC. This team still palys in spurts. Down 9-2 in the 1st and in 45 seconds up 14-9. Then in the 4th up 9 and 1 minute later tied. A beauty to watch when they are on, when not on , not so mush.

If Holmes plays like that in the first half no one comes close to them in the region. Wow. But only won 3.

I really thought Englemon played well and consistent the whole game. He played right with Campbell, Chames played well also. Pouncy and McClendon played good games and Tiberi and Gabbard ht clutch 3's in the HC run.

As Walter said this was a tale of two halves. Holmes did not do anything wrong the first half. Palmer was on fire, they got 2 fouls on Campbell in the 1st quarter and just rolled out to a 25 point half time lead. In the 2nd half Holy Cross did not miss much. They lit it up with 3's and it did not matter who shot it. Absolutely no fouls called in the 2nd half they were allowed to play and that allowed Campbell to block a bunch of shots. Who knows if he fouled on some of them it didn't matter at either end because Englemon and Chames blocked some to. Really the 'dogs did not handle the 2-3 zone as well as they should have. It was obvious they were ging to penetrate and try and get Campbell in foul trouble. They just did not shoot from the outside. This plan did not work with the way it was officiated. I am not saying the officials were bad, they were consistent in calling nothing and I think Holmes should have adjusted by shooting, they can shoot it. When it was 65 -65 with about 40 seconds left Bolden did hit a big three to make the final score. Holy Cross only had one fould up to this point and missed their time down the floor and had to start fouling. They fouled 4 times to cut it 19.9 seconds and Bolden slipped on the floor and walked. HC missed the final three with no time on the clock. A lot of chatter on the floor and the 'dogs Palmer got a "T' for saying scoreboard to a HC player early in the 4th when Holmes was still up by 12. Really they could have called that stuff on any of players on the floor, guess Pompillio had enough. Holmes should clearly handle them easily, but not tonight, good job to HC for hanging in there. It is tough to be 16-0 and not have a stinker half or game. This should get their attention. You can't give a good team any hope when you are up by 25. if the 'dogs play like the 1st half no one in the 9th will beat them. Quite a few will if they play like the 2nd half.

 

I guess HC had nothing to do with Holmes playing bad in the second half:irked:

Holmes can go but they are not going to basically shoot 100% on threes in the first half.

I guess HC had nothing to do with Holmes playing bad in the second half:irked:

 

I did give them credit, sorry you missed that part. They shot 59% for the game and probably 70% the second half. They didn't quit and rattled the 'dogs. IMO Holmes got sloppy and did not handle the zone well. Certainly HC deserves credit. Game over. Holmes won by 3 and that is how much better they were tonight.

1st half stats:

 

Holmes

FG 14-20 70%

3pt 5-8 62%

 

Holy Cross

8-15 53%

1-7 14%

 

2nd half stats:

 

Holmes

7-19 36%

2-3 66%

 

Holy Cross

11-17 64%

6-10 60%

 

Holy Cross played very well in the second half but I felt the mental mistakes and unforced turnovers by Holmes with a huge lead were what allowed Holy Cross to get confidence and get back in the game. Holmes simply didn't attack the zone the way they did in the first half. Englemon and Bolden were the only ones who really took it to Campbell in the second half.

 

Biggest difference was Holmes didn't score enough in the second half to set up their press and get turnovers or force quick shots like they did in the first half. Holy Cross had no answer for Holmes' press when they were able to set the press up and speed the tempo up.

 

As for Campbell, he played very physical down low. I find it hard to believe he picks up 2 fouls in the first quarter but didn't foul at either end the rest of the game. Such is life though and as stated, the officials were consistent with their no calls. This comment is more of a compliment to Mr. Campbell as I felt if Holmes could've forced a third foul on him and got him back to the bench, this game isn't within 30 points going in to the 4th. I was surprised by the way Chames, Hill, and Arnold played against him. All three showed much more toughness than I thought they had and Englemon for the most part did what he wanted within 10 feet.

 

Very good game to watch. It's a shame one of these two teams might be left out of the region tournament. That #1 seed in the district is going to be crucial.