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Yeah and he got in 21's head.

 

#21 is Riley and I very seriously dought he got in anybodies head. :confused:

Uh no he didn't. Heard from a little bird what he had to say after one of his ducks. I did love the two hand shove that 21 gave Lother. Should have been a tech. Holmes showed they could be mentally messed with tonite. I think this game went exactly the way they wanted it to.

 

I am sure they wanted a win. Oh well. Good game, it was a solid game on both ends but at the end of the day one team wins and one team loses.

As far as the game....

 

First quarter the Birds came out swinging and jumped on top of Holmes 13-4 early on. Like all good teams though, Holmes had an answer. Riley hit a big 3 to cut the lead to 13-7 and Holmes would close the quarter on a 9-2 run to give Highlands a 15-13 lead heading in to the second quarter.

 

Second quarter, Holmes came out firing on all cylinders. Holmes started the quarter on an 8-0 run (17-2 from end of first to start of second) to take a 21-15 lead within the first two minutes of the quarter after a nice up and under move by Riley. Birds responded by going on a 5-0 run to close within 21-20 but Arnold responded with an "and one" at the other end to put the Dogs back up by 4 at 24-20. Birds would again respond and tie the score up at 24-24 but Holmes would go on an 11-2 run, led by 7 straight points from Arnold, to head in to the half up 35-26. Arnold led all scorers at the half with 12 points.

 

Third quarter, Holmes again went on a run out of the locker room. Keyed by a goal by JJ and back to back 3's from Pittman and D. Johnson, Holmes would extend their lead to 43-26 before Coach Schlarman would call a timeout to calm the Birds down. Lother got a bucket out of the timeout, but Rico resonded at the other end to put Holmes up 47-28 just three minutes in to the third. This is when the woman ref would take over the game. 4 straight calls against Holmes within 30 seconds allowed Highlands to cut the lead to 47-33 with 4 minutes to play. Altogether, after Holmes got up by 19, Highlands would go on an 11-0 run to cut the Holmes lead to 47-39. Pittman responded at the other end with an and one, but missed the free throw to give Holmes a 49-39 advantage with 2:35 until the 4th quarter. Holmes would go up 51-39 after two FT's by Riley but a long 3 by Gordon and "and one" by Grote would cut the Holmes lead to 52-45 with 1:05 left until the 4th. Highlands then got to within 52-49 but a silly foul by Grubbs at the buzzer and two FT's by Pittman sent the Dogs in to the 4th up 54-49. Key to the third was Highlands press which led to many turnovers and easy buckets for the Birds.

 

Fourth quarter was the Elijah Pittman show. Pittman came out and scored Holmes first 4 points to extend the lead to 58-49 and things would go back and forth from here with both teams trading buckets. Birds answered Pittman's mini run to close within 58-51 but 5 straight points from Arnold and Housely put Holmes back up on top by 10 at 63-53 with 4 minutes to play. Grubbs would respond at the other end and lead a 6-2 run by the Birds to close within 65-59 but then Pittman would take over. With 2:18 to play Pittman got the ball underneath and threw it down hard with two hands over Grubbs and Watson while also picking up the foul to put Holmes back on top by 9 at 68-59. Grote then got back to back buckets to make the score 68-63 but another dunk by...guess who...Pittman at the other end took the momentum away from the Birds once again as Holmes would score the next 5 points to go up 73-63 44 seconds left. Birds responded with a bucket and then we'd see the play of the game. Birds were pressing trying to get a turnover and Riley found Pittman ahead of everyone for a one hand windmill dunk that about brought the rim down and brought everyone to their feet. Rico knocked down two free throws with 2 second left after Highlands missed their final shot to give Holmes a hard fought 77-68 victory.

 

For Highlands, I can't say enough about them. Watson was a man on the boards early on and the reason for the Birds early success. Kowolonek, Grote, and Gordon were all three somewhat M.I.A in the first half but all three picked it up in the second half and were key for the Highlands comeback. Willie is one hell of a coach. When Holmes got up by 19, he went to a press and Highlands executed it to perfection. Only gripe I have about the Birds play tonight was their half court defense. Holmes pretty much scored at will at times.

 

For Holmes, big players step up in big moments and that's exactly what both Arnold and Pittman did tonight as well as Riley. Arnold had a personal 7-0 run to end the first half and Pittman closed things out for Holmes in the fourth quarter. Riley was solid all around from start to finish. All three stepped their games up when Rico was on the bench in foul trouble.

 

All in all this was a solid showing by BOTH teams and IMO may have very well been a preview of the 9th region championship as long as both teams are on opposite sides. I'd be hard pressed to believe many teams will beat either one of these two with how well both sides played tonight. Holmes showed why they're the #1 team in the state and 9th region, but at the same time, Highlands showed they can play with the Dogs as long as they keep their heads in the game.

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Yeah and he got in 21's head.

 

I never seen anyone get in 21's head. If he got frustated it was because of his mistakes, which weren't many. He is his own toughest critic and if he gets frustrated it is because he is frustrated with himself, and I didn't even see that.

Please stop looking or why are we looking for negatives on this Holmes team. Since I been watching them the past few games, 9th region teams have physically challenge them and sometimes to much at times. Holmes has stood up to it and play hard to win.

 

Bottom Line Holmes is a very good team and they are ready toplay anybody.

 

I'm not expecting them to loose no more game ......MMM

 

I agree. Let's not try to take away from either team by accusing this player or that player of "trash talking" because honestly neither side really jawed at all. It was a clean, hard fought game by both sides, and both teams showed GREAT sportsmanship tonight.

 

As far as ANYONE getting in Riley's head and him talking "trash"...:lol: Come on Malachi, you're better than that. Riley is one of the quietest kids on the court for Holmes. Whoever said Riley was jawing back and forth obviously wasn't paying much attention to the game.

 

BTW, I was impressed with Grubbs in the second half. I'd say he probably had one of his best games of the year down low. He had a few key buckets for the Birds down the stretch.

I agree. Let's not try to take away from either team by accusing this player or that player of "trash talking" because honestly neither side really jawed at all. It was a clean, hard fought game by both sides, and both teams showed GREAT sportsmanship tonight.

 

As far as ANYONE getting in Riley's head and him talking "trash"...:lol: Come on Malachi, you're better than that. Riley is one of the quietest kids on the court for Holmes. Whoever said Riley was jawing back and forth obviously wasn't paying much attention to the game.

 

BTW, I was impressed with Grubbs in the second half. I'd say he probably had one of his best games of the year down low. He had a few key buckets for the Birds down the stretch.

 

You hit the nail on the head here.

Anyone got stats??? I am curious exactly what Pittman and Arnold finished with. They both played big tonight.

Anyone got stats??? I am curious exactly what Pittman and Arnold finished with. They both played big tonight.

 

I think Pittman finished with over 20...he had I believe 10 alone in the 4th quarter.

 

Arnold I think finished with 16 or 17....a career high at the varsity level. That kid is going to be something special. :ylsuper:

This is from the Lex Herald Website.

 

Highlands 15 11 23 19 68

 

Holmes 13 22 19 23 77

 

Highlands (16-6) -- Watson 16, Grubbs 14, Kowolonek 11, Grote 11, Lother 7, Gordon 7, Dill 2.

Holmes (22-1) -- Pittman 22, Riley 14, Arnold 14, R. Johnson 12, D. Johnson 7, Housley 6, J. Johnson 2.

 

Looks like balanced scoring from the Birds as well as Dogs. Pittman did have a big game with 22.

Forgot my scorebook :idunno: oops!!!

Nice game by Pittman, 22 is pretty solid. I know Rico got in foul trouble but thought he was in double figures. Arnold did a bulk of his scoring in the second quarter where he looked unstoppable.

 

Very balanced game by Highlands as well, 4 in double figures and 2 more with 7 is pretty solid.

I'm impressed with Ricardo Johnson. He has a calming effect on the rest of the Bulldogs. I think he was out when Highlands made their run in the 3rd quarter. He seems very coachable and besides ability has the demeanor necessary for the next level. I think he will be the key to the Bulldogs winning a state title. He has to stay on the floor.

Forgot my scorebook :idunno: oops!!!

 

I kept looking at you and little man and seen nobody was keeping score, I was worried about you hahaha.

Imo Arnold is a top 10 player in the region right now. It's just a matter of playing time for him.

I'm impressed with Ricardo Johnson. He has a calming effect on the rest of the Bulldogs. I think he was out when Highlands made their run in the 3rd quarter. He seems very coachable and besides ability has the demeanor necessary for the next level. I think he will be the key to the Bulldogs winning a state title. He has to stay on the floor.

 

Him and his brother are probably the most coachable two on the team, and at times you can get them mixed up on the court because they both have that same demenor. They don't rush or force anything like other players at this level. Some teams that I have seen have a "star player" who tends to force things and Rico and JJ both let the game come to them.