HOLLY POND – The Holly Pond Broncos eliminated Colbert Heights Tuesday night, 87-69, behind a barrage of 3-point shots to punch their ticket to Tom Drake Coliseum and an appearance in the Sweet 16.
The Broncos knocked down 14 shots from beyond the arc, five of which came from Jake Harris. Harris led the Broncos with 23 points and hit four deep shots in the first half alone. Holly Pond got off to a hot start, with four different players hitting four 3-point shots in the first quarter to take an early 18-14 lead.
The Broncos’ offense continued its hot shooting in the second quarter, scoring 24 and knocking down another five shots from 3-point range to take a 42-30 lead into the locker room at halftime.
The Broncos held up on the defensive end as well in a very physical game that saw a lot of bodies hitting the ground. They were able to hold off an explosive 41-point, 14-rebound performance from Wildcats guard Kevin Shaw. Shaw accounted for well over half of Colbert Heights’ offense and couldn’t be stopped from getting to the basket for most of the night.
Despite Shaw’s standout performance, the Wildcats couldn’t get enough offense from the other four players on the floor to keep up with Holly Pond’s shooting. Another one of those shooters that had a big night for Holly Pond was guard Cooper Jones. Jones had perhaps the most efficient night from the 3-point line, knocking down three of his five shots from beyond the arc and finishing with nine points.
The Broncos continued to pull away in the second half, thanks in part to forwards Kyler Chaney and Tyler Boatright, who each finished with 13 points. Holly Pond forward McKinley Garrett scored eight and pulled down 11 rebounds, finishing one basket shy of a double-double. Garrett was also a force on the defensive end, leading the Broncos in both blocks and steals with two of each. After the second quarter, the Wildcats never got within 10 points of Holly Pond again.
The Broncos got off to a sluggish start in the fourth quarter, allowing the Wildcats to chip away at the lead, but two late 3-point baskets from Griffin Morris and Harris put the game away for Holly Pond.
The Broncos advance to the Sweet 16 and will take on the Hanceville Bulldogs in Tom Drake Coliseum at Wallace State Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
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