HOLLY POND, Ala. – The Holly Pond Broncos and Lady Broncos were back home for a pair of area matchups against J.B. Pennington Tuesday night and they split their games with the Tigers. In the girls’ game, Holly Pond jumped out to a big lead early and raced past the Tigers 59-30 but in the boys’ game, J.B. Pennington scored a go-ahead basket in the final minute of the fourth quarter to edge the Broncos 43-41.
Holly Pond 59 – J.B. Pennington 30 (Varsity Girls)
J.B. Pennington nailed a shot to get on the scoreboard first, but unlike the weather outside, Holly Pond quickly heated up on both sides of the ball. Ava Thomas split her free throws, then a steal by Millie McBee would lead to a fast break layup by Madison Butts, as that gave the Lady Broncos a 3-2 lead. Butts added a driving layup, Sadie Nail put in a basket down low, Thomas and Maggie Nail each drained a three, and Thomas added a short jumper to push their lead to 15-2. McBee scored the final five points of the quarter, including a three-point play, as they quickly stretched their lead to 20-2 going into the second.
Thomas and Butts each added baskets in the paint to make it a 24-2 lead for the Lady Broncos. Five straight points by Thomas, plus a pair of free throws by Blakely Baggett, gave them a 31-4 lead. Sadie Nail hit another basket in the paint to make it a 34-9 game, and Holly Pond would take a commanding 34-11 lead into the locker room.
A made shot by Maggie Nail, plus a shot in the paint by Thomas and a trey by Butts, increased their lead to 41-19. McBee, Maggie Nail, and Thomas each knocked down a shot to end the quarter for the Lady Broncos, as their lead swelled to 49-24 going into the fourth. Butts put in a shot in the paint, and Alana Phillips drilled a trey to make it a 54-26 game, and late baskets by McBee and Butts helped secure a 59-30 area win for Holly Pond.
Thomas led the way for Holly Pond (15-5, 5-1) with 18 points. Butts posted 14 points. McBee ended up with 10 points, and Maggie Nail finished with eight points.
J.B. Pennington 43 – Holly Pond 41 (Varsity Boys)
J.B. Pennington jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead early in the first quarter. Holly Pond got on the scoreboard almost midway through the first quarter, as five straight points by Sawyer Olinger cut it to 6-5. Cade Allbright’s basket in the paint kept it at a one-point game at 8-7, then a pair of late treys by Ty Dunn gave the Broncos a 14-10 lead going into the second.
A basket down low by Olinger made it a 16-12 game, but an 8-2 run by the Tigers gave them the lead right back at 20-18. A rebound and putback by Allbright tied the game up at 22 going into the break. Allbright put in a basket down low to give Holly Pond a 25-22 lead, then Dunn buried a three to push their lead to 29-24 almost midway through the third quarter. A late basket by Allbright made it a 31-28 game, but a pair of free throws by J.B. Pennington cut it to a one-point game going into the fourth.
Another rebound and putback by Allbright gave the Broncos a 33-30 lead early in the fourth quarter, but a rebound and putback of their own helped the Tigers tied things up at 33. Dunn drilled a pair from the line to give Holly Pond a 35-33 lead, but a 6-0 run by J.B. Pennington gave them the lead right back at 39-35 with 1:36 remaining in the game. Fox Westall got fouled while attempting a three, and he ended up hitting all three free throws to cut it to 39-38. A basket on the other end by the Tigers gave them a three-point lead, then Allbright scored through a foul and ended up hitting the free throw to tie the game up at 41 with a little over a minute left to go in the contest. J.B. Pennington nailed a big jumper to take a 43-41 lead. Holly Pond’s last chance to win the game fell just short in the end, as they dropped a heartbreaker to the Tigers, 43-41.
Allbright finished with 15 points for Holly Pond (9-12, 2-4). Olinger added 12 points, and Dunn ended up with 11 points.
Holly Pond will host Vinemont next Tuesday for a big area matchup against the Eagles.
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