Bronchos dominate Eagles

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Michael Alexander (55) drives ...

HOLLY, Michigan - Spurred by new Holly sixth man and the man replaced in the lineup, the Holly Bronchos used strong second and third quarters to the visiting Linden Eagles Friday night, 52-37.

Holly’s Michael Alexander usually starts and the first man of the bench on most nights has been freshman, Isaac Casillas. That was reversed in the Horseshoe with Casillas knocking down a quick eight points, including two three-pointers in the early going.

Not be out done, the sophomore Alexander was aggressive on both ends of floor, helping to keep Linden’s offense from finding any rhythm and leading the break while going the other way.

Casillas finished with 10 points, six on three-pointers.  Alexander had five points and a whole lot of hustle.

“We just play as a team, we really don’t care who scores,” said Casillas. He felt he didn’t play well in Bay City Wednesday but he left right off where he was before the Christmas break when he dropped 18 points on the Eagles in Linden.

As he did against Bay City Central, Holly coach Lance Baylis played all thirteen of his efforts. And unlike Wednesday when his second and third team players struggled, this night they played well, helping to keep the Bronchos safely in the lead despite substantial minutes with no starters in the game.

Down 15-11 early in the second quarter, Holly went on 28-4 run to put this one in the win column early.

Baylis was proud the way his second team players performed, especially Cannon Konzer and Justis Kerner. “When (the starters) are on the floor, the underclassmen are tremendously positive,” said Baylis. “Tonight some of these guys got their chance.”

Holly assistant Jason Lombard was pleased with Alexander’s play. “He plays great defense, he has great length and is a good ball-handler,” said Lombard.  Lombard liked his aggressive play and quickness, despite at 6-4 frame. “I just try to be aggressive, active and play good defense,” said Alexander.

Senior Austin Hopkin led Holly with 12 points. Casillas had 10. Nick Stoll accounted for nine points, six rebounds, two blocks and a steal. He forced the Eagles into several bad looking shots underneath using his 6-6 frame to alter many a path to the basket.

Linden’s Kevin Baker had 13 points and Dillon Nash had eight.

Holly improved to 7-1 in the Flint Metro League and 8-1 overall.  Linden fell to 2-6 in Flint Metro League play and 4-6 overall.

Holly travels to Lapeer on Tuesday to face another Eagle squad, that of Lapeer
East.


HOLLY
Austin Hopkin            5    0-2    12
Jared Plawski             1    0-0     2
Nick Stoll                  4    1-4     9
Isaac Casillas              3    2-2    10
Donovan Williams       2    1-2     5
Michael Alexander      2    1-3     5
Logan Spiker             1    0-0     2
Cannon Konzer         0    0-0     0
Parker Rowse           1    0-3     2
Morgan Baylis           1    0-0     2
Justis Kerner            1    1-2     3
Patrick Reddy           0    0-0     0
Blake Ordiway           0    0-0     0

Three-pointers: Casillas 2, Hopkin 2
Rebounds: Stoll 6, Plawski 4, Casillas 4, Alexander 4, Williams 3, Konzer 2, Kerner 2, Spiker 2, Hopkin 1, Rowse 1, Hopkin 1

Linden        9     6    10    12     =     37
Holly         11    13    19     9     =     52