Bronchos extinguish Dragons in first playoff game

FLINT TOWNSHIP, Michigan - After two tough regular season losses to Swartz Creek, Holly willed its way and got some love for their effort in a big tournament win over the Dragons of Swartz Creek Monday night at Carman-Ainsworth.  Holly seniors Kevin Wilson and Thomas Lovachis were outstanding, making plays at both ends of the floor, as the Bronchos were finally able to finish the overgrown reptiles from the west side of Flint, 53-46.  

The nerves on both sides were evident early as both teams struggled to find the basket.  Many of the shots were short and the stress of this big game filled the old gym on Linden Road.  The Bronchos led 13-9 after one aided by a late layin from Lance Hopkin after a nice inbound pass from Kyle Sherwin.  

Early in the second Holly edged out to a 16-11 lead only to find the Creek roaring back to tie at 16.  As in the previous two matches the two rivals were engaged in another defensive struggle with the game tied at 21 before Hopkin was fouled on a feed from Wilson with two seconds left in the half.

Hopkin hit both at the charity stripe and the Bronchos led 23-21 at the break.

After the half, the Bronchos again looked like they were about to take control of the game by jumping out to a 31-23 lead.  Determined, the Dragons fought back to make it 32-31 added by Cody Campbell’s three to keep it a game.  The Dragons finished the contest with 8 threes.

Holly led 36-35 heading into the fourth and one more time the start of the period belonged to the Bronchos as Sherwin and Lovachis each hit 2 free throws after an early Holly hoop.  The Bronchos led 42-35 and they would never give up the lead.  After Lovachis was intentionally fouled on a slam attempt and hit 1 of 2 at the line, Holly’s lead was 53-43 and only the final score was in doubt as Creek dropped in a last second three to end a great season for the Dragons.

In playing probably the best game of his two-year varsity career, Kevin Wilson implored his teammates to leave their “hearts on the floor” and they surely did.  “We played 60 games last summer and sometimes 3 games in one day”, said Wilson. “We played our hearts out tonight.”   Wilson and Lovachis led Holly with 14 to help the Bronchos cool off the Dragons.  Wilson added 9 rebounds, 2 blocks and a steal to his sterling effort.  Hopkin grabbed an amazing 12 rebounds, 5 alone in the first quarter, as the Bronchos were dominant on the boards all night.  Cody Campbell and Logan Hull had 15 and 12 respectively to lead the Dragons.

The Bronchos (17-4) will play Brandon (6-14) on Wednesday night at Carman-Ainsworth, 1300 N. Linden Road, Flint.  Brandon, who had a bye in the first round, will be looking to beat the Bronchos for the first time this year after two close losses during the regular season.  The game will begin at 5 p.m.


HOLLY
Sherwin      2    4-7     6
L. Hopkin    3    3-3     9
Wilson        5    3-6    14
Lovachis    4    6-10   14
Folwer       2    5-6       9
Beeler        0    0-0      0
Fugate      0    1-2       1
Young       0    0-0       0
Gray         0    0-0       0
Wingate    0    0-0      0


Three pointers:  Wilson 1
Rebounds:  L. Hopkin 12, Wilson 9, Sherwin 7, Lovachis 4, Young 3, Fowler 2, Fugate 1

Holly                  13    10    13    17    =    53
Swartz Creek      9    12    14    11    =     46