Bronchos clip Blackhawks’s wings and head for finals

FLINT TOWNSHIP, Michigan - Led by seniors Kyle Sherwin and Thomas (T-Love) Lovachis the Holly Bronchos overcame a troublesome Brandon squad at Carman-Ainsworth Wednesday night, 61-46.  As they have all year, the Blackhawks have been a difficult match up for the Bronchos and the Bronchos’ second playoff game was no different.

Brandon’s 2-3 zone was effective for much of the night, as Holly struggled to gain control over the 6-14 Blackhawks.  In an attempt to speed up the tempo, Broncos used their vaunted full-court press with little success, leading only by one, 15-14 after the first.  

The second quarter began on an unusual but positive note as Brandon suffered a technical foul for a discrepancy in the official scorebook.  Senior Lance Hopkin hit one of two at the line and Holly had the ball on the technical.  Despite this break, Holly was unable to take advantage and after a couple of easy buckets on backdoor cuts and a long three-pointer, the Blackhawks were up 22-16.  Holly finally found some rhythm and used a 10-0 run to retake the lead.  Sherwin hit one three and Hopkin the Younger
(sophomore Austin) hit two threes, including one at the buzzer, to give the Bronchos a 29-24 margin at the half.

Not to be unexpected, the pesky Blackhawks used a 5-0 run of their own to tie the game not one minute into the third quarter.  The Flint Metro rivals traded threes with Sherwin dropping another buzzer beater to give Holly a 43-35 lead after three.

Senior Justin Fowler started the fourth with a three but Brandon countered with one of their own.  Holly then dropped in another two-pointer to move the lead to 48-38.  The Bronchos went into their “Indiana” offense to slow the pace and with a big assist from 7 Fowler free throws was able to pull away and move on the final on Friday against the winner of the late game between Fenton and Carman-Ainsworth.  

Sherwin led Holly with 18 points and added 5 rebounds.  Lovachis was instrumental in breaking down the Brandon zone with repeated hard drives to the hoop.  He finished with 15.  Fowler scored all 10 of his points in the fourth quarter to start the Blackhawks on their summer recess.  The Hopkin brothers were both strong with Lance (the elder) dropping in 7 and Austin 8, including the two monster threes in the second quarter when the game was still up for grabs.

Lovachis commented on Holly’s struggles with their eastern neighbor.  “We wanted to attack the basket and try to break down their zone,” he said. “But as we all know, Brandon brings their ‘A’ game whenever Holly is the opponent.”

Lovachis is also excited about playing the winner of the Carman-Ainsworth-Fenton game. “If we play our game, we should be all right,” he said.
Thanks in great part to him and Kyle Sherwin, Holly surely was “all right” tonight.

The Bronchos will tip off at 7 p.m. at Carman-Ainsworth, 1300 N. Linden Road, Flint on Friday with another opportunity for a district title that escaped them last year at home against Flint Southwestern.  Bronchos fans, don’t miss it!


HOLLY

Sherwin      8    0-0    16
L. Hopkin    2    3-4     7
Wilson        1    0-0     3
Lovachis     6    2-3     15
Fowler        1     7-8    10
Gregory      0    0-0     0
Fugate        0    0-0     0
A. Hopkin    3    0-0     8
Young          0     0-0    0

Three pointers:  Sherwin 2, A. Hopkin 2, Fowler 1, Wilson 1, Lovachis 1
Rebounds:  L. Hopkin 7, Sherwin 5, Wilson 3, Fowler 3, Fugate 2,  Lovahcis 1, Gregory 1

Holly            15    14    14    18    =    61
Brandon       14    10    11    11    =    46