Holt at Lansing Catholic – – Boys Basketball – – The Bleacher Denizen – – March 2, 2023 – – by Chuck Krafft

In this video of “Red River Valley” that goes through several playing styles, I tell the listeners that you never know where the Red River Valley will lead you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w03AhhNk1M8

Unfortunately, the Red River Valley does not lead to Lansing Catholic High School, Fortunately for the fans of the Holt Rams and the Lansing Catholic Cougars, Saginaw Street does! Tonight, your Bleacher Denizen’s journey will take him to Lansing Catholic High School to cover this game. (I’m doing research on what will be required to start referring to my trips to these schools as an odyssey. I figure officially being allowed to call it an “odyssey” will up the “cool factor” by a hundred per cent!!)

Lansing Catholic’s Cougars enter this game with a 7-13 record while the Holt Rams are at 12-9.

The Holt Coaching Staff provided me with some information about this year’s Ram players. Donye Thomas is a versatile major scorer who can slash to the basket or hit three point shots. Carter Briggs is an excellent three point shooter. Isaiah Foster is a tremendous passer and ball handler who defends the perimeter aggressively. He is also a big threat to score either on drives to the basket or from the three point line.

Carloes Speed is a big, strong player who is a tough defender and rebounder in the post. David Venn is an athletic post defender who is not afraid to take a charging foul. Stephon Edwards is a fine perimeter defender who handles the ball well and has a solid jump shot.

Catholic’s Coaching Staff was also helpful with information about their Cougar players. Dean Jacobs and Jack Jacobs are big threats from the three point line who can also drive to the basket. Luch Guerrazzi is a post player who scores well inside; he also defends the post an rebounds well. Drew Tolfree runs the point most of the time for the Cougars. He is a solid distributor and ball handler who can either hit three point shots or slash to the basket to score.

D.J. Rowley is extremely strong and a powerful rebounder and defender in the post. Padraic Cotter is a solid post rebounder and defender. Seth Elberson is a point guard who handles the ball and defends the perimeter well. Jagger Hillyer is also a big guy who helps in the post.

I was able to see almost all of the JV game. Catholic got off to a 15-5 lead at the end of the first quarter. However, Holt outscored Catholic 14-3 in the second quarter to take a 19-18 halftime lead. Holt blew the game open in the third quarter by outscoring Catholic 25-8 and had a 44-26 lead going into the final quarter. The teams played pretty evenly in the fourth quarter and Holt’s JVs ended up with a 58-39 win.

Lucas Payne led the Catholic scoring with 15 points. Alex Fernandez contributed 8 points. Navi Tanner-Flemming and Braden Rabideau each put in 5 points. Ian Carrigan, Daniel Burton and Jack Grill each tallied 2 points.

Braylon Defor led the Holt JVs with 23 points. B.J. Henry joined his teammate in double figures with 10 points. Taylor Knighten added 6 points. Josh Howard scored 4 points. Isaac Netzel, Michael Aimery and Justin Harris each put in 3 points. Savion Taylor, Dylan Sharp and Ejira Oghor each tallied 2 points.

It is now time to review the events of this game through the occasionally clear vision of an aging Bleacher Denizen who was never able to escape church league when he attempted to play basketball in the ancient times when some folks actually considered him to be “young.” While he showed some promise as a dunker, everything was ruined when the basketball powers that be insisted on raising the hoop from four feet to ten feet.

Holt wins the opening tap. The Rams miss a three point shot from the wing. Donye Thomas pulls down the offensive rebound for the Rams. Holt misfires on a threeball from the side. Catholic misfires on a threeball from the corner. Holt is fouled on a driving layup, but misses two free throws. Catholic misses a twelve foot lean back shot in the lane. Holt misses a three pointer from the corner. Carter Bishop gets the offensive rebound for the Rams. Holt misses a three point shot from the side.

Luch Guerrazzi gets into the lane, makes a post move and hits an eight foot jumper to give the Cougars the first two points of the game. Holt misses a reverse layup. D.J. Rowley hits a layup for Catholic. Isaiah Foster drives from the top of the key and hits a layup for Holt. Eddie McDonald steals the ball and passes to Donye Thomas, who hits a layup for Holt to tie the game at 4-4.

Eddie McDonald steals the ball for the Rams. Donye Thomas hits a ten foot shot from the baseline to give Holt a two point lead. Catholic misses a three point attempt from the wing. D.J. Rowley pulls down the offensive rebound for the Cougars. Jack Jacobs drives the baseline and hits a layup for Catholic to tie the game at 6-6.

Holt misses a layup and about four putbacks. Isaiah Foster gets his hands on a long offensive rebound and drives to the basket. He is fouled as he shoots a layup and hits two free throws to give Holt an 8-6 lead with 3:23 to go in the first quarter.

Catholic throws a pass out of bounds. Padraic Cotter blocks a Holt layup. Eddie McDonald returns the favor and blocks a Catholic layup as well as a putback. Nigel Gadson passes to Isaiah Foster, who hits a three point shot from the wing for Holt. Nigel Gadson steals the ball for Holt. The Rams miss a fast break layup. Nigel Gadson steals the ball for Holt. Jagger Hillyer gets his hand on the ball, but Holt is able to recover. Donye Thomas throws in a threeball from the wing to give Holt a 14-6 lead.

Dean Jacobs drives and hits a layup for Catholic. Isaiah Foster drives and dishes to Carloes Speed, who hits a layup for Holt. Padraic Cotter is fouled on an eight foot shot in the lane and hits one of his two free throws to trim the Holt lead to 16-9 with 1:03 left in the first quarter.

Holt misses a three point shot from the wing. Isaiah Foster blocks a Catholic layup; the loose ball goes out of bounds and Catholic gets another possession. Max Akright knocks the ball away from Catholic and Isaiah Foster grabs it for Holt. Isaiah Foster is fouled on a fast break layup and hits two free throws for Holt. Drew Tolfree drives and hits a layup for Catholic. He is fouled on the play and hits his free throw to cut the Holt lead to 18-12 with 21.1 seconds to play in the quarter.

Holt misses a three point shot from the corner. Carloes Speed gets the offensive rebound for the Rams. Luch Guerrazzi blocks a threeball from the side by Holt at the buzzer.

After one quarter, Holt has an 18-12 lead.

Catholic inbounds the ball to start out the second quarter. The Cougars misfire on a triple try from the corner. Donye Thomas is fouled on a fast break layup and hits two free throws for Holt. David Venn draws a charging foul from the Cougars.

Holt misses a three point shot. David Venn gets the offensive rebound for Holt. Holt is fouled, but misses the first free throw of a one and one opportunity. Carter Bishop pulls down the offensive rebound for the Rams. Holt misses a three point shot from the side. Drew Tolfree passes to Dean Jacobs, who hits a fast break layup for Catholic to chop the Holt lead to 20-14.

Holt misses a threeball from the corner. Isaiah Foster steals the ball and hits a fast break layup for Holt. A technical foul is called on Holt. Drew Tolfree hits two free throws for Catholic. With 5:48 remaining in the second quarter, Holt’s lead is at 22-16.

Catholic inbounds the ball after the technical free throws. Donye Thomas blocks a Catholic layup. Holt misses a ten footer off the dribble from the side of the lane. Ethan Vukovic passes to Dean Jacobs, who is cutting to the basket and hits a layup for Catholic to cut Holt’s lead to four points at 22-18.

Holt misses a three point shot from the side. Stephon Edwards gets the offensive rebound for the Rams. Catholic misses a layup. Donye Thomas hits a three point shot from the corner for Holt. Catholic misses a threeball from the wing; the rebound goes out of bounds and the Cougars get another possession. Catholic misses a threeball from the corner. Ethan Vukovic gets the offensive rebound for Catholic. Seth Elberson passes to Padraic Cotter, who is fouled on a layup and hits two free throws to shave the Holt lead to 25-20 with 3:23 left in the second quarter.

Isaiah Foster drives and dishes the ball to Donye Thomas for a Holt layup. Carloes Speed blocks a Catholic layup. Ethan Vukovic ties up the ball for Catholic. The Possession Arrow consults its steering committee; it is decided to steer the ball to Catholic. Catholic misses a driving layup. Luch Guerrazzi grabs the offensive rebound for the Cougars; he drives and hits a layup to cut the Holt lead to 27-22.

Carter Bishop passes to Donye Thomas, who hits a three point shot from the corner for Holt. Donye Thomas steals the ball and hits a fast break layup for Holt. Catholic misses a three pointer from the corner. Holt travels on a fast break. Catholic misses a ten foot shot in the lane. Isaiah Thomas passes to Carter Bishop, who swishes a three point shot from the wing for Holt to give the Rams a 35-22 lead.

Donye Thomas steals the ball for Holt. The Rams miss a three point shot from the side. Eddie McDonald gets the offensive rebound for Holt and passes to Carter Bishop, who hits a three point shot for the Rams. Dean Jacobs drives and hits a layup for Catholic. Holt misses a threeball from the side as the second quarter buzzer makes its presence known.

At halftime, Holt has a 38-24 lead.

Dean Jacobs has 8 points to lead the Catholic scoring at halftime. Drew Tolfree has 5 points.

Donye Thomas has 19 points to lead Holt’s scoring to this point. Isaiah Foster has 11 points and Carter Bishop has 6 points.

As we have no halftime entertainment at the gym, I hope you will enjoy this Boogie Woogie tune from my You Tube Channel as your halftime entertainment! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1MxOus8t44

Holt inbounds the ball to get the third quarter underway. The Rams miss a three pointer from the top of the key. Drew Tolfree passes to Dean Jacobs, who hits a three point shot from the side for Catholic. Holt misses a six foot turnaround jumper in the lane. Donye Thomas blocks a Catholic layup. The Cougars recover the loose ball, but miss a three point shot from the side. Donye Thomas passes to Carter Bishop, who hits a threeball from the side to give Holt a 41-27 lead.

Jack Jacobs drives and hits a layup for the Cougars. Isaiah Foster passes to Carter Bishop, who is fouled on a three pointer from the side. Carter Bishop swishes one, two and three free throws to boost Holt to a 44-29 lead with 5:55 to play in the third quarter.

Catholic turns the ball over. Holt misses a twelve foot shot in the lane. Luch Guerrazzi finds Jack Jacobs, who is cutting to the basket and hits him with a pass. Jack Jacobs hits a layup for Catholic. D.J. Rowley steals the ball for the Cougars. Jack Jacobs drives from the side and hits a layup for Catholic. Isaiah Foster is fouled on a driving reverse layup and hits two free throws to push the Holt lead to 46-33 with 4:50 remaining in quarter number three.

Jack Jacobs is fouled on a driving layup and hits two free throws for Catholic. Stephon Edwards hits a jumper off the dribble from the free throw line for Holt. Catholic misses a layup. Isaiah Foster hits a fast break layup for Holt. David Venn draws a charging foul from Catholic. Holt misses a three point shot from the wing. Padraic Cotter blocks a Holt putback. Catholic turns the ball over. Padraic Cotter steals the ball for the Cougars. Drew Tolfree hits a fast break layup to shorten the Holt lead to 50-37.

Holt misses a three point shot from the corner. Padraic Cotter is fouled on a driving reverse layup and hits one of his two free throws for Catholic. With 2:21 remaining in the third quarter, Holt’s lead is at 50-38.

Padraic Cotter blocks a Holt jump shot from the free throw line. Catholic misses a three point shot from the side. Nigel Gadson passes to Carter Bishop, who hits a three point shot from the side for Holt. Catholic misses a threeball from the side. In one motion, Justin De Varona blocks a Holt shot and ties the ball up. The Possession Arrow and its nominating committee are as impressed by this defensive display as the Bleacher Denizen is. The ball is awarded to Catholic. Seth Elberson passes to Jagger Hillyer, who is fouled on a layup and hits two free throws to shave the Holt lead to 53-40 with 52.1 seconds left in the quarter.

Holt misses a three pointer from the corner. Catholic is fouled, but misses the first shot of a one and one free throw opportunity. The rebound is tied up and the Possession Arrow decrees that Holt shall get the ball. Holt misses a twelve foot shot off the dribble from the side just before the third quarter buzzer sounds off.

After three quarters, Holt is holding a 53-40 lead.

Catholic has the ball to start the fourth quarter. The Cougars miss a driving layup. D.J. Rowley muscles in a putback for the Cougars. He is fouled on the play and makes his free throw. With 7:47 remaining in the game, Holt’s lead is at 53-43.

Holt misses a twelve foot shot from the baseline. Eddie McDonald pulls down the offensive rebound for the Rams. Holt misses a layup. Catholic misses a three point shot from he side. Luch Guerrazzi is fouled on a putback and hits two free throws to cut the Holt lead to 53-45 with 7:12 left in the game.

Holt misses a three point attempt near the top of the key. A Catholic gets past its intended receiver and is caught by a Cougar whose foot is on the baseline. Isaiah Foster drives and hits a layup for Holt; he is fouled on the play and hits his free throw to give Holt a 56-45 lead with 6:21 left on the clock.

Catholic misses a six foot shot in the lane and fouls on the rebound. Isaiah Foster throws in a threeball from the wing for Holt. Jack Jacobs drives and hits a layup for the Cougars. He is fouled on the play and hits his free throw. With 5:44 remaining in the game, the Holt lead is at 59-48.

Holt misses a three point shot from the wing. Catholic loses a pass out of bounds. Isaiah Foster drives and dishes the ball to Stephon Edwards, who hits a layup for the Rams. D.J. Rowley passes to Dean Jacobs, who hits a three point shot from the side for the Cougars. Isaiah Foster is fouled on a driving layup and hits two free throws to extend the Holt lead to 63-51 with 4:23 left in the contest.

Catholic misses a threeball from the wing. D.J. Rowley grabs the long offensive rebound for the Cougars. Seth Elberson passes to a teammate who is fouled on a fading ten footer in the lane. Catholic misses two free throws. Padraic Cotter leads a big fight for the rebound, which goes out of bounds; Catholic gets the ball. D.J. Rowley fakes and then hits a layup for Catholic to chop the Holt lead to 63-53.

Catholic fouls; a technical foul is also called on the Cougars. Holt misses the first shot of a one and one opportunity. Isaiah Foster shoots the technical free throws and hits both of them. Holt inbounds the ball after the technical free throws. Isaiah Foster drives and banks in an eight foot shot from the side for Holt. Catholic misses a fifteen foot shot from the side. Holt misses a threeball from the corner. Eddie McDonald gets the offensive rebound for the Rams. Max Akright drives and dishes the ball to Donye Thomas, who hits a three point shot from the corner to give Holt a 70-53 lead.

Catholic misses a jump shot. Anthony Todd passes to Donye Thomas, who quickly relays the ball to Jake Robel, who hits a three point shot from the side for Holt. Drew Tolfree is fouled on a scooping layup and hits two free throws to shave the Holt lead down to 73-55 with 1:53 to play.

Holt misses a three pointer from the wing. The rebound goes out of bounds and Catholic takes possession. Catholic misses a three pointer from the wing. Sean Durr gets the offensive rebound for the Cougars. Catholic is fouled on a shot, but misses two free throws. Shaymus Kelley is fouled on a putback and hits one of his two free throws for Catholic. With 1:00 remaining in the game, Holt has a 73-56 lead.

Holt misses a three point shot from the top of the key. Catholic misses a three point shot from the wing. Holt misses a three point shot from the wing. Anthony Todd gets the offensive rebound for the Rams. Christian Smith hits a three point shot from the top of the key for the Rams. Catholic misses a shot at the buzzer.

Holt wins this game by the score of 76-56.

Dean Jacobs had 14 points to lead Lansing Catholic’s scoring. Jack Jacobs chipped in with 11 points. Drew Tolfree contributed 9 points. Luch Guerrazzi tossed in 8 points. D.J. Rowley added 7 points. Padraic Cotter scored 4 points. Jagger Hillyer added 2 points and Shaymus Kelley tallied 1 point.

Isaiah Foster scored 27 points to lead the Holt scoring. Donye Thomas also had a huge game with 22 points. Carter Bishop joined his teammates in double figures with 15 points. Stephon Edwards scored 4 points. Jake Robel and Christian Smith each added 3 points. Carloes Speed had 2 points.