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HOLLAND - Timing is everything in a close rivalry game, especially in the energy of the Dutch Dome.
The Holland Christian boys basketball team made the most of that timing on offense, while playing lockdown defense in a 48-38 win over Holland on Wednesday, Jan. 26.
"I have grown up with these guys, so playing with him for so long, they are like brothers to me. Games like these, Holland is coming with everything they have. We have a target on our back, but we are ready for that," Holland Christian's Titus Spencer said. "It is fun playing in this atmosphere."
More: Fennville girls basketball earns big win; Holland falls
The game was within four points until the final minute with the Maroons (9-5, 6-1 OK Black) holding a slim lead by not giving up any runs.
"We talked about being really tight on the defensive side of the ball and control what we could control," Holland Christian coach Brad Jansen said. "We hung our hat on defense. In games like this, you have to focus on those things. I was really proud of our effort. We knew it would be a fight."
Each time the Dutch scored to tie the game or take the lead, the Maroons had an immediate answer in the form of a defensive stop and a basket.
Trailing 22-20 at halftime, Spencer gave the Maroons a 24-22 lead after a steal and two free throws. Moses Vanderbilt hit a 3 and the Maroons pushed the lead to 31-26.
The Holland Christian defense took over, allowing just 16 points in the second half - five in the fourth quarter - and getting a timely basket every time it was needed.
The Dutch pulled within one before Spencer hit a running jumper and was fouled. He completed the three-point play then scored again after a turnover to put the Maroons up 37-33 after three quarters.
A 3 by Holland's Keegan Hulst pulled Holland within one, but again two baskets by Spencer pushed the Maroons lead to 41-36.
Spencer finished with 19 points, while Davis Alderink had eight and Jake Holcomb added seven.
While he scored the most in the game, it was the defense and passing of Spencer that made a huge difference.
"Ball in his hands, he creates. His vision is the next step. He understands where the cuts are coming and where the defensive help is coming. He is already thinking three steps ahead," Jansen said. "Everything is calculated. He is a great shooter, but the little things make him a great player."
Holland kept it close behind 17 points from Josiah VanHekken, getting to the rim for baskets in the paint.
"It was a good game all the way through, we just need to finish better at the end and have more awareness to get to the rim," VanHekken said. "We stayed in he heavy gaps and helped out on defense to (slow them down)."
Hulst, Holland's leading scorer, was held to six points.
"Josiah is really good and we tried our best to keep it away from Hulst. We just chased and hugged on defense. When he is comfortable, he is really tough and we had three guards who helped (make him uncomfortable)," Jansen said.
Defensively, the Dutch (5-9, 2-5 OK Black) were there, getting several stops down the stretch. But they couldn't convert enough of the chances.
"Holland Christian played hard and physical and did things really well. We need to make our layups and get better looks," Holland coach Andrew Meeuwsen said. "We had some opportunities where our defense was really good in the fourth quarter with a bunch of stops in a row, but we couldn't finish and take advantage of open shots."
BOYS BASKETBALL
The Chix won the non-conference game, leading by as many as 16 in the second half. But Lowell cut the lead to three late in the fourth quarter but the Chix had enough to hang on.
Will Drnek scored 35 points had 11 rebounds and five assists. Caleb Claerbaut added 17 points and four assists. Josiah Norman had 15 points and seven rebounds.
Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’[email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Holland Christian boys basketball tops rival Holland in the Dutch Dome
Continue reading...
The Holland Christian boys basketball team made the most of that timing on offense, while playing lockdown defense in a 48-38 win over Holland on Wednesday, Jan. 26.
"I have grown up with these guys, so playing with him for so long, they are like brothers to me. Games like these, Holland is coming with everything they have. We have a target on our back, but we are ready for that," Holland Christian's Titus Spencer said. "It is fun playing in this atmosphere."
More: Fennville girls basketball earns big win; Holland falls
The game was within four points until the final minute with the Maroons (9-5, 6-1 OK Black) holding a slim lead by not giving up any runs.
"We talked about being really tight on the defensive side of the ball and control what we could control," Holland Christian coach Brad Jansen said. "We hung our hat on defense. In games like this, you have to focus on those things. I was really proud of our effort. We knew it would be a fight."
Each time the Dutch scored to tie the game or take the lead, the Maroons had an immediate answer in the form of a defensive stop and a basket.
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Trailing 22-20 at halftime, Spencer gave the Maroons a 24-22 lead after a steal and two free throws. Moses Vanderbilt hit a 3 and the Maroons pushed the lead to 31-26.
The Holland Christian defense took over, allowing just 16 points in the second half - five in the fourth quarter - and getting a timely basket every time it was needed.
The Dutch pulled within one before Spencer hit a running jumper and was fouled. He completed the three-point play then scored again after a turnover to put the Maroons up 37-33 after three quarters.
A 3 by Holland's Keegan Hulst pulled Holland within one, but again two baskets by Spencer pushed the Maroons lead to 41-36.
Spencer finished with 19 points, while Davis Alderink had eight and Jake Holcomb added seven.
While he scored the most in the game, it was the defense and passing of Spencer that made a huge difference.
"Ball in his hands, he creates. His vision is the next step. He understands where the cuts are coming and where the defensive help is coming. He is already thinking three steps ahead," Jansen said. "Everything is calculated. He is a great shooter, but the little things make him a great player."
Holland kept it close behind 17 points from Josiah VanHekken, getting to the rim for baskets in the paint.
"It was a good game all the way through, we just need to finish better at the end and have more awareness to get to the rim," VanHekken said. "We stayed in he heavy gaps and helped out on defense to (slow them down)."
Hulst, Holland's leading scorer, was held to six points.
"Josiah is really good and we tried our best to keep it away from Hulst. We just chased and hugged on defense. When he is comfortable, he is really tough and we had three guards who helped (make him uncomfortable)," Jansen said.
Defensively, the Dutch (5-9, 2-5 OK Black) were there, getting several stops down the stretch. But they couldn't convert enough of the chances.
"Holland Christian played hard and physical and did things really well. We need to make our layups and get better looks," Holland coach Andrew Meeuwsen said. "We had some opportunities where our defense was really good in the fourth quarter with a bunch of stops in a row, but we couldn't finish and take advantage of open shots."
BOYS BASKETBALL
Zeeland East 86, Lowell 80
The Chix won the non-conference game, leading by as many as 16 in the second half. But Lowell cut the lead to three late in the fourth quarter but the Chix had enough to hang on.
Will Drnek scored 35 points had 11 rebounds and five assists. Caleb Claerbaut added 17 points and four assists. Josiah Norman had 15 points and seven rebounds.
Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’[email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Holland Christian boys basketball tops rival Holland in the Dutch Dome
Continue reading...
