Story By Jeffery Gibert
West
Potomac Senior, DigitalSports Intern
Photos and Videos By Sam Briggs
West Potomac Sophomore , DigitalSports Intern
** Click the links above to access photos and video highlights from Monday’s playoff game!
Lee senior Frank Holloway, Jr. put his team on his back in its Northern Region first round match-up with Langley as they rallied from a 13-point deficit for a dramatic, 55-53 victory.
“It feels good,” said Holloway, who finished with a game-high 25 points. “It was a team effort. We were down the whole game, fought back, worked as a team … knocked down shots down the stretch [and] came out with the win.”
Added Lancers’ Coach Michael Harris: “Everybody played extremely well.”
Saxon seniors Barrett Hunter (nine points) and Thomas Kody (eight) got Langley off to a hot start, combining for 12 points in the first quarter.
But three-point shots by Lancer juniors Walter Griffin (14) and Deonta Gatlin (11) kept the game close, 18-14.
And Saxon senior Jack McLindon appeared to break the game open in the second quarter when he connected on two three-pointers of his own to increase Langley’s lead to 13 points.
Still, Lee kept hustling and closed the gap to 33-25 by half time.
It was in that second half, however, that Holloway was awoken.
Holloway dropped 11 points in the third quarter alone as the Lancers pulled within one point early in the quarter before Saxon senior Derek Baker (12 points) ended their run with a mid-range jumper. Langley’s control of the game was slowly slipping, but it still held a slim, 43-40 lead entering the final period.
In the last quarter, Holloway finished what he set out to do — lead his squad to a sweet comeback victory.
Lancer senior Yoonis Abdulle also played well down the stretch. With his team trailing by three points with about two minutes to play, Abdulle entered the game for the first time, quickly stole the ball and finished with a break-away layup.
Moments later Griffin gave the Lancers their first lead since the score had stood at 3-2.
“That’s what Coach Harris always tells him to do: ‘Step up,'” Holloway said of Abdulle. “He was ready tonight [and] stepped up big for us.”
But the excitement had only just begun.
With less than :20 seconds to play, Kody hit a lay up for Langley to knot the score at 53.
Griffin wasted no time getting the ball down court, but missed a layup. Holloway, however, did not miss the rebound. He scooped up the loose ball and was fouled on his put back attempt with :07.4 remaining.
It was the moment of truth for Holloway: The game was tied and the host fans were in a frenzy. He had two free throw attempts … and both sailed cleanly through the net.
“I’m used to the pressure by now,” Holloway said. “I definitely wasn’t trying to go home tonight.”
With the victory, Lee advances to face Westfield at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the quarterfinal round.
Processing your request, Please wait....
