HOLLY POND – It was a festive atmosphere in Holly Pond Tuesday night as the Broncos and Hanceville Bulldogs tangled in their last regular season game before the Christmas break.
On ugly sweater night, the No. 2 Holly Pond Broncos (14-0) made things ugly early for the visiting Hanceville Bulldogs (5-7). Dawson Foust got the Broncos on the board first, converting two of his three free throws after he was knocked to the floor on a shot attempt from downtown. From there it was all Holly Pond. They smothered the Hanceville offense, creating turnovers and easy transition baskets. The Bronco defense held Hanceville to just three points in the quarter on a deep three that came with less than 20 seconds on the clock, while the offense poured in 24 to take a huge first-quarter lead.
Hanceville scored early in the second on an and one but Holly pond quickly took over with points in the paint. The play that got the fans off their feet and the crowd roaring was a rim-rattling, two-handed dunk from Matt Cahoon off of an alley-oop. Griffin Morris followed up with a made shot prompting a Hanceville timeout. Out of the break the Broncos kept their foot on the gas, building a 41-14 lead heading to the half.
Hanceville started to find their rhythm in the second half as RJ Evans started to drop in points. The Bulldogs had their best offensive output of the night in the third with 12, but the Broncos countered with 22 of their own to take a 63-26 lead after three and ensured a hot clock in the fourth quarter for the 12th time in their first 15 games.
Final score Holly Pond 78, Hanceville 47.
Holly Pond improves to 15-0 as the get ready to travel to Tennessee for the King of the Smokies Christmas Tournament in Pigeon Forge starting on Dec. 27. The Hanceville Bulldogs will be idle during the Christmas break. They will play next on the 5th of January as the welcome the Cold Springs Eagles to town.
Holly Pond 54, Hanceville 36 (girls)
Holly Pond and Hanceville both started the game cold from the floor, exchanging misses before Karmen Johnson got the Lady Bulldogs on the board with an easy basket under the goal. Holly Pond struck back with a pair of free throws from Molly Gambrill. The two teams traded points for the majority of the quarter before Ruth Horton dropped in five for the Lady Broncos to give them an 11-9 lead.
With both teams still feeling each other out, only nine total points were scored in the second quarter, but six of them were for Holly Pond as Horton ended the second like she ended the first, with four straight points to put Holly Pond on top 17-12 going to the locker room for halftime.
Horton kept the hot hand, scoring the first five Lady Bronco points in the second half. Hanceville countered with the combination of Johnson (6) and Desi Hackney (4) for their best offensive outburst of the game, scoring 14 in the third, but it was still Holly Pond with the lead, 34-26, headed to the fourth.
Holly Pond took over in the fourth with great offensive and defensive play from Presley Marks, Kolby Holcombe, Gambrill and Horton. They doubled up Hanceville 20-10 in the quarter to take the 54-36 victory.
Holly Pond will play next at the DOC Classic at Decatur High School starting on Dec. 27. The Lady Bulldogs will take the court again in the Hayden Christmas Classic starting on Dec. 26.
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