Holcomb secures spot in Tri-County Conf. final for first time in 12 years with semifinal win vs. Gideon

Staff Photo by Dustin Ward
Gideon's No. 33 Andy Rinehart and No. 23 Zach Ingram attempt to force Holcomb's Michael Glover out of bounds. Also pictured in the background is the Hornets' No. 32 Jamie Massey. [Order this photo]

CLARKTON, Mo. -- Trouble was brewing for the Holcomb Hornets when coach Seth McBroom signaled for a timeout following Gideon's sixth 3-pointer of the second half.

The field goal trimmed the Hornets' lead to one possession with just 55 seconds remaining in Thursday's Tri-County Conference Tournament semifinal contest and pushed the Gideon Bulldogs one shot closer to overcoming a 17-point halftime deficit.

Following a timeout McBroom made the decision to put the ball into the hands of senior guard Aaron Reeves. Gideon elected to foul Reeves three seconds later and twice more in the final 50 seconds of regulation.

Aaron Reeves handled the pressure by draining all six free throws he shot in the final minute to push Holcomb past Gideon 66-59.

"He's a poised player that has seen about every situation you can see in basketball games," McBroom said of Aaron Reeves. "He's a great free throw shooter. He's close to 85 percent. He's a big-time performer for us. He wants the ball, the team wants the ball in his hands late when they foul and tonight him and another senior David McDaniel hit big free throws when they started fouling."

Gideon coach Jim Breece complimented Holcomb on forcing his team to foul with the game on the line late in the fourth quarter.

"He's their best free throw shooter and I knew they would keep it in his hands or his brother's hands," Breece said. "It's one of those situations where if he's not going to give the ball up we've got to foul. Their coach is a good coach and he was not going to let anyone else have it down the stretch."

The free throws would not have been needed without Gideon's hot perimeter shooting throughout the second half.

Gideon's Corey Goin and Andy Rinehart caught fire from the perimeter after halftime.

Goin knocked down three of his four 3-pointers in the final 16 minutes to finish with 18 points.

"We knew they were going to come out and hit some shots and they did," McBroom said. "They kept playing and are well-coached. They were unreal the second half."

Gideon's Rinehart scored 21 of his 23 points in the second half and hit all three of his 3-pointers after halftime.

"Those two kids have been solid all year and if they get an open look I always think it is going in," Breece said. "I told them before they played tonight not to be afraid to let it fly."

The Hornets had six players score the first half

"Holcomb is a good team," Breece said. "They came out and hit some shots and we hung our head a little bit. We responded the right way after a butt chewing at halftime. We've got some kids hurting in the locker room right now after this one. That just shows how much they care. They played their butt off the second half, but we've got to put a complete game together."

Holcomb led by just three points (14-11) after the first period, but held Gideon to two points in the second quarter and entered halftime with a 30-13 lead

"In the first half our kids were focussed and locked in," McBroom said. "The intensity was great. The intensity was good in the second half also. We just lost focus a little bit. We were all wanting to get a steal or be the guy that made the play. Sometimes against a good team you've just got to try to keep them in front of you."

Hornets' 6'7 center Jamie Massey managed 11 points in the second half after being held to just one field goal the first half.

"I think we game-planned so much around Massey we gave too much up in the first half," Breece said. "The second half we went away from everything we planned because it was around him. We changed plans and probably should have had that game plan the whole time. That was just me. You worry about him because he's a great player."

Zach Ingram recorded six of his 10 points at the free-throw line for Gideon. Ingram was six of 10 from the line and Gideon was 10 of 15 as a team.

Holcomb shot 21 of 31 from the charity stripe.

Aaron Reeves and Michael Glover led Holcomb with 15 points each. Massey and Patrick Skelton also finished in double digits for the Hornets with 14 points and 12 points respectively.

"We've got some kids that can play," McBroom said. "It's no secret. We are pretty rounded it seems like. Jamie got in foul trouble. A lot of times he gets the bulk of our points, but he got in foul trouble and other guys stepped up. It was part of being a team and something bigger than yourself."

Holcomb, which last won the Tri-County Conference varsity boys basketball tournament in 1991 when it defeated Gideon, will play No. 2 seeded Risco for the title at 7:30 p.m. Friday's at Clarkton High School.

"We are glad we are there," McBroom said. "It was the goal to get to the championship game and its going to be a dog fight just like any other Tri-County game. Hopefully we are ready and prepared to play up to our ability."

No. 1 Holcomb 66, No. 4 Gideon 59

GHS 11 2 19 27 - 59

HHS 14 16 15 21 - 66

GIDEON (59) - Corey Goin 18, Blake Buchanan 2, Zach Ingram 10, Damon Cornett 2, Andy Rinehart 23, Matt Sharp 4. FG 21, F/T 10/15, F 23. (3-pointers: Goin 4, Rinehart 3. Fouled out: Cody Groves)

HOLCOMB (66) - Patrick Skelton 12, Aaron Reeves 15, David McDaniel 2, Ryan Reeves 5, James Vance 3, Jamie Massey 14, Michael Glover 15. FG 21, F/T 21/32, F 16. (3-pointers: Skelton 1, A. Reeves 1, R. Reeves 1. Fouled out: None)