Game Audio Below:
The Willow Springs Bears were able to emerge from Friday’s snow and travel to Hollister to take on the Hollister Tigers on Saturday, January 12th, the game which was originally scheduled for Friday night, January 10th. The Bears who had a lead during the First Quarter of the ballgame fell to the Tigers by a final score of 62-65.
1st Quarter: Hollister will start playing in a 3-2 zone defense. Willow Springs control the tip and the first three pointer is shot by Junior, Kolby James who puts the Bears on the board first, 3-0. Ball is taken back up by the Hollister Tigers who looks to navigate and score on an easy layup off the hands of Aaron Dang. Bears finally get a team foul on the Tigers which sends James to the line to shoot two. So far, it’s a 3-2 ballgame. Hollister pulls within one as they get their first three of the game by Raymond Houser. Bears are able to begin to contain the ball as a layup is good by Brady James. Hollister fights back though as Raymond James scores again, rebound Bears and another bucket by Brady James. Hollister begins take take back off with the ball but Bears continue to get steals and good looks for three pointers. The only catch is; many of these three attempts by Kolby James are not falling. Even in the end, James tries for a layup but does not fall.
2nd Quarter: Bears run into troubles with both turnovers and fouls in the second quarter. They rack up at least four team fouls and continue to fight strong zone defense from Hollister. Both Brady and Kolby James along with Jace Rogers are able to bring the Bears within five. Raymond Houser continues to be the dominant three point shooter for Hollister. Bears have a contained three point lead towards the end of the last three minutes. This changes as Tyler Carpenter becomes another threat to the Bear lead from both the free throw line and some easy two handers. In the last two minutes Bears are faced with opportunities to secure the lead with a three, but continue to throw it away.
Halftime:- Both teams lead by 25 points
3rd Quarter: Ballgame resumes much in the same way it left off. Hollister gets the ball to start the half, but stolen and put up for two by Brady James. Rebound by Hollister as Carpenter takes it for an easy layup, picked up by Raymond Houser who scores two threes to diminish the Bear lead by as many as seven. Bear defense seemingly becoming somewhat cold. Hollister takes off on an 11-5 run; 36-30 the lead with about 4:15 to go. Hollister is not making a lot of initial shots but able to correct many of these shots at the free throw line. Sophomore Raymond Houser for the Hollister tigers continue to bring the lead further and further as he shoots another three pointer with just under three minutes to go. Brady James finally gets the ball back with just minutes to go in the quarter. Ball makes it down to Brady’s brother, Kolby who is able shoot a three right at the end of the Quarter. Bears are able to trail by eight, 47-35 at the end of the Quarter.
4th Quarter: Bears are able to come back to within as many as four in the first three minutes of the Quarter. This changes as Houser, Dang, and Carpenter shoot several easy layups to bring the Tigers back to a seven point lead. Kolby James is able to bring the bears within five. Hollister has it back and tries to continue their high scoring act but is finally stolen back by Jace Rogers and put up and in for three, cutting the lead to two. Rebound bears and Tigers are able to go back up by four as Aaron Dang shoots two free throws. Bears try to foul by taking twenty seconds off the clock with 27.5 seconds to go but are unsuccessful. Dang goes back to the line but unfortunately misses two free throws. On the next rebound, not much time goes off the clock and this allows for the Bears to continue looking for an easy shot. Houser goes back to the line for two free throws and makes 1-2. Rogers tries for three but a foul call and Caden Lee goes to the line for the Bears and shoots two free throws with under 15.5 seconds to go, A time out and another call sends Houser to the line to secure the win for the Tigers, Bears now with not much time at all to tie up the game.
Hollister Tigers win the Score by 65-62.
Scoring:
Kolby James- 30 Points
Jace Rodgers- 19 Points
Caden Lee- 6 Points
Brady James- 5 Points
Blayne Altermatt- 2 Points
Hollister 14 turnovers
Bears 8 turnovers
The Bears will resume play this coming Friday night at their home court, Mumford Gym @ Willow Springs High School when they will face the Houston Tigers with game time at 7:30 PM. As always, you can hear the Broadcast on KUKU 100.3 Classic Country.
