POPLARVILLE – Trailing 52-51, North Forrest needed to force a quick turnover with 10 seconds left in the game. As if almost destiny, North Forrest’s Joseph Holloway came up with a steal and knocked down a layup with less than five seconds before Amite County desperately got off its final shot.
“We knew had to pressure,” North Forrest coach Quenton Loving said. “We knew we had to trap and maybe foul if we didn’t get the steal. They threw a bad pass and Joe read it the whole way and what an ending. This is what playoff basketball in Mississippi is all about.”
Holloway’s final second heroics capped off his 40-point career-high night in the Eagles’ 53-52 win over Amite County in the 2A quarterfinals on Friday night.
“My mindset was that I didn’t want to lose,” Holloway said. “I told everyone we weren’t losing this game. I wasn’t going to let it happen. I wanted to do whatever I can do to not lose. It was about three minutes left and I had 31 points and I said to myself that I have got to get 40 and I have got to win the game.”
Despite needing late heroics, North Forrest had full control in the first half of the game.
The Eagles held an 11-5 lead in the first quarter and stayed ahead 22-15 at halftime with Holloway scoring 12 of his points in the half.
In the second half, Amite County found momentum after making several defensive adjustments.
“They were back in a half in a half-court, man-to-man defense in the second half,” Loving said. “Hats off to coach because he made a great adjustment. He went out and started running and jumping us in the full-court press. He got us off our rhythm. They got some key turnovers. The way we finally found some footing and made some plays, it didn’t look pretty, but we made the plays that we needed.”
The Trojans put together an 8-2 run and a run of 13-4 to outscore North Forrest 24-12 in the third quarter and take a 39-34 lead.
Amite County continued to put pressure on North Forrest and held as much as a 10-point lead at 50-40.
“The last two minutes of the game,” Loving said. “We were down as much as 10 points at one time, but we just kept fighting. These guys are resilient. They have been through everything. We had to go to some full court pressure because we were down and tried to speed the game up. We got some timely steals and Joe Holloway, what can you say? He had a career-night of 40 points. He put us on his back in the third round. It was just beautiful. A dream comes true.”
Holloway, in fact, scored 16 points in the fourth quarter and sparked an 8-1 run to close the final seconds of play before Jaren Sullivan nailed two free throws that help setup Holloway’s game-winning bucket.
“(Holloway is) an awesome kid,” Loving said. “I’m glad he put on this performance in Pearl River. Some colleges really need to start looking at him. He’s a fantastic player and maybe a better student. He’s a great kid. To score 40-points when we needed them, when our complimentary guys were struggling, he just put us on his shoulders and carried us. He has had an outstanding playoff.
North Forrest will play Coahoma County on Tuesday at 12 p.m. in the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson.
“We made that trip last year so this a return trip to Jackson,” Loving said. “I think it won’t be as neutral this year. We kind of know what to expect, but I think we play a real strong Coahoma County team, but we’ll be ready. Our kids have been through everything. I don’t think we’ll be afraid of the moment at all.”POPLARVILLE – Trailing 52-51, North Forrest needed to force a quick turnover with 10 seconds left in the game. As if almost destiny, North Forrest’s Joseph Holloway came up with a steal and knocked down a layup with less than five seconds before Amite County desperately got off its final shot.
“We knew had to pressure,” North Forrest coach Quenton Loving said. “We knew we had to trap and maybe foul if we didn’t get the steal. They threw a bad pass and Joe read it the whole way and what an ending. This is what playoff basketball in Mississippi is all about.”
Holloway’s final second heroics capped off his 40-point career-high night in the Eagles’ 53-52 win over Amite County in the 2A quarterfinals on Friday night.
“My mindset was that I didn’t want to lose,” Holloway said. “I told everyone we weren’t losing this game. I wasn’t going to let it happen. I wanted to do whatever I can do to not lose. It was about three minutes left and I had 31 points and I said to myself that I have got to get 40 and I have got to win the game.”
Despite needing late heroics, North Forrest had full control in the first half of the game.
The Eagles held an 11-5 lead in the first quarter and stayed ahead 22-15 at halftime with Holloway scoring 12 of his points in the half.
In the second half, Amite County found momentum after making several defensive adjustments.
“They were back in a half in a half-court, man-to-man defense in the second half,” Loving said. “Hats off to coach because he made a great adjustment. He went out and started running and jumping us in the full-court press. He got us off our rhythm. They got some key turnovers. The way we finally found some footing and made some plays, it didn’t look pretty, but we made the plays that we needed.”
The Trojans put together an 8-2 run and a run of 13-4 to outscore North Forrest 24-12 in the third quarter and take a 39-34 lead.
Amite County continued to put pressure on North Forrest and held as much as a 10-point lead at 50-40.
“The last two minutes of the game,” Loving said. “We were down as much as 10 points at one time, but we just kept fighting. These guys are resilient. They have been through everything. We had to go to some full court pressure because we were down and tried to speed the game up. We got some timely steals and Joe Holloway, what can you say? He had a career-night of 40 points. He put us on his back in the third round. It was just beautiful. A dream comes true.”
Holloway, in fact, scored 16 points in the fourth quarter and sparked an 8-1 run to close the final seconds of play before Jaren Sullivan nailed two free throws that help setup Holloway’s game-winning bucket.
“(Holloway is) an awesome kid,” Loving said. “I’m glad he put on this performance in Pearl River. Some colleges really need to start looking at him. He’s a fantastic player and maybe a better student. He’s a great kid. To score 40-points when we needed them, when our complimentary guys were struggling, he just put us on his shoulders and carried us. He has had an outstanding playoff.
North Forrest will play Coahoma County on Tuesday at 12 p.m. in the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson.
“We made that trip last year so this a return trip to Jackson,” Loving said. “I think it won’t be as neutral this year. We kind of know what to expect, but I think we play a real strong Coahoma County team, but we’ll be ready. Our kids have been through everything. I don’t think we’ll be afraid of the moment at all.”
POPLARVILLE – Trailing 52-51, North Forrest needed to force a quick turnover with 10 seconds left in the game. As if almost destiny, North Forrest’s Joseph Holloway came up with a steal and knocked down a layup with less than five seconds before Amite County desperately got off its final shot.
“We knew had to pressure,” North Forrest coach Quenton Loving said. “We knew we had to trap and maybe foul if we didn’t get the steal. They threw a bad pass and Joe read it the whole way and what an ending. This is what playoff basketball in Mississippi is all about.”
Holloway’s final second heroics capped off his 40-point career-high night in the Eagles’ 53-52 win over Amite County in the 2A quarterfinals on Friday night.
“My mindset was that I didn’t want to lose,” Holloway said. “I told everyone we weren’t losing this game. I wasn’t going to let it happen. I wanted to do whatever I can do to not lose. It was about three minutes left and I had 31 points and I said to myself that I have got to get 40 and I have got to win the game.”
Despite needing late heroics, North Forrest had full control in the first half of the game.
The Eagles held an 11-5 lead in the first quarter and stayed ahead 22-15 at halftime with Holloway scoring 12 of his points in the half.
In the second half, Amite County found momentum after making several defensive adjustments.
“They were back in a half in a half-court, man-to-man defense in the second half,” Loving said. “Hats off to coach because he made a great adjustment. He went out and started running and jumping us in the full-court press. He got us off our rhythm. They got some key turnovers. The way we finally found some footing and made some plays, it didn’t look pretty, but we made the plays that we needed.”
The Trojans put together an 8-2 run and a run of 13-4 to outscore North Forrest 24-12 in the third quarter and take a 39-34 lead.
Amite County continued to put pressure on North Forrest and held as much as a 10-point lead at 50-40.
“The last two minutes of the game,” Loving said. “We were down as much as 10 points at one time, but we just kept fighting. These guys are resilient. They have been through everything. We had to go to some full court pressure because we were down and tried to speed the game up. We got some timely steals and Joe Holloway, what can you say? He had a career-night of 40 points. He put us on his back in the third round. It was just beautiful. A dream comes true.”
Holloway, in fact, scored 16 points in the fourth quarter and sparked an 8-1 run to close the final seconds of play before Jaren Sullivan nailed two free throws that help setup Holloway’s game-winning bucket.
“(Holloway is) an awesome kid,” Loving said. “I’m glad he put on this performance in Pearl River. Some colleges really need to start looking at him. He’s a fantastic player and maybe a better student. He’s a great kid. To score 40-points when we needed them, when our complimentary guys were struggling, he just put us on his shoulders and carried us. He has had an outstanding playoff.
North Forrest will play Coahoma County on Tuesday at 12 p.m. in the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson.
“We made that trip last year so this a return trip to Jackson,” Loving said. “I think it won’t be as neutral this year. We kind of know what to expect, but I think we play a real strong Coahoma County team, but we’ll be ready. Our kids have been through everything. I don’t think we’ll be afraid of the moment at all.”
