Youngsters snatch the crown in a landslide victory

The classes of 2017-2018 walked away with the Lake Holcombe School Alumni Tournament champhionship Feb. 13, defeating the 2000-2006 team. Making up the winning team, left to right, are R.J. Kinney, Dillan Johnson, Brady Webster, Trent Novak, Jeremiah Reedy and Josh Coyle. Photo by Ginna Young

By Ginna Young

While others were preparing for the Super Bowl Feb. 13, the game everyone was truly waiting for got underway at the Lake Holcombe Alumni Basketball Tournament. It was the classes of 2000-2006 (White team) going up against players from 2017-2018 (Purple team).

The crowd knew it was going to be an action-packed afternoon, as the Purple team knocked two, quick three-pointers to begin the match-up. Austin Flater then got the White team on the board with an under-the-basket layup.

Almost four minutes of game clock would go by before either team made a basket, until Brady Webster (Purple) made a layup. Purple’s Jeremiah Reedy helped add to the score with a back-door pass to R.J. Kinney, for a shot under the basket.

By the 2:29 mark in the first quarter, the scoreboard read 16-2 in favor of the Purple team. Looking to close the gap, White’s Kent Dorney nailed a turnaround jumper.

Dorney started the second quarter with a soft jumper, but Purple answered right back, with a layup from Webster. White wasn’t going to be outdone, as Travis Cynor hit a three-point shot.

Mitch Repka also came up with a basket for the White team, but Trent Novak added to the Purple score, making it 34-15 in favor of the “visitors.” White got a jumpshot, but then, Purple’s Josh Coyle scored, to put his team up 39-17, going into halftime.

The third quarter quickly saw Purple go up ahead of White, 45-19. Dorney missed a three-pointer for White, but stole the ball from Purple to make up for it.

However, White couldn’t come up with points, while Kinney scored a layup on a fastbreak, followed by a layup from Coyle. Meanwhile, White couldn’t score on the other end and it was 55-27 at the end of the third quarter, Purple.

The fourth quarter saw Kinney come up with a layup, while Dillan Johnson (Purple) almost connected on a three-pointer. Repka missed under the basket on White’s end, but Dorney hit a three to make the score 57-32, with six minutes to go in the game.

As time continued to run out, Flater knocked down a couple free throws. Purple answered with a no-look pass from Reedy to Kinney for yet another layup. Novak then hit a three-pointer with three minutes to go.

Kinney kept up his scoring ways, while Reedy banked a three. In a desperate attempt to narrow the score, White’s Clint Buchner shot a turnaround jumper and Sha Colbenson stole the ball from Purple, but missed the shot at his end of the court.

It was a mad scramble for White to add points to the board as time ticked off, but with another layup from Kinney, it was the nail in the coffin.

The Purple team claimed bragging rights, with a 72-45 victory.

[caption id="attachment_265673" align="alignnone" width="300"] Falling short of the championship crown during the basketball part of the Lake Holcombe School Alumni Tournament Feb. 13, were the classes of 2000-2006. Receiving runner-up honors, left to right, in front, Kent Dorney and Sha Colbenson. In back, are Clint Buchner, Mitch Repka, Austin Flater, Kirby Colbenson and Travis Cynor. Missing, is Russ Rabe. Photo by Ginna Young[/caption] [caption id="attachment_265676" align="alignnone" width="300"] Taking part in a round-robin competition, Lake Holcombe School alumni played volleyball Feb. 12, to see who had the right stuff to pull off a win. Competing in this year’s tournament, left to right, in front, are Mandy (Kron) Swanson, 1998; Jonalee (Franz) Borrud, 2007; Aarika (Craker) Raven, 1997; Samantha Schneider, 2006; and Brittany Bennett, 2004. In the middle, are Marisa (Allard) Tainter, 1998; Darla Kron, 1998; Hannah Lee, 2017; Lacey (Cigan) Moore, 2005; Taylor Hartzell, 2018; and Brittany (Ash) Dressel, 2006. In back, are Nikki (Mataczynski) Brooks, 2008; Dana (Mataczynski) Hetchler, 1998; Melanie (Phillippi) Robinson, 1998; Dawn (Phillipi) Kearns, 1993; Michelle Litke, 2006; Nicole (Wundrow) Stilley, 2005; and Mariah Litke, 2009. Photo by Ginna Young[/caption]