[kywldcat01]

This was a game all about runs.

First quarter Holmes jumped out 9-0 after Rice scored 5 straight. Birds then got on the board but back to back 3's by Rice and Pittman pushed the Holmes lead to 15-2....8 of those points were from junior Kevon Rice. Birds called a timeout and then would go on a 8-1 run to make the score 16-10 Dogs. Both teams traded baskets to close out the first quarter and Holmes led 18-12 after one. Ben Watson would score to cut the lead to 12 again, but back to back 3's by R. Johnson and Hayes would key another 6-0 run and give the Dogs their largest lead of the game at 34-16. Highlands then scored 3 straight but an Elijah Pittman 3 pushed the Dogs lead back to 18 (37-19). Kowlonek, Dill, and Gordon then keyed a 6-0 run to make the score at the half Holmes 37 Highlands 25.

Birds got the ball to start the second quarter and a Ben Watson jumper cut the Holmes lead to 4 at 18-14 but Holmes would go on another run. Back to back 3's by Pittman and J. Johnson and then back to back scores by the Johnson Brothers put Holmes on top 28-14 to cap a 10-0 run.

In the third quarter, Highlands got the ball out of the gate and scored first to cut Holmes lead to 10 at 37-27. Dogs would then hold a 8-12 point lead until the 4:18 mark of the 3rd when the Birds scored 6 straight to cut Holmes lead to 44-38. Like all big time players do though, Ricardo Johnson responded with a 3 to push Holmes' lead back out to 9 at 47-38. Highlands cut the lead to 47-40 behind two Gordon free throws, but an alley oop dunk by Pittman and 3 by Jaydale Herndon at the buzzer would send Holmes in to the 4th up 12 at 52-40.

With Ricardo Johnson on the bench in foul trouble to start the 4th quarter, Elijah Pittman would take over. The senior scored Holmes' next 8 points to help extend their lead out to 16 at 61-45. Pittman would then go to the bench for a breather as Ricardo Johnson re-entered the game and Highlands would go on a 9-0 run to cut the Holmes lead to 61-54 behind 6 points from junior Jack Stewart. Kevon Rice responded for the Dogs with with a big steal and lay in to give Holmes a 63-54 lead. Both teams traded free throws the rest of the game and Holmes leaves Ft. Thomas with a 69-58 win over the Birds.