Bulldogs bested: Blue Devils stick a pitchfork in ‘em

It wasn’t for a lack of effort that the Freeport Bulldogs lost to the Holmes County Blue Devils 61-52 in the semifinals of the District 2-1A boy’s basketball tournament in Freeport.

“They gave me all they had. It was a good effort,” said Freeport Coach David Burke of his team as they walked off the court Friday night.

“We just missed too many good shots,” he said. “They just wouldn’t fall. But we gave them (Holmes) all they wanted.”

During regular season play, Holmes County beat Freeport 82-44 and 102-83.

However, on Friday both teams were fighting to stay alive to play another day.

In the first quarter, the lead went back and forth six times with Holmes County finishing the period on top 16-12. Freeport drew first blood on a free throw from Gabe Moore. The Blue Devils answered with a bucket by Jacky Miles. Second later the Bulldogs were back on top with a shot underneath from Caleb Piasecki. The Blue Devils evened the score with a free throw from Christopher Walker. The 6-foot-9 Walker came right back with a couple of inside baskets to put Holmes County at 7-3. 

Moore hit a 3-pointer for Freeport and Austin Woodard drove the lane to give the Bulldogs their last advantage of the first quarter.  Walker worked his way inside for two more buckets and Moore put a rebound back for the Dogs. Walker hit another shot from underneath and Piasecki put a rebound back for two Bulldog points. Right before the buzzer, Holmes’ Jacky Miles swished a 3-pointer.

In the second quarter, Freeport got the advantage early. Woodard hit a pair of free throws and Walker hit a free throw for Holmes. Seconds later Woodard was pushing his way inside for a basket then came back with a 3-pointer to put the Dogs on top. Colin Myrick hit a layup to give Freeport a four-point lead. The scoring went back and forth with Piasecki and Myrick making a couple of inside shots in the last minute and Freeport went to the locker room with a 29-24 lead over the Blue Devils.

The third quarter proved to be the downfall of the Bulldogs. Holmes County came out of the gate in the third and reeled off 19 unanswered points. Freeport didn’t get a shot to fall until Piasecki hit a free throw at the 3:11 mark. In the last couple of minutes, Piasecki and Woodard each scored a basket while Moore hit for five points. Freeport trailed 47-39 at the buzzer.

In the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs closed it down to a five-point game a couple of times, but could never get back on top. Freeport lost 61-52.

Top scorer for Freeport was Woodard with 21 points. Moore hit for 13 while Piasecki and Myrick each scored nine.

Walker was top gun for Holmes County with 26 points. Miles scored eight points and Kolton Russ hit for seven. Scoring six each were William Thompson and Johnathon Williams.