Mens basketball: Holland College defeat University of New Brunswick Saint John in blowout win

Holland College Hurricanes' Bryce Corless shooting a free throw against University of New Brunswick Saint John Seawolves on Nov.10. Corless led the game in scoring with 28 pts. Yakosu Umana photo

By Yakosu Umana

Nov. 10, 2019

The Holland College Hurricanes beat the UNBSJ Seawolves 100-64 at a home game this Saturday.

The win gives the college a 2-0 start for the season. 

Hurricanes’ Bryce Corless led both teams in scoring with 28 pts, hitting eight 3-pointers.

Hurricanes’ Nathan Anderson led both teams in rebounds and blocks, he had 13 and 6 respectively.

Hurricanes guard, Jordan Holness, flirted with a triple double. He had 12 points, 10 assists and 9 rebounds.

Hurricanes Coach Josh Whitty said Holness is a good leader for the team.

“When he gets going, everyone gets better.”

The game tipped off at 6 p.m. and the Hurricanes quickly led from the start.

The Hurricanes seemed more aggressive through the game. At the 6:44 mark of the first quarter, Anderson had a put-back dunk from a missed Holness layup.

The first-quarter ended 26-13 for the Hurricanes.

At the start of the second-quarter, Hurricanes played good defense on a Seawolves possession but Seawolves’ Costa Kolyvas hit a 3-point shot with one second left on the shot-clock.

The second quarter seemed to be a repeat of the first as the Hurricanes almost doubled their lead, 41-26 by the five-minute mark of the quarter.

The 2:33 mark of the second quarter was the highlight of the game as Hurricanes’ Xavier Stark threw a lob pass to Anderson, who completed an alley-oop dunk. The crowd leaped and cheered. The quarter ended 56-34 for the Hurricanes.

Yakosu Umana photo.

By the third quarter, the game seemed out of reach for the Seawolves. The hurricanes stretched their lead by 20 points midway through the quarter, which it ended 68-43 for the Hurricanes.

By the fourth quarter, the Hurricanes were feeling very confident.

It began with Holness hitting a baseline jumper. At the 6:26 mark of the quarter, he then had a chase-down block on a Seawolves guard.

With less than four minutes left in the game, Holness showed some fancy dribble moves and gave a no-look assist to Hurricanes forward, Ibrahim Mahir. The crowd gasped and cheered.

Holness said the team has improved from since pre-season.

“We’ve made a lot of progress from the first two games. We’re starting to come together.”

Today’s win had no negative takeaways, he said.

“Overall I feel it was great game we played today. We played composed and got the win.”

Holness is one of three second-year players on the team. He said the talent level may not be the same compared to last year’s but the team’s chemistry will compensate.

“From a visual standpoint, everyone can see the talent is not the same as last years.

“This year is more of a systematic team. Once we all play together, we come out really strong.”

Coach Whitty agrees.

“In truth its really like a whole new team. Things are a lot different from a personnel standpoint.”

He said the win was great but his team can play better defensively, despite winning by 36 points.

“A lot of positives, but we need to be a little bit better on the defensive end. 

He said he wants the team to be on par with national level teams, not the leagues.

“We are not comparing ourselves with teams in the league. We’re comparing ourselves with where we want to be at the end of the season.”

Starks is a first-year on the team. He said the few older players have helped him settle well in the team, and their comradery will keep them winning.

“I like the team. Our chemistry is going to hold us for the long term.”