Racers edge Hawks for tournament title

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 4 January 2020 at 10:09 pm

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Holley’s Carson Major goes between Rochester Academy defenders Deonte Major and Shawn Cole for a layup during the Hawks loss to the Racers this evening in the Holley Tournament championship game.

A fourth quarter rally fell just short as the host Hawks dropped a narrow 59-56 decision to Rochester Academy Charter in the championship game of the Holley Holiday Tournament this evening.

Trailing by 15, 53-38, at the three-quarter mark, Holley came battling back down the stretch.

Holley opened the decisive final stanza with a 9-0 run  to cut the deficit to six, 53-47, with just under four minutes to play.

Carson Major, who scored 12 of his game high 24 points in the final period, had a three and two free throws during that run which also included a pair of baskets by Kohl Morgan who had 10 points on the evening.

A pair of baskets by Shawn Cole put RAC back up by seven, 56-49, with 1:40 to go .

However, Major made a rare four point play by making a free throw after being fouled while hitting a three to pull the Hawks within three at 56-53 with 18 seconds to go.

Holley would get no closer though as Cole, who scored 24 on the evening, made three clutch free throws in the final seconds to give RAC a six point, 59-53, lead and put a lock on the victory.

Major hit another three at the buzzer to make the final 59-56.

RAC also got off to a quick start grabbing a 19-11 first period lead highlighted by two threes by Qumauri Thompson and Daniel Garcia. Both players finished with 12.

Holley though came battling back by opening the second period with a 17-8 run to rally into a 28-27 lead.

Broek Ostrom hit two threes and Major a three, a two and two free throws, to lead that Hawks rally.

RAC though close the period with a 6-0 run to regain a 33-25 lead at the half.

The Racers then outscored the Hawks 20-10 in the third period, including 8 by Cole, to up their advantage to 15, 53-28, at the three-quarter mark.

The Hawks did answer back with an 18-6 scoring surge in the final period but the rally came up just short.

Cody Tanis also added 9 points on the evening for the Hawks as Ostrom had 6, AJ Drechsel 3 and Jacob Norman and Ryan Lang 2 each.

(Click here to see video of Holley’s Broek Ostrom hitting a jumper from the corner.)

Holley’s Cody Tanis drives by RAC defender Josiah Heyward.