Hollis Brookline boys basketball powers its way to win over Oyster River

HOLLIS - Through three quarters of play Friday night, the Hollis Brookline High School boys basketball team looked like the first-place team in Division II.

The Cavaliers got to the basket and scored with ease and clamped down on Oyster River defensively, holding the Bobcats to two points in the third quarter to lead by 18 points going into the final eight minutes.

And then things took a turn.

After scoring 29 points through three quarters, Oyster River matched that in the final quarter - thanks in part to a 12-for-15 performance at the free throw line - and was able to get within eight points late. But the lead proved to be too much for the Bobcats to overcome, as HB held on for a 67-58 win.

"We came and competed (Friday) and that’s one of the big things we always talked about," HB coach Cole Etten said. "I thought we came in and played hard. Our defense was the big thing in that third quarter. We only gave up two points and that was a big thing, a big commitment for us to be in the right spots. That was key for us."

Matt Dowling led all scorers with 21 points for HB (12-2) and Matt Simco added 20 points, going 6 of 7 at the free throw line, before fouling out in the fourth. Grant Snyder was also in double figures with 13 points, as the Cavs did most of their scoring in the paint.

As a team, HB attempted just one 3-pointer, went 17 of 30 at the line, and scored everything else inside.

"We try to take the best shot that’s best for our team," Dowling said. "They tried to play defense a little more aggressively (in the third quarter) and we just tried to capitalize off that."

Oyster River (11-4) got 16 points from Kyle Landrigan, who was 7 of 9 at the line, while Joe Morrell (6 of 6 at the line) and Cam Thibodeau each added 14 points. The Bobcats were 15 of 18 from the foul line as a team.

A fast start gave Oyster River the lead early, but HB countered with a 17-4 run that put the Cavs up 21-11 early in the second quarter. HB struggled with turnovers after that and the Bobcats took advantage, getting back in the game with a 12-3 run of their own to make it a one-point game.

The Cavs took a 30-27 lead into halftime, and it was still a three-point game early in the third quarter when HB's defense took over. Oyster River went scoreless for the final 5:38 of the quarter and the Cavs were able to get out in transition, going on a 12-0 run in the final 3:16 of the third.

"We really buckled down on defense," Simco said. "The defense is definitely key, and if we have that, it brings the energy to offense, and it makes us a better team."

Oyster River scored on its first possession of the fourth quarter to end the drought and the Bobcats found ways to get to the free throw line, as HB was called for all 12 of its second-half fouls in the final six minutes of the game.

A pair of free throws by Landrigan made it a 13-point game with 3:38 to play, and 21 seconds later, Morell hit two more to make 53-42. The Bobcats started to foul to extend the game after that, and HB got two quick baskets by Dowling and Snyder to get the lead to 15 points.

Despite Oyster River's comeback - the Bobcats also hit three 3-pointers in the final two-plus minutes - HB did just enough, going 10 of 20 at the line in the fourth, to hang on for the win.

"We learned a lot from that fourth quarter," Etten said. "For me, I’ve got to make sure the guys are in the right spots. We came out with a victory, but there’s a lot to learn and take away, too."