WENDELL -- With key Northern Carolina 2A Conference tests looming on the horizon, Corinth Holders’ boys basketball coach Chris Davis wanted his team to play a solid, energetic game against Louisburg.
He got that and more Tuesday night as the Pirates manhandled visiting Louisburg, 85-46, to remain unbeaten in league play.
Using unselfish play from start to finish, the Pirates dashed to an early 10-0 lead, and went on to place four players in double figures scoring in waltzing to their 14th victory in 15 outings while improving to 7-0 in conference action.
The Pirates ran up and down the floor at will, smashing both the Warriors’ 2-3 zone and man-to-man defenses with crisp passing, solid rebounding and a harassing defense.
Balanced scoring enabled the Pirates to jump to a 10-0 lead in the opening four minutes of the contest, with Kenneth Collins, Khalil Larry, Klilah Cox and Ki-yon Walden contributing to the scoring.
After Louisburg battled back within 10-5, Walden and Collins closed out the period with three fast break baskets that sparked a 19-4 run which carried over three minutes into the second.
Corinth Holders never looked back after that run putting on a clinic in all aspects of the game.
“We played with a type of energy that we have been looking for but not had in the last two games,” Davis said. “I wanted to have a good game where we played with that type of energy.”
Davis beamed over the unselfishness of the players, but admitted there were times the play was a bit too unselfish: “That came from a pre-game talk with the guys. Nobody wanted to be selfish because of that speech. We are a much better team when we have a lot of assists. And we made a few extra passes that we probably should not have made - but it’s better than not making a pass that should have been made.”
Defense also played a big role for the Pirates, who forced the Warriors into 24 turnovers.
Kenneth Collins led Corinth Holders with 21 points, while Walden added 14, Jaylyn Neal 13 and Cox 10.
