Holt - Coming into Friday night the pressure was on Holt to pull out the win and even things up in the standings.  The pressure may have been on the Rams but the confidence and swagger were with them as well.  The type of attitude you get by already have been there and done that.  For the 2nd time in less than two months the Rams defeated Okemos, sweeping the series and both by 8 points.  As defensive as the first game was the 2nd turned out to be even more so, totaling 5 less points than the first duel. 

Both teams combined for 19 points in the opening quarter and 18 in the 2nd.  It was the type of slugfest that many had anticipated it would be.  The tight first half that saw Holt grab a three point lead set the stage for an exciting 2nd half that saw Holt pull away, only for Okemos to make a last gasp run with just minutes remaining in the game.

Anthony Ianni opened the scoring in the 2nd half cutting the Holt lead to just 1.  After two Paul Crosby free throws and a Matthew Naeyaert lay-in, the Rams were back up by 5 at 24-19.  Okemos then struck back with a 9-4 run to take their first lead of the 2nd half up 28-26 on 2 Mike Kebler free throws.  Rashawn Molden then dropped a bomb on Okemos with a three ball to push Holt back out in front.  Joseph Powers and Molden added two more buckets before the quarter had ended to take a 33-28 lead into the final period.

Crosby and Co. immediately took control and widened their lead in the fourth up to 11 on 6 consecutive Crosby points.  With the game slipping away, the Chiefs launched a counter-attack similar to the last meeting where they got close but just not close enough.   Okemos played their best basketball of the game, going on a 14-5 run that cut the lead to 2 at 44-42 with just a minute and 20 seconds to go.  Ianni and Kebler scored 4 points a piece during the run but it was the two three pointers by Scott Stolz that keyed the comeback.  Down by just two, the Rams stormed back the other direction where Joseph Powers was fouled.  With only 50 seconds remaining, the current balance of the game rested on Powers' shoulders.  Joseph answered with authority, sinking both free throws like the gym was empty and it was practice.  The two free throws added insurance to a lead that would have stood up anyhow.  Holt iced the game on an offensive put-back by Molden and two more Crosby free throws.  As the game progressed, Crosby's free throws became easier to put home.  Sort of like the running back in football that gets better as the game wears on.  The Chiefs may have thought that it was a football game out there with Crosby using his imposing frame to dominate the boards and take control of the paint on offense.  The final buzzer sounded with Holt on top 50-42.

The win along with East Lansing's win over Everett tonight, created a three way tie at the top of the Capital Area I league standings.  With just one conference game left for all three teams, it will be interesting to see if they hold serve and remain tied, thus having three champions representing the CAACI.  The standings may be square between the three but the telling story this year for Okemos is their record vs the other two leaders.  The Chiefs fell to 0-4 against the two while Holt and East Lansing are both 3-1 in head to head matchups, both winning against each other on their home floor.  Holt may have proved that they are arguably the best team in the conference on the floor, they will have the hardest game left to hold onto the lead.  East Lansing hosts Grand Ledge, Okemos hosts Lansing Eastern but the Rams must go to Jackson.  With the way that the league has played out this year, it is very likely that at least one of the top three teams will be upset.  If all three lose, Jackson with the win, would create a four-way championship. 

Holt has made their case for Lansing's best, especially with a win over CAACII and III conference leaders, Mason and Lansing C.C.  The case will not matter much if they can't continue their success come March.  Okemos may not get another shot at their rivals from Holt but if they do, it will come at the Regional Finals.  In order to do that, it will most likely come down to Holt beating Kalamazoo Central in the Region Semis on one side and Okemos avenging their loss earlier in the year to a tough Ann Arbor Pioneer team.  The matchup could happen but not without a few wins on both sides.  Everyone knows that in March, anything can happen.  I can guarantee you that the thousands that made the game tonight, hope that the 'anything' is Okemos V Holt III, with a trip to the quarters waiting in the wings.