When it was all said and done, Bridget Holleran’s voice was nearly gone.
The Monticello senior played through sickness and a hacking cough to secure Monticello’s second straight Jefferson District tournament title with a 52-39 victory over Powhatan.
Holleran finished with 16 points to lead the Mustangs, including a sterling 12 for 14 performance at the free throw line. She relentlessly attacked off the dribble, executing a key part of the Mustangs’ game plan — going right at Mesha Morris.
“Definitely want to attack her, attack her, attack her, and make her work,” said Monticello coach, Josh McElheny. “She’s tough to guard in there and she’s got really good feet. She doesn’t sub out much, so I thought we’d be able to wear her down if we could keep her on the court”.
Two nights before in the Jefferson District semi-finals, Morris gave Western Albemarle fits underneath, but with Holleran, Meghan Comer, and Molly Shepherd going at her, the Mustangs were able to limit her to seven points after the break.
Morris slowed down significantly after a nine point first quarter and notched 18 for the game.
The Monticello defense held Marisha Berry, Powhatan’s standout point guard who just returned from a wrist injury, to just three points, all of them from the free throw line. The game stayed close; however, because Monticello struggled at times to string together points.
Molly Shepherd and Cierra Hall finished with 10 points each for Monticello.
“I wish we could’ve put some balls in the basket there,” McElheny said. “They went five or six minutes without scoring and I looked up and we were only up by five.”
Monticello will host Kettle Run in the Region II, Division 3 playoffs next week. The Mustangs are the overall number one seed, by virtue of their unbeaten run through the Jefferson District and the district tournament. Powhatan qualifies for the Division 4 bracket and will travel to Loudoun County.
