Hornets fall to Green Wave on Senior Night

HOLCOMB, Mo. - The Holcomb High School Basketball Hornets (6-20) played admirably here at home on Senior Night.

But their on-court skills Thursday, Feb. 15., were outmatched by a Green Wave and Holcomb fell to Malden 78-53.

Although the Green Wave team posted a victory, the real winners were Holcomb's basketball, band and cheer seniors, who were both honored publicly for their accomplishments and who offered thanks for the love shown to them throughout their high-school careers.

Holcomb Hornet Jacob Reeves-Crittendon lifts off for a shot Thursday at home against Malden's Green Wave.Photo by Steve Hankins

Holcomb Director of Bands Elizabeth White conducted the Marching Hornets, who provided music throughout the event. The Pep Band graduated four senior members, Lily Cantrell, Zoey Wright, Jasmine White and Josue Cruz.

Hornets head coach John Hixson spotlighted six senior players, Jacob Reeves-Crittenden, Trey Moody, Devin Kelley, Corbin Swindle, Luke Patterson and Dylan Winchester.

Cheer team coach Lyndi Fraley featured four senior cheerleaders, Jules Gurley, Maleigh Lemming, Aubrey Smith and Jasmine White.

Holcomb Senior Night basketball team seniors, from left, Dylan Winchester, Corbin Swindle, Luke Patterson, Trey Moody, Jacob Reeves-Crittendon and Devin Kelley.Photo by Steve Hankins

The Senior Night basketball game was a close one that found the Hornets down by just five at the close of the first quarter, 20-15. Holcomb's Noah Kenner contributed nine points toward that outcome.

Malden's Quamareous Farmer broke loose in the second period and powered back-to-back steals that resulted in buckets. 

Farmer followed those immediately with a three-point afterthought from way outside and the Green Wave's Trey Miller's subsequent steal capped by a goal brought the score to 33-19 Malden with four minutes remaining in the half. 

Malden's Quamareous Farmer all alone after a steal, breaks for a goal Thursday at Holcomb.Photo by Steve Hankins

Holcomb's Landon Smith added seven points to the Hornet's second-quarter tally, and the Hornets trailed by 10 at the half, 40-30.

The third quarter belonged to the Green Wave.

With 4:30 left in the third, Malden's Trey Moncrief went on an eight-point run that left the Hornets a bit blindsided. Malden accumulated 26 points to Holcomb's 11 third-period total, and the Hornets were down 66-41 at the third-period buzzer.

Despite Holcomb's Devin Kelley's six-point effort and a Luke Patterson three, the two teams tied in scoring during the final period with 12 points each and the Green Wave captured the win, 78-53.

"We needed to come and get a win before districts," said Malden head coach Mike Kilgore. "We just needed to see that side of the game again."

The Hornets (6-20) broke a six-game losing streak by waxing Zalma (2-24) 62-12 on Valentine's Day while the Green Wave (19-5) rebounded Thursday from Tuesday's stunning loss to East Prairie (20-60) 73-53. 

"Holcomb played hard," Kilgore said. "My boys came out and played hard, too.

"We just needed to get back in the winning column," he mused. "We play Senath first at districts. I'm telling my guys to rest up and be ready for some good practices this week. We have work to do."  

Noah Kenner, Landon Smith and Devin Kelley all were in double digits for the Hornets.

The Green Wave featured six players in double digits, Quamareous Farmer scored 15; Tylyne Mathies scored 13; Tristan Moncrief had 12; Payton Woodard had 11; Zion Bell dropped 11; and Marcus Burton had 10.