03/23/2008
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Morning Sentinel staff photoThe 6-foot-3 forward was the Eagles' top returning player, and if the team was going to have any success at all, Holmes would have to fill the scoring void left by the graduation of center Eric Taylor and point guard Matt Natole.
Even with opposing defenses geared up to stop him, Holmes upped his scoring from around eight points per game to 17.9. That combined with his 8.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game, as well as an eagerness to lead, and Holmes was able to help Messalonskee reach the Eastern A quarterfinals, where they took eventual regional runner-up Edward Little to overtime.
For his efforts, Holmes is the Morning Sentinel Boys Basketball Player of the Year.
"Everybody we played knew (Holmes) was the key, and he still averaged 18 points per game. He had some big games down the stretch for us," Messalonskee head coach Tom Hill said.
Holmes' ascension actually began in the 2006-07 season. With defenses focused on Taylor and Natole, Holmes had 22 points in a 68-52 prelim win against Mt. Ararat. He added 22 points in a 55-50 win against Hampden in the Eastern A semifinals.
"This year, we didn't have people with a whole lot of experience scoring and taking on roles of leadership," Holmes said. "I thought it was my chance to step up. I knew I could do it for my team."
Holmes has always been a threat from 3-point range -- he was second in the conference with 34 3-pointers made in the regular season -- but he was able to add an inside game to his arsenal. Holmes worked on his post moves in the offseason and defended bigger players when playing AAU games last summer.
"I went to a couple national tournaments, and (played) against some huge kids, some 7-footers. It was fun," Holmes said. "I was basically the biggest guy on my team this year. I have no problem bodying up in the post. It's fun. I enjoy it. ...
"I really didn't have a lot of moves. I had the straight power move, just back somebody in. I developed a little hook shot, a little turnaround (jumper). My backboard J, that was probably my biggest improvement."
Hill said he could see Holmes' progress through the years.
"At the beginning (of his career), he was just a 3-point line shooter. We had some good big men, and they'd kick the ball out and he'd shoot the three," Hill said. "This year, he did a much better job driving the lane and posting up. He gave us an inside presence we didn't have. He put in a lot of time playing against bigger people. He put in a lot of time in the weight room."
Defensively, Holmes' role changed, too. In the past, Holmes usually defended the opponents' top shooter. This season, he spent most of his time guarding the opponents' biggest guy.
"This year I got to cover the big slow guys. They weren't going too fast. I'd just sit there, lean on them, just don't let them get the ball. Those were the fun guys to cover. I didn't have to run all over, following off screens," Holmes said.
Playing for the East A/B squad, Holmes scored three points in the McDonald's Senior All Star Game at Husson College in Bangor. Holmes hopes to play college basketball, and has narrowed his choices to Norwich University, Thomas College and the University of Southern Maine.
After seeing Holmes' versatility firsthand, Hill is confident his star can make the step to college ball.
"I think he'd make somebody a pretty decent player," Hill said.
Travis Lazarczyk -- 861-9242
tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com
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