Holt boys rally late, beat Warrenton 52-36 as Will Saloni’s 3s swing game

Holt High School’s boys varsity team beat the Warrenton Warriors 52-36 on Friday night at Warrenton High School, pulling away in the fourth quarter after a second-half run keyed by multiple long-range 3-pointers from Will Saloni.

Saloni finished with 19 points, including several 3-pointers in the second half that the broadcast called the turning point. The Indians led by as many as 14 in the fourth quarter and held off Warrenton’s attempts to rally despite Warrenton’s full-court pressure down the stretch.

Warrenton led 30-28 after three quarters, but Holt opened the fourth with a sequence of successful 3-point attempts and efficient ball movement. Holt also mixed man-to-man defensive looks and a 3-2 zone at times; the Indians’ adjustments and timely free throws widened the gap late.

Warrenton committed multiple turnovers in the final five minutes, and the Warriors were hampered by players accumulating fouls late (several key Warriors recorded their third or fourth fouls in the fourth quarter). Holt’s bench lineups were used late in the game as Coach Arnold cleared starters while protecting leads.

“[Saloni]’s made 5 3-pointers in the ball game, and he’s perfect from the free throw line,” one announcer said during Holt’s fourth-quarter run. Later the broadcast summarized the final score: “Your final score here at Warrenton, Holt 52, Warriors 36,” announcer Keith Brown said at the end of the game.

Holt improved its record and came into the night with multiple wins in recent games, while Warrenton (making personnel changes through the second half) could not convert enough stops or offensive rebounds late to close the gap. The broadcast noted upcoming conference play and another doubleheader at Warrenton on Friday, Jan. 24.