|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Emmitsburg — There was a point in time last season when Mount St. Mary’s senior Will Holland just had to let it go for the ball to go in.
Holland spent the first half of last season in a funk, in part, because he was no longer in the starting lineup.
Two seasons ago, he started every game at small forward for the Mountaineers as they reached the NCAA tournament. Last season, with the emergence of forward Kelly Beidler and guard Jean Cajou, Holland didn’t start a game. His minutes fell to 16.8 per game from 26.5 the previous season.
“As much as I tried to put it behind me and play, I was frustrated,” he said Tuesday night at Knott Arena after the Mount’s annual Blue-White scrimmage. “I couldn’t get anything going.”
After numerous discussions with coach Milan Brown and his teammates, Holland realized the only way forward was to let go of the past and come to grips with the present.
And the official moment of release may have occurred in a 67-62 road win over Lafayette on Jan. 2. Holland threw down a big dunk in the game that seemed to release a lot of pent-up emotion. He finished with a season-high 19 points and six rebounds.
“I just kind of put it behind me,” said Holland, who became a productive player off the bench for the Mount in the second half of the season. “Whatever was bothering me didn’t matter anymore.”
Throughout preseason practice, Holland has seemed like a player at-ease. He’s made peace with his role on the team and wants to contribute any way he can.
His relaxed demeanor was evident throughout the Blue-White scrimmage, as he led all scorers with 23 points.
“He knows that, not only his confidence hasn’t wavered, but mine hasn’t wavered,” Brown said. “I told him every time he steps on the court, if he thinks he has a crack of daylight, shoot it.”
|
