Super sophs lead Holmdel Hornets hoops resurgence
Shirvirian and Kelly have paced team to recent 4-1 mark
BY WARREN RAPPLEYEA Staff Writer
Afterwinning four of its last five games, the Holmdel High School boys basketball team has improved its record to 6-9 heading into the finalmonth of the season.

The Hornets have rolled past St. John Vianney, Red Bank Regional, Rumson-Fair Haven andMatawan. Their lone loss during the hot streak came against Middletown North in the Ocean County Challenge.

Holmdel has been riddled by injuries throughout the campaign and sophomores Erik Shirvirian and Mike Kelly have both stepped up their games to help compensate. Shirvirian, a shooting guard who averages 13 points to lead the team, scored 17 points to lead the way in the win against Red Bank Regional. In a 50-48 victory over Rumson- Fair Haven, Shirvirian scored seven fourthquarter points, including five from the free throw line.

Kelly, a forward, paced the Hornets attack with 20 points to help defeat Matawan and he added 16 points in the Red Bank Regional triumph. He is averaging 10 pointsper game. Kelly and Shirvirian are Holmdel's top guns fromthree-point range.

Another sophomore, 5-7Mike Perillo, has been quietly effective at the point. He leads the team in assists and has proven to be a gritty defender as well.

"Our sophomores are really coming into their own right now," Holmdel coach Sean Devaney said. "Their roles have changed and they've adapted. They know we're shorthanded and that we need them to be contributors and they have been getting the job done for us."

Devaney noted that a pair of seniors, forward Dave Burke and center Brad Domarski, have also been playingwell.Burke is the Hornets top defender so he usually lines up against the opposition's best scorer. Domarski, at 6 feet 4 inches, gives his team a presence under the hoop where he leads the Hornets in rebounding.

Versatile juniorAlexHenry has been solid off the bench as both a forward and a guard depending on the situation. Henry, who occasionally starts, owns an accurate midrange jumpshot.

Devaney said that as his team gained more experience playing together, it has begun to gel. Earlier in the season, the Hornets dropped four games by three points or less, including one-point losses against both Wall and Raritan.

"Now we're starting to win the close ones and that has helped our guys gain confidence," the coach said. "And that confidence has helped them to play harder and the results have showed."

With three games left before the cut-off to qualify for theNJSIAACentral JerseyGroup II tournament, the Hornets still have a chance to reach the .500mark.

Holmdel was slated to visit Red Bank Catholic on Monday and will host Manasquan today.On Friday, theHornets are set to visitMiddletown North.

In addition,Devaney's teamis still in contention to qualify for the Shore Conference tourney. Teams must have a .500 or better record at the end of play on Feb. 10 to qualify.

"We're taking things game-by-game,"Devaney said. "That's what we've done all season also we're not going to change now. We just want to finish as strongly as we can."