Sophomore guard Cordero Holt, 6-feet, 8-inches tall, had a sparkling performance in leading Northern Virginia Community College to a 65-53 win over the Community College of Baltimore County-Catonsville Cardinals on Dec. 8 at Annandale’s Ernst Gym by scoring 25 points, 18 in the second half. Among his points were two three-point field goals, two three-point plays after layups, a dunk and nine free throws.

The first half saw below-average scoring. NOVA coach Mike Fitzmaurice remarked, “We probably played our best defense of any half this year,” as NOVA limited CCBC to 20 points.

However, NOVA itself could only muster 26 points, but it was enough for a 26-20 halftime lead, as it led the entire first half.

Holt led the NOVA scoring with seven.

In the second half, the scoring increased. NOVA streaked out to a 14-point lead at 38-24 with 15 minutes to go as Holt scored six points. With 12 minutes to go and NOVA leading 43-31, guard Rich Waldron got hot, making two three-pointers and a two-pointer in a row to maintain the lead at 51-38.

CCBC got no closer that eight points for the rest of the game, and Holt scored eight of NOVA’s last 13 points in its 65-53 win.

For NOVA, Holt had the 25 points while other double-figure scorers were Westley Ford with 12 and Waldron with 11.

With the triumph, NOVA went over .500 for the year at 6-5. CCBC fell to 0-8.

NOVA had three games scheduled for the rest of the calendar year after this game.

In its two previous games, NOVA lost to highly ranked Division II Cecil College of Maryland 67-53 on Dec. 2 and then on Dec. 5 beat VCCS foe Germanna College 85-62 in Fredericksburg to go 1-0 in that conference.

By: Arch Scurlock

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