Holt Keeps Rogers Steady

Lone Returning Starter Helps Mounties Return To Playoffs

— Everything went right for Keifer Holt on senior night at Rogers High last week.

With the Mounties fighting for the last Class 7A State Tournament spot from the 7A/6A-Conference, Holt played the best game of his career.

Rogers (10-17) entered the final regular season playing date needing to beat Springdale Har-Ber by nine or more points to advance the season. Holt made sure the job got done.

The Mounties point guard hit back-to-back 3-pointers to push the Mounties to an early lead and he then hit a halfcourt shot at the first period buzzer to give the Mounties a commanding a 26-10 lead.

Holt finished with 15 points as Rogers posted a 55-41 victory to secure the school’s eighth-straight state tournament appearance.

“Everything seemed to go right,” Holt said.

Holt and the Mounties hope that trend continues today when they face West Memphis in the first round at the Class 7A State Tournament at 2:30 p.m. in Fayetteville.

Holt was the only returning starter from last year’s team and he enters today’s game averaging eight points, three assists, two steals and two rebounds a game.

First-year Mounties coach Wayne Herren said Holt has been a leader on and off the court.

“Keifer has been our rock all year,” Herren said. “Keifer has been steady, and being the point guard is the toughest position because the coach is always on you. In my system, I lean on the point guard the most.”

Holt had other things on his mind last week besides stats and a state tournament berth. February is Heart Awareness Month and that is something special for Holt. Holt’s mother, Janet, died seven years ago of undiagnosed heart ailment and this time of year is special for the Rogers senior.

“There was a lot of motivation coming into the game,” Holt said. “First of all, I was playing for my mom. We had been recognizing heart awareness month and it was my last home game. I told somebody that it felt like my mom was inside playing with me.”

West Memphis (15-12) is the No. 3 seed from the 7A-Central and the Blue Devils have compiled six consecutive winning seasons.

“West Memphis always has great athletes, and they are always well coached,” Herren said. “They are very controlled, they are very patient.”

Rogers is shooting 37 percent from 3-point range on the year and they made seven 3-pointers in the first period against Har-Ber last week. Herren said the Mounties are going to have to be effective from long range against the Blue Devils.

“We know we can shoot the ball,” Herren said. “We have kids on this team that can shoot the ball. If teams are going to give us open looks, we’ve told our kids they have the green light to shoot the ball.”

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