Team Preview: Holland Hall (4A)

<p>Holland Hall coach Teddy Owens is just ready to have his team back together.</p> <p>"We’ll probably have four starters come over from football," Owens said. "I don’t think we’ll get our football team until Dec. 14th. . . we’ll probably play four games before we get our football guys."</p> <p>One of those players is senior Marc Gouldsby, the lone returning starter from a 2020 team that battled through area t to qualify for the the State Tournament. The defensive specialist is expected to start at the one for Owens, who had high praise of his skill-set.</p> <p>"I saw [Marc] have one bad game last year, where I just didn’t think he absolutely controlled the other team’s best player," Owens said, who recounted when Bethany’s Brennan Burns scored in double-figures against Gouldsby.</p> <p>"I think Brennan had like 16," Owens continued, "but still, him giving the other guy like anything was just surprising to me."</p> <p>Another standout football athlete who Owens will be utilizing is Ethan Roush, a safety and wide receiver for the Dutch with two-way skills on the hard-wood, as well.</p> <p>"[Roush] is a really good athlete, really good shooter," Owens said, "and probably our most unselfish player as far as getting guys open shots."</p> <p>NuNu Campbell, another defensive-minded guard and Jordan Nolin, an offensive lineman and interior standout, will both return from the gridiron and play immediate roles for the Dutch.</p> <p>"NuNu is another lock-down defender," Owens said. "Nolin is a big post for us. . . he’s a willing playmaker."</p> <p>Owens also had particularly high praise for senior guard [player_tooltip player_id="1015822" first="Elliot" last="Andrew"], who he said will most likely lead the Dutch in scoring after seeing limited minutes during his junior season.</p> <p>"Elliot’s a kid who’s just been patiently kinda waiting in the wings and has worked as hard as any kid we’ve got," Owens said. "He’s had a great attitude the whole time. . . he can really shoot it, can put the ball on the floor and can finish as well around the rim.</p> <p>"Because of his development, he’s going to get all the minutes he wants," Owens continued. "He’s going to have different opportunities to score just because of his development."</p> <p>Owens will also utilize sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="1068564" first="Jadon" last="Cool"], a talented underclassman guard with an already impressive highlight package. A freshman, Carter Benton, also will receive minutes as an underclassman thanks to his shooting capabilities.</p> <p>"[Cool] can really shoot it," Owens said. "Benton can really shoot it as well. . . I mean, every time he shoots it, I think it’s going in.</p> <p>Sophomore Nate Mullendore, who has converted from a post to a wing, will also receive game-time on the merit of his rigidness, Owens said.</p> <p>"[Mullendore] is just a junk-yard dog," Owens said. "Every time we play or practice, you know exactly what you’re getting out of him, I mean, he’s never had a bad day. . . he’s just relentless."</p> <p>Sophomore Jake Craft, whose toughness much resembles that of Mullendore’s, Owens said, will have the opportunity to play significant minutes, as well.</p> <p>"Craft is another sophomore who’s just incredible in transition," Owens said, "and he just brings non-stop energy."</p> <p>Last is senior Cam Robinson, a pick-and-pop forward who is currently occupied taking snaps at quarterback.</p> <p>Owens said that this year’s squad will be deeper, with more players getting game-time than teams he has coached in the past.</p> <p>"We’ll have more depth this year than we’ve had in the past," Owens said, "I mean I feel comfortable playing 8, 9 guys. . . and then at times, maybe even a 10th."</p>