"Tonight we just wanted to come out with some intensity. That's been part of our problem in the past," South River coach Tim Poole said. "We're not coming out and playing with the intensity we need to play with."
The Seahawks' intensity was feverish, building a 12-0 lead and 20-7 by the end of the first quarter.
"The game started out fast," said Holian, who scored 13 with seven rebounds. "We wanted to come out fast and get up quick. We just focused on taking good shots and getting the open layups."
About a minute into the second quarter, a 3-pointer by Adam Ritchie brought the Cougars (1-10) within 10, but that was as close as they'd get.
"The intensity just wasn't there tonight. We struggled early," Chesapeake coach Raymond Pack said. "They came with a lot of intensity early."
South River (4-8) also showed the ability to adjust early as the Cougars came out in man-to-man defense.
"We knew we were going to see some zone," Poole said. "We were a little surprised they came out man-to-man tonight, but once they went back into that 3-2 zone, we were comfortable with seeing that."
The Seahawks built a 35-17 first-half lead by attacking the man defense with short jumpers and layups. Then in the second-half, they started working against the zone.
Smith, who finished with 14 points, took advantage of the change right away with two straight 3-pointers to start the second half.
"(Poole) said he wanted inside touches, then kick it out and take the best shot," Smith said. "So we got in, and I was open, so I took it."
Those two baskets, giving South River a 41-17 lead, provided the dagger for the Seahawks.
"Him making those threes was big," Holian said. "We put them down for the rest of the game."
Joe Obitz put together a 19-point second half for Chesapeake, including 15 in the fourth quarter.
"I'm proud of my guys," Pack said. "We didn't give up. We fought until the end."
As for the Seahawks, they'll need more complete performances to finish the season strongly.
"We have trouble focusing for the entire 32 minutes," Poole said. "But when we do, we're pretty good."
South River (4-8) 20 15 18 18 - 71
Chesapeake (1-10) 7 10 11 24 - 52
South River (59)
Cox 1(1) 2-6 5; Strange 1 2-2 4; Holian 5 3-4 13; Dunn 5 2-2 12; Smith 6(2) 0-0 14; Bell 2 3-4 7; Dinkins 1 0-0 2; Kneisley 0 2-2 2; Baldwin 2(2) 0-0 6; Brooks 1 0-0 2; Shores 2 0-0 4. TOTALS: 26(5) 14-20 71.
Chesapeake (52)
Obitz 7(4) 4-5 22; Ritchie 2(1) 1-1 6; Russell 2 0-0 4; Terry 0 1-2 1; Garver 0 3-4 1; Swigert 0 2-2 2; Buchler 4 3-4 11; Whelchel 1 0-3 2; Brass 0 1-2 1. TOTALS: 16(5) 15-20 52.
