Stryker's Holsopple Derails the Locomotives

Slow start for the Stryker Panthers, but with a team effort they were able to steam past the Locomotives.

Photo by Hayden Clingaman

The Stryker Panthers faced off against the Montpelier Locomotives on Saturday, February 6, 2021. Tipoff began near 6 pm and from there on out, it was a battle. The Panthers have 9 seniors on their basketball team that help lead the way for those who are Freshman, Sophomores, and Juniors. Stryker is a very strong, competitive team with a lot of heart, and a lot of trust amongst their team members. Anyone on their team can score, but tonight their leader was senior, Kaleb Holsopple.

“Going into the fourth quarter and being down 6 points lit a fire under the Panthers and sparked what was soon to be a heavy pursuit.”

The first quarter began slow, with Stryker only scoring 5 points, and the Locomotives scoring 4. The Panthers had some work to make up by the second and third quarter after only scoring 24 points, and the Locomotives scoring 30. Going into the fourth quarter and being down 6 points, lit a fire under the Panthers and sparked what was soon to be a heavy pursuit. With the help of former teammate and senior Spencer Clingaman, the Panthers soon went on a running streak, halting the Locomotives to only 2 points the entire fourth quarter. In the end, the Panthers pushed their way passed the Locomotives to end with 44 points versus 32, to extend their record to 6-10 overall, and 5-4 in the Buckeye Border Conference (BBC).

The Stryker Panthers were led by Kaleb Holsopple who scored 14 points, followed by Spencer Clingaman with 11, (So.) Levi Barnum with 6, (Jr.) Peyton Cioffi with 4, (Fr.) Jacob Caldwell with 3, and seniors Jamison Treace, Amos Sloan, and Brandon Bowers with 2 points each.

Written by Hayden Clingaman