| 12/27/2001 3:00:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article | Cub scoring leader Holt playing out college career with designs on future.
By: David Campbell, Courier Staff Writer
Four years ago, Molly Holt graduated from Madison Consolidated High School as one of the most successful basketball players in the program’s history.
Now four years later, Holt winds up her collegiate career at the University of Findlay (Ohio) with the type of numbers she put up in high school.
Holt, holder of 13 Madison school records when she graduated in 1998 including the all-time leading scorer, will leave Findlay next spring with more than 1,000 points on her resume and two national tournament appearances.
“I’m very fortunate. I guess I chose the right school,” Holt said with her trademark smile last week.
Last week, Holt came back to her hometown — or as close as she possibly can — facing off with Findlay against Hanover College.
The game was a mismatch from the beginning as would be expected. Hanover, an NCAA Division III school, put up a fight but was really never in the game against the Oilers, ranked No. 10 nationally in Division II. Findlay rolled to an 81-60 victory.
“Her coach last year called and wanted to play us,” said Panther head coach Molly Jones. “They like to do that with their seniors. It felt nice then. I don’t know about that now.”
Holt played a big part in that win, scoring 13 points and handing out four assists. Holt also recorded four steals, a specialty for the nimble 5-foot-8 guard since her high school days.
And Holt accomplished that feat with a large cheering section that came especially to see her. Along with friends and family, several former teammates came back to town to see the game.
Despite being a grizzled veteran in college, Holt still admitted to being nervous after finally playing a game in front of the ‘home crowd.’
“I was really nervous and really excited,” she said. “Even though I’m a senior, it was still very exciting.”
In her four years at Madison, Holt scribbled her name all over the Cub record book.
The biggest is the all-time scoring record, which Holt owns with 1,480 points. But from scoring to steals, Holt name is everywhere.
Some of her records include:
• Most points scored in a semistate game with 24 against Franklin in 1998
• Most steals in a career with 368
• Most steals in a season with 115
• Most steals in a game with 10
• Most free throws in a season with 116
• Most free throws in a game with 15
• Best free throw percentage in a game (11-for-11)
• Most assists in a career with 258
• Most points by a freshman in a season with 252
• Most points by a sophomore in a season with 356.
Several of those records may fall by the wayside. Madison sophomore Brittany Myers, averaging more than 20 points a game midway through this season, has already set school records for 3-pointers in a season and free throw percentage in a season and has passed Holt in both scoring in a season by a freshman and points in a game by a sophomore with 33.
Two more of Holt’s records may fall to the precocious sophomore. Myers already has 225 points this season as she closes in on Holt’s sophomore season record and 467 through a season and a half.
But Holt, who played with Myers’ sister, Christy, in high school and watched Brittany grow up, has nothing but admiration for her potential successor.
“She’s a great player,” said Holt, who visited with Brittany Myers after last week’s game against Hanover. “I’ve been watching her for a long time. Nothing would make me happier than to come back in two years and present her with the game ball when she breaks my record.”
In the meantime, Holt will finish out her season and career at Findlay and move on with life.
After this year, Holt will have just one more year before earning her Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy. Then, she will take the logical next step for her by taking on a new challenge.
“After this year, I’ll get my Master’s,” Holt said, adding with a smile. “Then, it gets a little weird. I’m going to go into interior design. It’s funny how that happens.”
For a woman who has conquered every challenge that has been in her path, whatever career path she takes will most likely be a successful path.Use the link below to see more photos associated with this story.
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