Bryda hits 1000th
By Nate Rosenthal, Sports Correspondent
EAST LONGMEADOW – The Holyoke Catholic boys’ basketball team has enjoyed a banner season thus far, already clinching a place in the postseason. Their latest highlight came on Monday at the First Baptist Community Center, where Nick Bryda became the 10th player from Holyoke Catholic to score 1000 points in their career. Bryda entered the game with 965 points and scored his historic point from the foul line with 3:03 remaining in the game.
It was not easy for the 6’4” senior, who had been sick since the end of last week and had not practiced in three days. He was also fighting his asthma. But Bryda would not be denied. With an average of 23.8, it was something of a long shot for him to do it in this first of three road games against Pioneer Valley Christian. When he put up 9 points in the first, the thought that he might just do it became more apparent. In the second quarter, he struggled a bit, missing shots he would normally make, including a put back. With 5 in the quarter, he had 14 and needed 21 in the final 16 minutes.
Meanwhile his team was enjoying a comfortable lead. They jumped out to 15-5 in the first and then extended that to 34-18 by the break. Nathan Powers had 12 points at the half.
One thing that was working for him was his three point shot, especially from the left wing. And it took just 11 seconds into the third quarter for him to get on the board and that was his third trey of the night. He and Powers hit back to back threes to extend the lead to 45-25 and then he added two more in the third quarter. The twelve point quarter left him just 9 points short of the mark.
His teammates were looking for him and the bench rose at every shot that he took. He opened the fourth quarter with a three and was fouled on the play. Hitting the shot he had a four point play. That was just 20 seconds into the fourth. It took another two minutes but then at 5:30 he hit his 8th three of the night to put him just two points away. All eyes were on Bryda and everyone held their breath with every shot. Then he was fouled at went to the line with 3:03 on the clock. On the outside he looked calm as he sent those two shots through the net. Bryda had his 1000th point. After a little fanfare and congratulations from his teammates and the players from Pioneer Valley Christian, he was removed from the game. His two shots gave the Gaels a 69-39 lead and they would go on to win 75-42.
After the game he spoke, “I was trying to stay within the flow of the game and not do anything out of the ordinary. As a team, we tried to play our game and win. After the first half, I got comfortable on the wing and hit those threes. When I got to the line for the free throws, I was nervous and probably thinking as much as I had all night. All in all, it is a great feeling to be in the company of those before me. I am honored. What is important is that we won and we have some unfinished business ahead of us.”
Bryda has been playing since preschool, but really developed his game in high school. Coach Bob Prattico calls him the best shooter, he has ever had. Bryda joins a list of 8 boys and 1 girl who have accomplished the feat for Holyoke Catholic. Jim Palmer first hit 1000 in 1966 and was followed in 1970 by John Grouchowski. Bob Snyder did it in 1971 and then it was Neil Callahan in 1973. Fran O’Connell made it 4 in the 70’s with his in 1976. In 1991, the only girl on the list, Amanda Zedonis scored her 1000th. Shawn O’Brien did it a year later in 1992 and Jack Jerzyk made 1000 in 1998. Four years ago, in 2006, Ray Witkos was the last until Bryda.
The win was a big one for the Gaels, as it moved them to 6-0 in the Bi County South and clinched the title. Overall they are 11-6 and by winning out, could find themselves in a high seed for the upcoming tournament and thus gaining a first round bye. That remains to be seen.
