Published: February 24, 1996
Section: SPORTS
Page#: 06C
Hollman's hot hand is leading Minneapolis
By Patrick Reusse; Staff Writer   

David Hollman was the point guard on St. Paul Central's 1988-89 basketball team, the last in Central's long run of powerhouse teams. The Minutemen lost the state Class AA title game when a Robbinsdale Armstrong airball turned into a last-second basket.

"If the shot had hit the rim, we're the state champions," Hollman said.

Hollman was a senior star on that team. So was Juriad Hughes. "I was always a good shooter," Hollman said. "[Coach] Dan Brink gave me the green light to shoot, although Juriad's light was greener than mine."

Hughes was a Mr. Basketball finalist. After some moving around, he had a good career at South Dakota State.

Hollman's odyssey has been more complicated. "Dan Brink hooked me up with Kevin Porter, the coach at Central State in Ohio," Hollman said. "I went there on sort of a verbal scholarship. Then, Porter said he had to give scholarships to a couple of seniors, and he wanted me to take out a student loan."

Hollman quit basketball, took out the loan, stayed in school for a semester and then returned to St. Paul. "I ran the streets for a while, and then in 1991, I became a father," Hollman said. "I had to settle down and get a job to support my daughter."

Hollman continued to play in the Twin Cities summer leagues. Two years ago, Ronnie Gates, the assistant coach at Minneapolis Community College, saw Hollman and asked him if he was interested in playing college ball.

"That was my dream, so I said yes," Harmon said. "I was way out of shape. I'm 6-1 and was weighing 200 pounds.

"The first day of drills . . .in '94 - I was doing these easy drills and I thought I was going to die."

Last season, Hollman played as a backup. This season, Hollman, 25, has been turned loose.

"Talk about the green light," Hollman said. "If I'm open and don't shoot, [coach] Jay Pivec sits me down."

Late in the regular season, Hollman took 25 three-pointers, made 10 and scored 52 points against Anoka-Ramsey. Pivec said: "I have the best college shooter in Minnesota - and I'm talking about junior college, Division III, Division II and Division I." Hollman will continue his college career next season at Southwest State.

Hollman scored 26 Thursday when Minneapolis defeated Rainy River 106-95 in the first round of the Minnesota Community College Conference tournament.

"I was 4-for-12 on threes against Rainy River," he said. "It looks like I'm off cloud nine and back to reality."

Friday night, Normandale beat Minneapolis 99-90 despite 21 points from Hollman. Chad Goldapp had 32 points for Normandale.

In other action Friday, Fergus Falls beat Mesabi 84-64. Lou Hernandez scored 24 points for Fergus Falls.

In the consolation games, Northland beat Rainy River 94-81 and Bethany Lutheran beat Willmar 74-64.

Northland will play Bethany at noon today in the consolation round. Fergus Falls will play Normandale at 4 p.m. today for the championship. MCCC women

Playing on its home court, defending national champion Anoka-Ramsey easily beat Rainy River 81-58 in the first round of the women's tournament as Amber Wilkinson scored 18.

Also, Worthington beat Fergus Falls 77-70. Michelle Laffrenzen scored 17 points to lead Worthington.

Angie Klockman scored 21 points to lead Central Lakes to a 92-55 victory over Rochester, and Dede Dorn had 19 points to lead Bethany Lutheran to a 94-79 victory over Vermilion.

Return to top
© Copyright 2002 Star Tribune. All rights reserved.