Caliche can’t touch Dragon defense, 3-pointers

    “It’s a good time for us to be playing well.”
    Coach John Baumgartner praised the Holyoke varsity girls basketball team as they headed into the final week of regular season action.
    A 52-16 win at Caliche Thursday, Feb. 8, brought their season record to 15-2. The two losses came from Yuma and Wray — the two teams the Lady Dragons face this week.
    They’re also two of the best teams in the state, and Baumgartner was looking forward to seeing how the girls matched up with highly-ranked competition.
    Holyoke played in Yuma Tuesday, Feb. 13, and results will be reported in next week’s Enterprise. Dragon fans should head to the HHS gym Friday, Feb. 16, for games against Wray, beginning at 4 p.m., as well as parent recognition night.
    District competition begins next Tuesday, Feb. 20.
    As the regular season nears its end, Baumgartner said the girls have really stepped up this season and are accepting their roles on the court, including girls coming into the game off the bench.
    “I like the way we’re sharing the basketball,” he said, noting nine players scored points in the game against Caliche.
    The team also shot well from the outside. Five Holyoke girls sank a total of seven 3-pointers. “It makes it tough to guard them,” said Baumgartner.
    The defense also held up its end of the bargain, keeping Caliche to only 16 points in the game. “Defensively, we were locked in,” said the coach, noting the Dragons forced a lot of turnovers in Thursday’s game.
    Holyoke set the pace with 16 points in the first quarter compared to Caliche’s four. Another 11 points in the second brought the score to 27-7 at halftime. HHS outscored Caliche 10-1 in the third and 15-8 in the fourth for the 52-16 win.
    Grace Dille led the scoring effort with 15 points, including three 2-pointers, two 3-pointers and three for four from the line. The senior also had 11 rebounds, two blocks and five assists.
    Sophomore Taeryn Trumper contributed 13 points and four steals for HHS.

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