Girls finish 4th after 2 nailbiters at NJC

    The Lady Dragon varsity basketball team had fans on the edge of their seats during the district tournament at NJC last weekend.
    In two very close games, Holyoke came out on the losing end. They were beat by Wray 41-38 Friday, Feb. 23, and were defeated by Haxtun 46-44.
    Yuma ended the tournament as the district champions, followed by runner-up Wray, third-place Haxtun and fourth-place Holyoke. All four teams will advance to the regional tournament this weekend.
    “I was very proud of how our kids played this weekend,” said Lady Dragon coach John Baumgartner. “They kept fighting. Hopefully we have more fight left in us.”
    
Holyoke 38, Wray 41
    Holyoke kept the pace with Wray in the first two periods of Friday’s game. The Lady Dragons trailed 6-8 after the first quarter and 15-19 at halftime.
    Twelve points in the third period — including nine from senior Grace Dille — rocketed the Lady Dragons to a two-point lead, 27-25.
    Holyoke fell behind in the final minutes but rallied to come within three points of the Eagles. After a final attempt at a three-point play, the Dragons still came up short, giving Wray the 41-38 win.
    “We played hard,” said Baumgartner. “But we’re having a tough time finishing a game. We have to play 32 minutes.”
    Topping the scoreboard for Holyoke was Dille with 19 points, including seven 2’s, one 3-pointer and two for two free throws. The senior contributed 13 rebounds and six steals for the Dragons.
    Dille and Taeryn Trumper each had three assists.

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