Boys force overtime in Wiggins, split last week’s games
The Holyoke boys basketball team was on the road for two games last week, falling to Wiggins 82-71 in overtime last Thursday evening, Feb. 10, and defeating Akron 55-38 on Friday, Feb. 11.
After trailing by eight points at the end of the third quarter against Wiggins, the Dragon offense put up 28 points in the fourth quarter compared to the Tigers’ 20.
Three of the Dragons’ fourth-quarter points came from three clutch free throws made by Ethan Johnson, who was fouled while shooting a 3-pointer with under five seconds left. After he sank all three shots, the game went to overtime. Wiggins outscored Holyoke 20-9 in the overtime period to defeat the Dragons.
“I’m really proud of the way our boys battled back,” coach Colbey Stumpf said. He noted that the Dragons had a pretty slow third quarter and found themselves in a hole, but they battled back in the fourth to get to overtime.
He said the Dragons had some foul trouble in the Wiggins game, but he was happy with the good minutes the Holyoke bench put in when they were needed the most.
Facing another road game the following night in Akron, Stumpf said he was happy with the fact that the Dragons were able to bounce back and play a good solid game after an overtime game the night before.
Holyoke has one final regular game this Friday, Feb. 18, in Caliche, and the Dragons will host the first round of districts Tuesday, Feb. 22. They will play the winner of the Sedgwick County and Akron game, which is scheduled for this Friday.
Holyoke 71, Wiggins 82
The Dragons started with an early lead over the Tigers, outscoring them 15-11 in the first quarter and taking the four-point lead to halftime, when Holyoke led 28-24.
Holyoke’s offense slowed in the third and scored only six points compared to the Tigers’ 18, and Wiggins led 42-34 after three quarters of play.
Johnson led the scoring effort in the fourth quarter, putting up 15 of the Dragons’ 28 points and forcing overtime in the fourth quarter’s final seconds, but the Tigers clinched the overtime victory 82-71.
Johnson led all Holyoke scorers with 33 points on four 2s, four 3s and 13 free throws. Miles Sprague and Wyatt Sprague also hit double digits in points with 12 and 11, respectively.
Johnson led in rebounds with seven, and Miles Sprague had six. Johnson and Wyatt Sprague led with three assists apiece, and Johnson also led steals with three.
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