Dragon boys continue push for successful season

Holyoke’s boys basketball team has been fighting for a successful season and – with the girls team out of the running – now Holyoke’s last hope for a basketball trophy is in its hands. The boys were held back from that goal in the previous two district games, losing to Wray’s Eagles on Thursday, Feb. 23, and the Wiggins Tigers on Saturday, Feb. 25. 

“We couldn’t get a shot to fall,”  Head Coach Colbey Stumpf said regarding both games.

Lack of shooting held Holyoke back approximately 20 points against Wray and nearly 10 points against Wiggins.

Feb. 23’s game against Wray folded in front of the stands. First-quarter scores fell to layups from the Dragons and two points made from Wyatt Sprague’s free throws, for eight points altogether. Wray had other plans in mind. Eagle Joey Uyemura came out running as he sank in three 3-pointers, making a little less than half of the Eagles’ points this quarter. Contributors Rafael Trejo, AB Ruiz and Camden Riggleman dropped in multiple layups, raising the quarter’s score 8-21, with Wray in the lead.

In the second quarter, all of Holyoke’s point-makers made one individual layup. These players included the Sprague brothers, Cash Weber, Manuel Gonzalez and Irving Dominguez. Dominguez attempted to shoot at the free throw line, but failed to sink in any other points. The Dragons made 10 points this quarter, all of them layups. Holyoke was now sitting at 18 points. The Eagles canceled the Dragons’ efforts by with 18 more points. Chris Arambula and Uyemura made two consecutive 3-pointers, while Trejo and Ruiz maintain consistent scores. Reese Shay shared a successful try at the free-throw line. The scoreboard read 18-39, with the Eagles still in the lead.

The third quarter brought in seven points for the Dragons with Cooper Goldenstein’s success at the free-throw line, a layup from Gonzalez, and a 3-pointer from Reid. There were only three scorers for the Eagles this quarter: Arambula, Trejo and Ruiz, sinking 11 points, going into the fourth quarter 25-50, with the Eagles still at double the Dragons’ score.

Holyoke assisted each other with making points during this last quarter, hoping to get out of the rut. They made 12 points. Wray kept the lead with consistent points. The game ended 37-66. 

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