Dragons beat Tigers 53-45 in first-round district game

Last week’s District 2 tournament kicked off Feb. 25 for the Holyoke High School boys basketball team. Playing in front of a home crowd, the No. 4 Dragons beat the No. 5 Wiggins Tigers in a tight 53-45 game. Also playing a first-round game last Tuesday night was No. 3 Wray, who beat No. 6 Akron 77-27.

The Holyoke-Wiggins contest was tense — the kind of game where there doesn’t seem to be a single moment to breathe easy. From players to coaches to fans, everyone seemed to be on edge. For starters, the Dragons and Tigers were fighting for the chance to stay in the tournament. On top of that, though, the two teams are quite evenly matched. The last time they faced each other, HHS won by just seven points.

Last Tuesday proved to be another close one. Referees were calling a tight game right off the bat, forcing both sides to play smart. Holyoke eked out a two-point lead before the first quarter ended.

The Dragons jumped ahead early in the second quarter, taking a decent lead. The Tigers, however, chipped away at the deficit. At halftime, it was once again a one-possession game.

After watching their lead dwindle, the Dragons came back with renewed vigor in the third, outscoring Wiggins 17-10. Trailing by 10 points going into the final quarter, the Tigers put up a fight, adding 10 points to the scoreboard. Holyoke posted eight of its own, though, securing a 53-45 win and the chance to play in the semifinals.

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