Chase Johnson makes a layup during late-afternoon game against Dayspring Christian on Dec. 7. Though Holyoke would lose this game by three points, the Dragons claimed victory in the next two, netting them fifth place in the Northeastern Junior College Holiday Tournament. — Andrew Turck | The Holyoke Enterprise
Dragons course successful trajectory in Holiday Tournament
By the end of Northeastern Junior College’s Holiday Tournament, held Dec. 17-20 in Sterling, Colorado, the Holyoke Dragon boys basketball team had picked up its first two victories of the season, defeating Sedgwick County on Dec. 19, followed by Akron the following day. Though Holyoke lost its first match 48-51 against Dayspring Christian, discussed in last week’s issue, the team ultimately finished fifth in the consolation championship.
The team’s 51-38 victory against Sedgwick’s Cougars, according to Head Coach Colbey Stumpf, notably turned out to be “the best game so far this season.” This first win brought a hunger to the team; the boys were able to give it their all to the very end against the Akron Rams. Additionally, they claimed victory even with the absence of two key players, Wyatt Sprague and Cash Weber.
To warm up, the Holyoke boys had to do some digging to obtain their first win against Sedgwick. The game began when starters Cooper Goldenstein, Irving Dominguez, Manuel Gonzalez, and Reid and Wyatt Sprague began working together like clockwork to start crashing the boards. Their teamwork aided a 10-point lead between the Cougars and Dragons, serving an exemplary first quarter score of 16-6. Subbing in Colby Weber, Luke Roberts and Chase Johnson throughout the first quarter, the team sank in those 16 points with strong jumpshots and received extra help from free throws.
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