The Lady Dragon basketball team is pictured Saturday, March 5, in Holyoke after winning the regional championship, from left, front row, Lauren Herman, Kristin Vieselmeyer and Elyce Talavera; second row, Emma Sprague, Hannah Lindholm, Ava Koberstein, Audrey Talavera and Fatima Nuñez; and back row, coach John Baumgartner, Grace Roberts, Elise Krogmeier, Nicole Schlachter, Leah Struckmeyer and coach Kyle Carper. — Darci Rodriguez | The Holyoke Enterprise
Senior Kristin Vieselmeyer presents the regional plaque to Lady Dragon fans while teammates look on, from left, Elise Krogmeier, Grace Roberts, Lauren Herman, Elyce Talavera, Nicole Schlachter and Audrey Talavera. — Darci Rodriguez | The Holyoke Enterprise
Girls punch ticket to state
It’s “all or nothing” for the Holyoke Lady Dragon basketball team as they head to the Colorado 2A state tournament Thursday-Saturday, March 10-12, in Loveland.
The girls earned a spot at state after claiming the Region 2 championship in front of a home crowd last weekend with big wins over Dolores Huerta Prep and Denver Christian.
“It’s a good time for us to be playing our best basketball,” said coach John Baumgartner.
They’ll have to be at their best this week if they want a shot at the state championship. “One game at a time,” said Baumgartner.
No. 2 Holyoke will face No. 7 Dayspring Christian Academy at 11:45 a.m. Thursday at Budweiser Events Center. In early December, Holyoke beat Dayspring 49-22, but Baumgartner said it’s a whole different game once they hit the state tournament court.
The winner will play the winner of No. 3 Limon vs. No. 6 Peyton at 4 p.m. Friday, while the losers will move to the consolation side of the bracket for an 8:45 a.m. game Friday.
Other “Great 8” matchups Thursday are No. 1 Sanford vs. No. 8 Wiggins and No. 4 Rye vs. No. 5 Cedaredge.
All six of Holyoke’s district opponents competed in last weekend’s regionals, but Wiggins is the only team to advance along with the Lady Dragons. Burlington and Akron were both defeated by Sanford, Wray lost to Limon, Yuma fell to Rye, and Sedgwick County lost a two-point game to Peyton.
With a 22-1 record this season, Holyoke is looking for a better state tournament outcome than the last few years.
After winning the state consolation championship in 2018, Holyoke did not make it past regionals in 2019.
Two years ago, the Lady Dragons’ nearly perfect 23-1 season was abruptly ended when the 2020 state tournament was canceled after one round of play — thanks to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2020-21 season was shortened by about two months, players had to wear masks, fans were limited, and districts and regionals were scrapped. A 24-team single-elimination state tourney was spread out over two weeks.No. 1 seeded Holyoke was upset by Wray in the “Great 8” round, and the Lady Dragons finished with a 15-1 record.
The team is looking for three games on the state tournament court in Loveland this weekend with their sights set on the state championship Saturday at 7 p.m.
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