Holyoke takes seventh at NJC Tourney

The Holyoke girls basketball team gave fans an early Christmas present with their first win of the season Tuesday at the Northeastern Junior College Holiday Tournament.

The tournament was pushed back twice after last week’s winter storm. Originally scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Saturday, the tourney instead ran Saturday, Monday and Tuesday.

Holyoke lost its first game 20-52 against Merino. The Dragon’s trend of slow starts continued against the sixth-ranked Rams. Holyoke went scoreless in the first quarter, but nearly matched Merino point-for-point by the second. Four Dragons hit baskets to leave Holyoke trailing 9-20 at halftime.

Holyoke only hit two field goals after halftime, leaving most of its points coming from the free throw line.  The Dragons made 6 of 13 free throws in the 20-52 loss.

Grace Roberts led Holyoke with six points.

Monday morning, Holyoke jumped out to a 5-0 lead over Haxtun’s Bulldogs. The Bulldogs closed out the first quarter with six points as the refs turned Haxtun loose in the paint, leaving Holyoke trailing 5-6 going into the second quarter. 

The Dragons’ scoreless streak ran to over nine minutes before Holyoke finally scored again. The Dragons made two field goals in the final three minutes of the half and added 3-7 free throws to trail 12-20 at halftime.

As Holyoke fouls accumulated in the second half, the Dragons fell further behind. Audrey Talavera scored six points in the third quarter, but it wasn’t enough and Holyoke entered the fourth quarter trailing 21-34.

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