Look out, state tourney — we’re coming back!

    Leaving Byers in the dust with a 67-45 beating in the Saturday, March 4, regional game at Mullen High School, Holyoke boys basketball will head to state Thursday-Saturday, March 9-11, taking the regional championship title with them.
    The fourth year in a row earning the honor of competing at the 2A state competition means this year’s seniors will have seen the team make the Great Eight all four years of their high school careers.
    This year, however, will be a different venue, as the tournament will be held at Loveland’s Budweiser Events Center, a change from the usual Colorado State University-Pueblo campus.
    In 2014 and 2015, the Dragons finished as consolation champions or fifth place, while last year the team placed fourth.
    
Holyoke 67, Byers 45
    Coach Scott Dille said the team started out a little nervous, behind 0-8 four minutes into the game, but once the ball got rolling, it didn’t stop. The Dragons were ahead 33-23 by halftime before the 67-45 stomping.
    “I thought the defense was really good,” said Dille of his team’s performance. “The ball movement was outstanding as well. We had four — almost five — in double figures which is when I feel we are at our best. It makes it tough on other teams to try to figure out who they need to stop.”
    Support was great at the championship game in Denver, a loud, fun environment to play in, according to Dille.
    “From my perspective, it is the best getting to watch the boys celebrate and take pictures with their families after games like that. They have worked hard and invested a lot, and for them to get to enjoy that with their families is priceless.”

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