Varsity boys pull off triple threat — 3 days, 3 games, 3 wins

    Three smashing wins in three days meant a big weekend of basketball for Holyoke’s varsity boys. The Dragons destroyed Caliche 74-48 at home Thursday, Feb. 9; Fleming 57-41 on the road Friday, Feb. 10; and Wiggins 72-49 at home Saturday, Feb. 11, in a rescheduled game.
    Coach Scott Dille said he was impressed each night by the team’s focus and effort. By Saturday, he felt he had reason to be nervous given the busy week, but once again the Dragons pulled through in style.
    “Parents’ night, third game in a row, etc. made me a little nervous about getting sloppy, but I thought our kids did a pretty good job focusing and playing hard,” he said.
    
    Holyoke 74, Caliche 48
    The Dragons really raked in the points for Thursday’s 74-48 victory over Caliche. In a game marked by flurries of 3s in the first and third quarter, Holyoke was up 41-17 by halftime before the big win.
    Holyoke’s first 12 points of the game were gained in four 3-pointers, two from Gunnar Kroeger and two from M.J. Taylor. After just eight minutes of play, the Dragons were ahead 22-6.
    Blake Mosenteen led in team points the second quarter with six of the 19 scored. Halftime saw 41-17 Dragons on the scoreboard.
    Again in the third, the 3s flew freely. Kroeger, Taylor and Alex Strauss each put up one in that quarter, but this time Caliche managed to answer with four of their own. The Buffs’ 16 points didn’t compare with the 22 third-quarter Dragon points, however, and Holyoke extended its lead to 63-33.
    Caliche outscored Holyoke for the first time in the fourth quarter, making 15 points to the Dragons’ 11, but the points were moot as the Buffs were defeated a resounding 74-48.
    Kroeger led the scoring with 16 points, followed by Taylor 14, Austin Herman 12 and Mosenteen and Strauss 10 each.
    “Having five guys score in double figures was really good,” said Dille. “The balance and the way that they worked for the best available shot was great.”
    Dille also credited the team’s defense as a huge strength through the game. Herman led rebounding with a total of seven, including three offensive and four defensive, and put up two blocks. Kroeger also had a block.
    Strauss and Mosenteen each had three steals, and Strauss’s stats boast an impressive 11 assists as well.
  

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