Lady Indians Defeated By Lady Dragons
The Holyoke Lady Dragons defeated the St. Francis Lady Indians in high school basketball on Monday, February 8. The Lady Dragons won both contests played in Holyoke, Colorado. In varsity action, the Lady Indians played well, but lost to the Lady Dragons by a score of 38-52. The two-quarter junior varsity contest was also won by Holyoke, 13-21.
The Lady Indians never led in the varsity contest after falling behind 0-8 in the opening moments of the game. The Lady Dragons earned an offensive rebound score, a turnover-two, and four free-throws in the opening minutes of the contest. Hanna Bracelin erased the zero on the scoreboard with consecutive free-throws mid-way through the first period. Reagan Beims followed with an out-of-bounds-play basket (assist Journey Lee). After a Holyoke free-throw, Bracelin swished a shot from the right elbow to pull the Lady Indians within three, 6-9. Holyoke responded with a coast-to-coast drive. Lauren Johnson's pass set up a score by Beims in the post, but the Lady Dragons countered with a shot from the right wing. Lee's drive to the basket late in the quarter resulted in two more charity line points for the Lady Indians. St. Francis trailed 10-13 after one period.
The deficit grew to seven (10-17) in the early portion of the second period after the Lady Dragons again drove coast-to-coast and added two more free-throws. At 5:30, Lauren Johnson nailed a trey from the top-of-the key, but Holyoke's Brooke Prottsman answered at the opposite end with a trey of her own. Reagan Beims made a shot from the free throw area for the Lady Indians (15-19), but then Holyoke scored four quick points triggering a St. Francis time-out at 2:58. After returning to the floor, the Lady Dragons added another trey by Prottsman increasing the deficit to double-figures (15-26). The Lady Indians earned three more scores in the second period; a right wing shot by Madi Tice, a post basket by Beims, and a post basket by Zoe Sundstrom (assist Hanna Bracelin). The Lady Indians trailed 21-28 at halftime.
Holyoke scored the first basket of the second half on press offense. Lauren Johnson answered from the free-throw circle after an assist by Hanna Bracelin. Journey Lee's lay-up narrowed the deficit to 25-30 moments later. The Lady Dragons countered with another trey, this time by Megan Parker from the left wing. Two Johnson free-throws were followed by a charity toss and out-of-bounds play score by Holyoke's 6' 0" sophomore Grace Dille (27-36). At 2:50, Madi Tice added two-free throws to the St. Francis cause. Seconds later, Lauren Johnson picked up her fourth foul and headed to the bench. St. Francis trailed 29-37 after three periods of play.
The Lady Dragons took full control of the contest in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter. On the first three possessions of the quarter the Lady Dragons earned two treys from Prottsman and a post basket from Dille to stretch the lead to sixteen points (29-45). After a right wing trey by Hanna Bracelin, the Lady Dragons went into a partial delay offense to use clock and force the Lady Indians out of their zone defense. A trey by Bracelin and a free-throw by Zoe Sundstrom trimmed the margin to eleven (36-47) with just under three minutes remaining. A 2:25, Lauren Johnson fouled out of the game. Forced to foul and shoot quickly, the Lady Indians put the Lady Dragons on the line several times. The Lady Dragons made enough free-throws to keep the Lady Indians under control. Though the Lady Indians had numerous shots late in the game, St. Francis earned just one more basket, an offensive rebound score by Madi Tice. St. Francis lost to the Holyoke Lady Dragons, 38-52.
St. Francis had six players score in the contest. Hanna Bracelin led St. Francis with 10 points. Reagan Beims added 8. Lauren Johnson scored 7, Madi Tice 6, and Zoe Sundstrom 3. The Lady Indians made 9 of 15 from the line and committed 20 fouls.
Holyoke had three girls score in double figures: Brook Prottsman (5' 4" junior) 16, Grace Dille (6' 0" sophomore) 14, and Roni Beavers (5' 7" senior) 11. The Lady Dragons converted 18 of 27 free throws and were called for 17 fouls.
The junior varsity contest was decided by a six-point run mid-way through the second period. St. Francis held an early 4-2 lead after earning baskets by Lauren Johnson and Jessica Confer (assist Lindsey Johnson). After a St. Francis time-out at 3:04, the Lady Dragons earned a driving basket and two free-throws to lead 4-7 after one quarter of play.
Jylian Laten's drive pulled St. Francis within one-point (6-7), but the Lady Indians would get no closer. The Lady Dragons earned a driving score and post basket to stretch the lead to 6-11, before Emileigh Dinkel scored on an assist from Reagan Beims. Holyoke then scored three consecutive baskets (elbow, left wing, and offensive rebound) to stretch the lead to 8-17. After a St. Francis time-out at 2:38, the Lady Indians earned two left wing baskets by Dinkel (assist Sundstrom on the first) to trim the deficit to four (13-17). The final two scores of the contest, a post basket and break-away lay up, belonged to Holyoke. St. Francis lost the junior varsity contest 13-21.
The Lady Indians will play Quinter, in St. Francis, on Friday, February 12.
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