Yuma High School’s girls basketball team again put a challenge to a top opponent, but again came out the losing end.
The Indians dropped to 0-4 on the season, 0-1 in Lower Platte Activities Association play, with a 37-26 loss to Class 2A third-ranked Holyoke, Friday night in their league opener in The Pit.
Yuma simply could not generate enough offense to pull off the upset, though the effort was terrific.
Both teams scored just four points in the first quarter. Holyoke scored the first 11 points in the second, including eight straight points by Lauren Herman, but Lea Richardson scored seven straight to leave the Indians trailing just 18-13 at halftime.
Holyoke pushed the lead to as much as 13 points in the third quarter, but Yuma kept battling. Meidi Reyes hit back-to-back 3-pointers early in the fourth, and Richardson made a free throw to cut Holyoke’s lead to 31-26 with 3 minutes, 17 seconds left.
The Indians had several good looks to cut further into Holyoke’s lead but could not convert. The Dragons finally sealed the game with six free throws in the games final 40 seconds.
Yuma shot just 24 percent, including just making seven of 34 two-point shots, and took only six free throws, making three.
Richardson had 14 points and five rebounds, Reyes six points, Ema Richardson two points and eight rebounds, Taylor Law two points and two rebounds, Caddis Robinson two points, and Elle Roth nine rebounds.
Yuma will look for their first win Saturday in a league game against Sedgwick County in Julesburg. Tip-off will be approximately 2:30 p.m.
