Preview: Akron Rams vs. Holyoke Dragons
The Akron Rams will be playing in front of their home fans against the Holyoke Dragons at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday. Akron has been getting the ball to fall more lately as they've increased their point totals each of their last three games.
Last Friday, Akron got the win against Haxtun by a conclusive 53-31. Given Akron's advantage in MaxPreps' Colorado basketball rankings (they are ranked 67th, while Haxtun is ranked 241st), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.
Akron got their win on the backs of several key players, but it was Mikenna Weers out in front who scored 13 points. As a matter of fact, that's the most points Weers has scored all season. Kinsey Grauer was another key contributor, scoring 11 points.
Meanwhile, Holyoke's recent rough patch got a bit rougher on Friday after their fourth straight loss. They took a 48-40 hit to the loss column at the hands of Wiggins. The defeat unfortunately continues a disappointing trend for Holyoke in their matchups with Wiggins: they've now lost three in a row.
Despite their loss, Holyoke saw several players rise to the challenge and make noteworthy plays. Ellie Kleve, who scored 12 points along with eight rebounds and two steals, was perhaps the best of all. Another player making a difference was Anessa Colglazier, who scored six points along with 13 rebounds and five steals.
Even though they lost, Holyoke smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 17 offensive rebounds. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Wiggins only pulled down ten offensive rebounds.
Akron's win bumped their record up to 10-8. As for Holyoke, they have not been sharp recently as the team has lost eight of their last nine matches, which put a noticeable dent in their 4-13 record this season.
This contest is one where the number of possessions is likely to be a big factor: Akron have been smashing the glass this season, having averaged 26.4 rebounds per game. However, it's not like Holyoke struggles in that department as they've been averaging 32.5 rebounds per game. Given these competing strengths, it'll be interesting to see how their clash plays out.
Akron strolled past Holyoke in their previous matchup back in February of 2023 by a score of 41-26. Will Akron repeat their success, or does Holyoke have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
