Photos by Ken Hamrick Sanford High School's Makenzie Reynolds looks to put up a shot against Holyoke in the Class 2A State Tournament championship game in Loveland. Reynolds scored 10 points, but the Lady Indians lost 39-34. Sanford High School's Riley Canty looks for an open teammate as Holyoke's Elise Krogmeier play defense in the Class 2A State Tournament championship game. The Lady Indians lost 39-34.

LOVELAND — It was a case of falling into too deep of a hole for the top-seeded Sanford High School girls basketball team when it took on second-seeded Holyoke in the Class 2A State Tournament championship game Saturday at the Budweiser Events Center.

The Lady Indians trailed by as much as 16 points in the game, but they fought hard to close to within three points late in the game. However, that would be as close as they would come as they lost to the Lady Dragons 39-34.

Kristin Viselmeier gave Holyoke the early lead with a layup, but Cheyenne Caldon made a 3-point basket to put Sanford in front at 3-2.

That would be the Lady Indians’ only lead of the game. Elyce Talavera made a three on the other side, and after Asia Caldon tied the score, the Lady Dragons scored the next eight points for a 13-5 advantage at the end of the first quarter.

Cheyenne Caldon opened the second quarter by making two free throws, but Lauren Herman made three treys to give Holyoke its largest lead of the game at 23-7. Asia Caldon made one of two from the line to close out the period, but the Lady Indians trailed 23-8 at halftime.

Cheyenne Caldon made two more free throws for the first points of the third quarter, but Talavera made another 3-pointer to equal the Lady Dragons’ largest lead at 26-10.

Asia Caldon and Makenzie Reynolds sparked a Lady Indians’ rally as both made a 3-point basket. Asia Caldon followed with two free throws to bring Sanford within a single-digit deficit at 26-18.

Viselmeyer ended the streak with a layup. Makenzie Reynolds also drove for a layup, and after Herman also scored in the paint, Cheyenne Caldon made a layup and added a free throw to bring the Lady Indians within 30-23 at the end of the period.

Viselmeyer’s two free throws pushed the lead to five, but Riley Canty made two 3-pointers and Makenzie Reynolds scored a layup to cut the deficit to 34-31 with 4:09 to play.

Elise Krogmeier made split at the line and then made two free throws to increase the lead to 37-31. But Makenzie Reynolds buried a three to again bring the Lady Indians within three points at 37-34 with 56 seconds left.

Sanford got the ball back after Herman missed the front end of a 1-and-1, but Cheyenne Caldon missed a 3-point attempt. After a tie-up, the Lady Indians regained possession, but another 3-point attempt was blocked.

Herman made two free throws with 10 seconds remaining to put the game out of reach.

Cheyenne Caldon and Makenzie Reynolds both scored 10 points to lead the Lady Indians.

Herman was Holyoke’s leading scorer with 14 points.

Sanford ended the season with a record of 25 wins and two losses.

Holyoke 39, Sanford 34

Holyoke – A. Talavera 0 0-0 0, E. Talavera 3 0-0 9, Herman 4 3-5 14, Viselmeyer 3 3-4 9, Krogmeier 2 3-4 7, Roberts 0 0-0 0. Total 12 9-13 39.

3-point goals – Herman 3, E. Talavera 3. Total 6.

Sanford – Faucette 0 0-0 0, A. Caldon 2 3-4 8, R. Canty 2 0-0 6, Av. Smith 0 0-0 0, C. Caldon 2 5-5 10, Edgar 0 0-2 0, M. Reynolds 4 0-1 10, As. Smith 0 0-0 0. Total 10 8-12 34.

3-point goals – R. Canty 2, M. Reynolds 2, A. Caldon 1, C. Caldon 1. Total 6.

Holyoke           13        10        7          9 – 39

Sanford           5          3          15        11 – 34

Fouls – Holyoke 11, Sanford 13.