Holtville girls edge Calexico, 37-36

CALEXICO — On Thursday, the Holtville girls’ basketball team capped one of the best regular seasons in school history in a fitting manner, defeating Imperial Valley League champs Calexico, 37-36, in the Bulldogs own gym.

The win gives the Vikings a record of 21-5, by far the best mark they’ve had within at least the last 15 years, and the best winning percentage of any Valley team (boys or girls) for the 2018-19 season.

The game itself was very tit-for-tat. Neither team pulled far away from the other for any huge length of time.

The biggest margin at the end of any one quarter was two at the end of the third, when the Vikings led 27-25.

Holtville might have had a more comfortable time of it, but they left 14 points at the free throw line and committed 24 turnovers.

Still they had it together when it counted and where able to end the regular season on a high note against a capable opponent.

Amanda Angulo and Carolina Valdes were Holtville’s players of the game.

Both were significant two-way contributors, with Angulo tallying 14 points, five boards and five steals, and Valdes putting up a line of seven points, 10 boards and 10 blocks.

Next up for both Calexico and Holtville is the CIFSDS playoffs, where Calexico will try to navigate the Division II bracket and Holtville, Division III.