Meeker, Meeker Sports, MHS Basketball, Sports

Lady Cowboys are the champions

The Meeker High School girls’ varsity basketball team opened the 2012-2013 season with three wins and a team championship trophy in the 2012 White River Electric Cowboy Shootout tournament held last week in Meeker. The lady Cowboys defeated Nucla, Hayden and Rangely to win the preseason tourney. Playing on the championship team were (front) Taylor Neilson, Kaysyn Chintala (named tournament MVP), Kacey Collins and Deena Norell. Back, assistant coach Mike Dinwiddie, Bailey Atwood, Kelsey Kendall, Aly Ridings, Katie Dinwiddie, Sydney Hughes, Piper Haney and head coach Greg Chintala.
MEEKER I After three big wins, the Meeker girls earned the championship trophy at the 2012 White River Electric Cowboy Shootout. Under the direction of head coach Greg Chintala the team started the tournament Thursday, Nov. 29, winning 65-19 against the Nucla Mustangs.
At the end of the first quarter Meeker controlled the game with a wicked defense shutting out the lady Mustangs 17-6. As the halftime buzzer sounded, the lady Cowboys dominated the game 35-6. The second half found the frustrated Mustangs getting more physical to gain a few points, but the Pokes continued to be defensively powerful as they closed the game 65-19. With a first round win, the ladies were headed for the second round of play head to head with the Hayden Tigers. Junior Aly Ridings lead the scoring with 14 points, Senior Kaysyn Chintala hit 12, Junior Taylor Neilson and sophomore Sydney Hughes had 11 each, Junior Piper Haney hit 10, senior Katie Dinwiddie made four, senior Kacey Collins hit a bucket and senior Amanda Kendall sank one foul shot.
Friday night opened with Meeker once again taking the lead. The lady Cowboys posted 29 points to Hayden’s 13 by the end of the second quarter. Heating up the floor, Meeker then fired up 17 unanswered points until late in the third when the Tigers finally made to baskets closing at 50-17. The fourth quarter looked like Meeker’s wicked defense would earn a shutout as they lead 68-17 with one minute left on the clock. The Tigers managed to hit one basket ending the game 68-19, another big win for the lady Cowboys. Leading the pack Neilson had 20, Chintala hit 11, Hughes sunk 10, Haney and Dinwiddie both cashed in eight, Ridings scored five, Kendall made four and junior Deena Norell hit a three-pointer.
Saturday the girls faced off for the championship title against county rivals the Rangely Panthers who were dominating their side of the bracket with wins akin to Meeker’s. The crowd was expecting a great game and that is what they got. Both teams’ tenacious defenses kept the scoring to a minimum as the first quarter closed 9-8. Meeker cashed in 11 and Rangely answered with 10 to end the second quarter 20-18, the Cowboys. With a defensive onslaught, Meeker attacked to take a seven point lead in the third quarter, and the fourth quarter was the final downfall for the Panthers as the Pokes dominated with 17 points while Rangely hit a bucket and a foul shot. Meeker’s championship game concluded with a 51-30 win over the Panthers. Neilson led with 15 points, Ridings cashed in 12, Chintala sunk eight, Collins hit five, Haney had four and Norell hit two foul shots. Commenting about the weekend, coach Chintala felt that the team’s “performance was as fine of team playing in the first weekend of basketball as I’ve seen for a long time.” He noted that the key to the lady Cowboys’ big wins and high scoring was because “our defense was tenacious which helped create our offense.”
In addition to the varsity portion of the tournament, Meeker’s junior varsity and C team won all of their games for a clean sweep for the lady Cowboys on the weekend. The junior varsity beat Grand Valley’s JV Thursday night and showed tremendous tenacity as they won their Saturday game against Snake River’s JV club. The C team followed suit Friday with a white knuckle double overtime win against Hayden’s JV. Meeker’s JV and C team coach Mike Dinwiddie was pleased to see the girls “executing moves and plays that they had worked on in practice.”
The Meeker Masonic Lodge generously prepared and donated a breakfast for all of the participating teams and coaches Saturday morning before guest speaker Brett Steinacher, athletic director at Meeker High School, addressed the young basketball players with an inspirational speech. Even though Steinacher was not a basketball player, as a 270 pound offensive linesman in high school and college, he connected his athletic journey to that of any athlete. He encouraged the players to personally rise to their fullest in whatever position that they are asked by their coaches to fill. Whether a player cheers from the bench or pushes the ball down the court, Steinacher urged them to “take whatever talents you are given and develop those talents to elevate the team.” Steinacher challenged the young ladies to work in the off season to better themselves. He asked them to make peace with the past, worry not about what others think, not to judge others, take charge of their own happiness and smile. The lady Cowboys came to their feet to lead a standing ovation.
After the breakfast several players from all teams also participated in a three-point contest that Hayden’s Olivia Zehner won. Then the all-tournament most valuable player and all-tournament team were announced. The tournament coaches may only nominate players from opposing teams who demonstrate exemplary athletic ability, sportsmanship and teamwork. Meeker’s senior guard Kaysyn Chintala was voted 2012 Cowboy Shootout All-Tournament Team MVP and teammate Taylor Neilson earned the All-Tournament Team along with Macaela Morris of Nucla, Snake River’s Katie Lee, Olivia Zehner of Hayden, and Rangely’s post Quincey Thacker. The ladies were presented trophies donated by White River Electric and the other sponsors of the shootout. The lady Cowboys would like to thank White River Electric Association, Inc. for sponsoring the Cowboy Shootout, Meeker Masonic Lodge for the breakfast, as well as Mountain Valley Bank, Rio Blanco County Abstract Company, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc., Ma Famiglia, Wendll’s Wondrous Things, ERBM Recreation and Park District, White River Convenience, White River Inn, McGuire Auto Parts, Stagestop Meat Market and Deli and Watt’s Ranch Market for their generous contributions. The Meeker coaching staff would also like to thank athletic director and guest speaker Brett Steinacher for his hard work and diligence running the whole event, as well as all of the officials and volunteers who worked the games. Once again this tournament was a huge success.

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  • Results are not guaranteed, unfortunately! Read all the Rio Happenings in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
  • Pictured with awards from the Triple Crown Series (#3 and #4) from bottom left Hudson Hummel (4th and 2nd), Lee Kirkpatrick (3rd and 4th), Heath Bennet (2nd and 2nd), Sawyer Hummel (1st and 3rd), Eli Bennet (1st), David Murray (Coach), Auri Murray (2nd and 1st), Taylor Bain, and Dawn Arnold (2nd). Story online at ht1885.com.
  • Bailey is our first Marketing Mixology partner and we are excited to help her promote this fun event along with the Meeker Colorado Chamber of Commerce!

Bailey and Real Estate West will host the second annual Easter Egg Hunt March 25th-29th. Go follow her page so you don't miss any clues!
@bailey_waldref_rew 

💚💚💚

Marketing Mixology is a FREE promotion where we spotlight one lucky local business across print, digital, and social channels each month! 

#locallove #locallovespotlight #lovemeeker #marketingmixology #shoplocal #superchargeyourmarketing
  • More freudenfreude, less schadenfreude… Hear from our Editor in her column this week online at ht1885.com.
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“For 50 years I’ve waited to see Meeker’s greens come out this nice,” said Jim Cook, who is returning to help at the course.” Hats off to Hunter and Matt Fellows who did an excellent job applying the snow mold preventative last fall which has made all the difference this year.”
Board members and volunteers are very hopeful that this will be a turnaround year for the local 9-hole course which plans an early April opening, weather permitting.
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Results are not guaranteed, unfortunately! Read all the Rio Happenings in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
Results are not guaranteed, unfortunately! Read all the Rio Happenings in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
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Pictured with awards from the Triple Crown Series (#3 and #4) from bottom left Hudson Hummel (4th and 2nd), Lee Kirkpatrick (3rd and 4th), Heath Bennet (2nd and 2nd), Sawyer Hummel (1st and 3rd), Eli Bennet (1st), David Murray (Coach), Auri Murray (2nd and 1st), Taylor Bain, and Dawn Arnold (2nd). Story online at ht1885.com.
Pictured with awards from the Triple Crown Series (#3 and #4) from bottom left Hudson Hummel (4th and 2nd), Lee Kirkpatrick (3rd and 4th), Heath Bennet (2nd and 2nd), Sawyer Hummel (1st and 3rd), Eli Bennet (1st), David Murray (Coach), Auri Murray (2nd and 1st), Taylor Bain, and Dawn Arnold (2nd). Story online at ht1885.com.
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@bailey_waldref_rew 

💚💚💚

Marketing Mixology is a FREE promotion where we spotlight one lucky local business across print, digital, and social channels each month! 

#locallove #locallovespotlight #lovemeeker #marketingmixology #shoplocal #superchargeyourmarketing
Bailey is our first Marketing Mixology partner and we are excited to help her promote this fun event along with the Meeker Colorado Chamber of Commerce! Bailey and Real Estate West will host the second annual Easter Egg Hunt March 25th-29th. Go follow her page so you don't miss any clues! @bailey_waldref_rew 💚💚💚 Marketing Mixology is a FREE promotion where we spotlight one lucky local business across print, digital, and social channels each month! #locallove #locallovespotlight #lovemeeker #marketingmixology #shoplocal #superchargeyourmarketing
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🍀 Happy St. Patrick's Day from the Herald Times! 🍀 According to the Census Bureau, over 31 million people - or 9.5%! - in America claim Irish ancestry! Everyone have a safe and fun Patty's Day celebrating your Irishness, real or honorary!
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The Cowboys played in their first golf tournament in the spring at Chipeta, “it was a bit of a cloudy and windy day but it was awesome to see some grass and a golf course,” commented head coach Amanda Back. Vivian Brown, pictured on the left, broke 100 and shot a 94 and Jayda May second from right shot a 99. From the far right, excluding those that have been mentioned, Averee Woodward, Joelle Soler, Mia Pinzon, Aurora Stalling, and Kailynn Watson all played scramble. This was Pinzon’s, Stalling’s and Watson’s first tournament as Meeker High School girl golfers. “It’s going to be a great season,” ended Back.
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View on Instagram |
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Mountain Sage Therapeutics held a grand opening and ribbon cutting for their new business at 640 Main St. in Meeker. Owners Teresa Wilde and Justin Noller offer movement, energy, and massage therapy for animals and their human companions. They are pictured here with the Chamber of Commerce and local citizens who attended. View their service on their website at www.mountainsagetherapeutics.abmp.com and contact them for an appointment 970-706-8445.
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View on Instagram |
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“For 50 years I’ve waited to see Meeker’s greens come out this nice,” said Jim Cook, who is returning to help at the course.” Hats off to Hunter and Matt Fellows who did an excellent job applying the snow mold preventative last fall which has made all the difference this year.”
Board members and volunteers are very hopeful that this will be a turnaround year for the local 9-hole course which plans an early April opening, weather permitting.
Members of the Rio Blanco Golf Association got a jump on spring this past week as volunteers shoveled and blew the snow off the greens. The winter’s snow and ice layers suffocate the fragile bent grass putting surfaces and getting the snow off allows Mother Nature to start her healing process earlier. “For 50 years I’ve waited to see Meeker’s greens come out this nice,” said Jim Cook, who is returning to help at the course.” Hats off to Hunter and Matt Fellows who did an excellent job applying the snow mold preventative last fall which has made all the difference this year.” Board members and volunteers are very hopeful that this will be a turnaround year for the local 9-hole course which plans an early April opening, weather permitting.
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