MEEKER I Friday the lady Cowboys sealed the league title with a 70-61 win over the Hotchkiss Bulldogs. This was the second league game in a very busy week.
“There was no easy game this weekend,” commented head coach Jamie Rogers. “The girls had to work hard each and every game, the entire game.”
Thursday at home, the Cowboys faced the Soroco Rams in a close game to the very end. Soroco pulled ahead in the fourth quarter with just over a minute remaining in the game. The Cowboys lost a few girls who were in foul trouble and were down by five points. A few key players closed the gap with just over one minute remaining. Hallie Knowles came out after a time out to sink a three-pointer that put the Cowboys within two points. Sarah Kracht attempted a three-point shot and was fouled. At the free-throw line, she sank all three shots giving the Cowboys a small cushion. After one possession by Soroco, Kirsten Brown was fouled, she went 1-1 on her shots, but increased the margin slightly. Kracht and Brown added the score and the Cowboys won 58-54 in the last few seconds.
“Sarah stepped up in the fourth quarter, she had a defender face guarding her almost the entire game,” commented Rogers, and “Carleigh did a great job shutting down Cadence Bruner, Soroco’s top scorer, and Kirsten did what Kirsten does, she gets out and finished those layups.”
Julie Dinwiddie led the Cowboys with 18 points and Brown had 12, but it was Dinwiddie’s 30 rebounds — 14 offensive and 16 defensive — that may be a team record.
Friday in Hotchkiss Rogers said, “it took a minute to take control, but by the second quarter we didn’t look back, we scored 27 points in the second quarter along and never let Hotchkiss get within eight points the entire game.”
Kracht came on strong in the second quarter, and at the end of the night she had 21 points, 18 coming from her six three-pointers. Knowles had 13 points and Dinwiddie added an additional 12 to the final score of 70-61.
“Hallie put up some really big points this weekend and is stepping up,” said Rogers.
Saturday the trio of weekend games found the team in Baggs, Wyoming. It was another close game ending 49-44 for the Cowboys.
“We got off to a slow start,” said Rogers, “Tilly really got the defense going in the second, she was motivating and got everyone moving.”
Friday is the last regular-season game, the Cowboys will host Hayden, the number three ranked team in the league. JV begins at 4 p.m. and girls’ varsity will be at 5:30. Next Tuesday begins district play, Meeker will be hosting but will not know who they are playing until the pigtail games finish on Monday evening. With the outright league championship, the girls are guaranteed a berth at regionals. Who will host regionals will be known a week from Sunday. Whoever wins districts will secure a home location for regionals.
By TIFFANY JEHOREK
Special to the Herald Times
