Lady Cowboys finish second in tourney

MEEKER I Opening the season with two wins put the Lady Cowboys into the championship game of the annual White River Electric Association Cowboy Shootout, where Meeker finished second to 3A Grand Valley.
“The WREA puts on a great tournament for kids, that’s for sure,” Meeker coach Hallie Blunt said of the annual three-day classic, featuring eight teams.
Meeker defeated Telluride 42-34, to open the season, then came from behind to defeat Altamont, Utah, in the semis and advance to the finals.
Meeker took an early lead against the Telluride Miners and kept it throughout the game. Meeker juniors Elissa McLaughlin and Becky de Vergie each made two baskets and freshman Kaysyn Chintala hit a 3-pointer to put Meeker up 11-7 after the first quarter. The Lady Cowboys added seven more in the second quarter and held the Miners to four.
“I was pleased with our man-to-man defense and we were able to work on our press,” Blunt said of the opening game.
Meeker led 26-17 after three quarters and was outscored by one point in the fourth, but still won by eight points.
“We gave up some points in the fourth quarter, fouling and putting them on the line,” Blunt said. “We kept our composure and stuck with it.”
Senior Stacey Fitzgibbons scored 10 of her team-leading 12 points in the second half, McLaughlin finished with 10 and de Vergie scored eight.
Fitzgibbons was named to the all-tournament team by the coaches.
Against Altamont, Meeker fell behind 13-1 after the first quarter and trailed 17-6 at halftime.
“We were doing things well in the first half, we just couldn’t buy a basket,” Blunt said.
Meeker pulled within two at the end of the third, with Fitzgibbons scoring 12 of her 18 points in the third.
“Stacey opened things up for us in the third and Becky cleared the boards when we needed her to,” Blunt said. “We had some success running and good things from a lot of the players. Elissa never gets a breather, she works hard for 32 minutes.”
Meeker outscored Altamont 12-7 in the final quarter in an full team-effort comeback.
“I can’t say enough about the team defense and their heart, it was a great comeback.”
De Vergie finished with seven, senior Timbre Shriver scored six and sophomore Randia Rule added four in the fourth quarter.
The Lady Cowboys started slow in the championship game, trailing 8-4 after the first quarter and 23-10 at halftime.
“Bottom line was the turnovers,” Blunt said of the championship game against the Cardinals. “We had some opportunities in the first half, we just didn’t do a good job of taking care of the ball.”
Meeker pulled within seven by the end of the third quarter but lost ground in the fourth.
De Vergie finished with 18, Fitzgibbons added six, while junior Sage Chapin and Rule each added three.
“I was really proud of the kids, they had a great tournament and I think they surprised some people Friday,” Blunt said. “With the talent they have, it will make them fun to watch.”
Meeker fans will get to watch the Lady Cowboys Dec. 15, when they host the Olathe Pirates.