Lady Cowboys split the weekend

By becca nielsenSpecial to the Herald MEEKER I After a close overtime game, the Panthers came out fighting as Meeker met them on their home court Friday night. Both teams sprang into action with full court presses. The scoring was slow until Rangely took advantage of several costly Meeker turnovers which found the Lady Cowboys down 20-6 at the end of the first quarter.In the second quarter Meeker’s defense went to work and the buckets began to fall. Meeker outscored the Panthers by three points reducing the gap to 11.The Lady Cowboys are known for their third quarter comebacks and once again they came out of the locker room firing. Their defense held Rangely to only nine points while their offense added 14 to the visitor scoreboard. Two quick steals by the guards and some critical buckets found them within eight at the buzzer 46-38.Unfortunately, Rangely rallied in the fourth quarter with two quick unanswered buckets. Meeker put up a fight but just couldn’t pull off the win. The Panthers landed a league victory of 63-43 keeping their No. 3 spot in the league.Meeker turned things around Saturday for their final home game and “Senior Night” as they promptly took the reins from the West Grand Mustangs in the first quarter 12-4.The lid came off the basket and Meeker dropped 20 points in the second quarter while their same persistent defense only allowed West Grand to score seven. The Lady Cowboys headed into the locker room 20-7 at half. They put it in cruise and kept an easy 20 point lead for the rest of the game winning, 51-30.All of the girls participated to pull off a victory, keeping Meeker fifth in the league. A Tuesday night pigtail game scheduled in Oak Creek against fourth place Soroco Rams will determine which team heads to Hayden Friday and Saturday for the district tournament. Meeker won 57-55.For the rest of the league, Paonia sits first, Hayden second, Rangely with the third spot, while Vail Mountain, West Grand and Plateau Valley bring up sixth, seventh and eighth respectively.This final home game was about much more than just basketball. It marked a special night for senior players Tina Bain, Rebecca de Vergie, Laura Glass and Chanler May, as well as manager Tia McKee. This was the last home game for these lady Cowboys. They were recognized in a ceremony between the varsity games.The big highlight for the night was not on the girls but on a special teammate they invited for the evening. Five-year-old Kacey Pozorski was an honorary member of the Lady Cowboy basketball team as she joined the girls on the floor for player introductions.Last Saturday the Lady Cowboys held a community project dance for elementary and middle school students. This project provided these kids with a night of fun while raising money for Kacey’s family. Kacey was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor and the Meeker girls’ basketball team wanted to help make a difference.During the introductions the team handed Kacey and her parents, Jackie and Kurt Pozorski, a check for $200 to help with expenses that they have incurred during Kacey’s treatments.“This is what it is all about, coming together and doing good things,” coach Deb Henderson said of the weekend.Kacey received high fives from all of the players during introductions and many hugs after the game.