MEEKER — The Meeker Cowboys boys’ basketball team earned three more victories this past week at the High Country Invitational Tourna-ment in Granby. With victories over Love Christian (68-49), West Grand ((49-27) and Middle Park (73-30), the Cowboys now have a season mark of 7-0 and two pre-season tournament championships under their belts as they head into Christmas break and the start of league play.
The first game of the tournament found the ‘Pokes paired with Love Christian School from Denver. Meeker jumped out quickly on the playing strength of Dakota Rowlett and Tyrel Gerloff. The big men counted for six points apiece for the Cowboys as they gathered up a 23-10 first quarter lead. Meeker’s defense kept the school from Denver in check again for the second stanza as Brian Crowe found the range for Meeker hitting two big 3-point baskets to pace a 16-point second quarter and a 39-19 halftime lead. Meeker continued the pressure in the second half and kept Love Christian from gaining much ground. By game’s end Meeker had rung up another victory with a 68-49 final. Meeker was paced offensively by Crowe’s 16 points. Jacob and Rowlett each tallied a double-double with Jacob’s 10 points and 10 assists, and Rowlett’s 12 points and 13 rebounds.
A good defensive start in the second game with West Grand allowed Meeker to end the first quarter with a 12-2 lead. Consistent pressure on both ends of the court pushed the ‘Poke lead to 27-8 at halftime. The Mustangs rallied a bit in the third quarter with 12 points, but six points from Rowlett helped stem the Mustang effort as the Cowboys kept pace with 12 of their own. Meeker ended the game with 10 more points in the final period to ease to a 49-27 final. Rowlett led his team with 14 points while Gerloff chipped in 9.
In the final game Saturday with tournament host Middle Park, the Cowboys were able to push their season record to 7-0 with a solid win over the Panthers. Meeker’s offense found high gear as Mitch Jacob counted for eight of Meeker’s 16 first-quarter points and a nine-point lead. Middle Park gathered a little momentum in the second, but the Cowboys were able to keep three points ahead of the home team and took a 30-18 lead into the halftime locker room. Meeker came out in the third period to put the game away as a press resulted in 25 points. Again Jacob gathered eight points, and was assisted by Rowlett’s 11 in the quarter. Meeker had a commanding 55-24 lead heading into the final quarter. Meeker’s defense kept the pressure on the host Panthers in the fourth and only allowed them six more points in the quarter as the Cowboys coasted to a 43 point victory 73-30. Jacob and Rowlett led the Pokes with 22 and 21 points, respectfully.
Meeker will now take Christmas break off and resume play with league games after the break.
Scoring summary
Meeker 23 16 19 10 - 68
L. Christian 10 9 15 15 - 49
Meeker 12 15 12 10 - 49
W. Grand 2 6 12 7 - 27
Meeker 23 16 19 10 - 73
M. Park 7 11 6 6 - 30
