“Our kids came out and played well in the first two games, but Saturday, we ran into a tougher team,” Meeker head coach Greg Chintala said.
Meeker junior Reese Pertile was voted the tournament’s MVP after leading to team to the championship game, where she was injured early.
“Reese was a beast inside,” coach Chintala said.
Pertile scored 20 points in the first game of the season against Cortez’s JV, then put up 19 points against Mesa Ridge JV.
The lady Cowboys shut out Cortez JV in the first half and scored 23 points of their own in the first two quarters before going on to win 53-20 in the first game of the season.
“We played good fundamental defense and made the team work for what they got,” coach Chintala said.
Peyton Burke and Halle Ahrens each scored eight in the first game, Megan Shelton added six and Maggie Phelan finished with four. Anna Walsh, Julia Eskelson and Sierra Williams each made a basket.
Meeker continued to play tough defense against Mesa Ridge, a 4A school from Colorado Springs, leading 13-3 after the first quarter. The lady Cowboys kept a 10-point lead going into the final quarter, winning 46-31.
Ahrens finished with nine, Shelton scored five, and Jenna Walsh and Phelan each finished with four.
In the championship game, Meeker was tied with Cortez at four after the first quarter and trailed 11-6 at halftime.
“Losing Reese early in the game took us out of our game plan,” coach Chintala said.
Coach Chintala said Pertile would be “out for a while,” but they would know more after an MRI on her knee.
“Next man up; somebody will need to step up,” coach Chintala said.
Shelton and Burke both scored six points in the championship game while Jenna Walsh and Phelan each contributed a basket.
Pertile and the Meeker girls will have the week off before taking the court again in Olathe on Dec. 18
