MEEKER I Finishing the regular season with a 14-5 record after losing to Plateau Valley 54-52 then beating Hotchkiss 65-36 in the final two games of the regular season, the lady Cowboys finished in fifth place and were the host of a pigtail game against Hayden on Tuesday, which they won 59-38.
Meeker will travel to Kremmling today to play the West Grand Mustangs in a must-win game in order to advance to the regional tournament next week.
The Meeker girls took no chances Tuesday against Hayden as they jumped out to a 15-4 first-quarter lead, then added 21 points, many from a ball-stealing defense, in the second period to lead by 18 at half. Meeker kept up the defensive pressure and held the lead in the second half.
Individual scores were not available at press time for the Hayden game. In the other two games, Meeker senior Sydney Hughes scored 21 against Plateau Valley and 33 against the Bulldogs from Hotchkiss. Hughes also led the team with 18 steals in the two final games of the regular season. Senior Megan Parker scored 27 points in the two games and Reese Pertile added 14, including 12 against Plateau Valley.
Senior Jamie McLaughlin scored six in the two games, Jenna Walsh, Maggie Phelan and Anna Walsh all averaged two points in the final two game, while Madi Shults and Peyton Burke each added a basket.