MEEKER I The Meeker Cow-boys boys’ basketball team lost a game, and won a game in the past weekends Aspen Tournament. Meeker opened their 2010-2011 season against perennial 3A power Aspen High School. Last year Aspen placed second in state 3A classification losing in the final game of the year to Faith Christian. In their second game of the tournament, Meeker paired off against Vail Christian.
Friday night saw the Cowboys pairing off against their old league foe the Aspen Skiers. Undaunted by the reputation of the Skiers and emboldened by their own success from the previous year, Meeker came out ready to defend their own league crown. Meeker ended the first quarter up 11-9 and worked that lead to four to end the first half up 21-17. Aspen closed the gap in the third quarter outscoring the ‘Pokes by three to end the period with Meeker up a single point 33-32. Meeker had a little trouble with Aspens’ 1-3-1 trap and in particular the big front line of the Skiers.
Several turnovers and missed free throws allowed the hosts to overtake the Cowboys’ in the fourth quarter with a 22-point effort compared to the Cowboys 14. Final score for the game was Aspen 54, Meeker 47.
Saturday’s game saw Meeker stepping back into the 2A division and playing against league rival Vail Christian. Although Meeker found foul trouble, it didn’t faze the Cowboys much as they opened up a first quarter lead of 17 points to end the stanza up 28-11. Meeker lost a little of their lead in quarter number two but still held a comfortable halftime score of 40-27. The third quarter was played fairly close offensively with the Cowboys scoring 17 and the Saints scoring 16 to end the period with the Cowboys still in command 57-43. Meeker turned up their defense in the last quarter and shut down the scoring of their opponents holding the Saints to just one point for the final period while scoring 18 of their own to win going away 75-44.
This weekend the Cowboys will host the White River Electric Cowboy Shootout. Meeker will tip-off their game at 7:30 p.m. against Shining Mountain Waldorf School.