Meeker’s first game of the 2012 campaign was a rematch with the Hayden Tigers. Unlike their previous match in the WREA Shootout where the Cowboys jumped out to a solid 26-0 first quarter lead, the ëPokes showed signs of a long layoff as the Tigers scratched out a slim 11-10 first quarter lead. Meeker and Hayden played neck and neck in the second period, but the Cowboys were able to recover the one point deficit on the strength of Dylan Mobley’s five points. The half ended with a deadlock at 23 points.
Cooper Smith took over the scoring chores for the ’Pokes in the third period scoring nine of his game-high 19 points in the quarter to lead the home team to a 10 point margin at the break 43-33. Two of his points came off an impressive break and a slam dunk over a Tiger defensive player. Although they were outscored in the fourth quarter, Meeker’s lead was enough to carry them to the victory 51-42.
Saturday’s contest against the visiting Vail Christian Saints also started out slow for the Cowboys. Meeker couldn’t find the range on the basket as Vail opened a 17-11 margin against the home team after one quarter. Gaining some momentum in the second period, Smith again paced his team with seven points in quarter number two. The Cowboys outscored their opponents 16-12, but Vail still held a 2-point lead at the half, 29-27. Meeker’s Trey Morris and Vail’s Gunner Wilson each paced their teams in the third period with 10 points each, but Wilson’s supporting cast was able to outscore Meeker’s as Vail extended their lead to a 48-43 third quarter score. In the fourth, Smith was able to find two long range bombs for six points, and Mobley chipped in six more as Meeker’s defense stemmed the Vail offense to end regulation play in a 59-59 tie. The Cowboys had one last chance as time was ending but the basketball gods were determined to test the Cowboy resolve with an overtime period and the layup ended just short.
Starting the extra period, the Cowboys were able to gain the advantage on the Saints with Morris hitting a long three and Gable Smith converting three of his six free throws. Mobley and Kevin Eli contributed two each and the Cowboys held Vail to six total points in the stanza to gain the victory 69-65
This week, the Cowboys will host the visiting Plateau Valley Cowboys on Friday, and will travel to Paonia on Saturday. Neither contest will count in league standings.
Meeker 10 13 20 8 -51
Hayden 11 12 10 9 -42
Meeker
C. Smith 4,3,2,2-19, Fitzgibbons 0,0,2,1-1,
S. Smith 3,0,0,0-6, Lopez 1,0,0,0-2, Eli 1,0,0,0-2, Morris 0,3,0,0-9, G. Smith 1,0,0,0-2, Mobley 3,1,1,1-10.
Hayden
Johnston 2,0,0,0-4, Engle 0,1,2,1-4, Cramer 3,0,4,1-7, Valdez 7,0,9,3-17, Doolin 2,2,0,0-10
Meeker 11 16 16 16 10 -69
Vail 17 12 19 11 6 -65
Meeker
C. Smith 2,4,6,3-19, Fitzgibbons 0,0,2,2-2,
S. Smith 4,0,1,1-9, Lopez 1,0,0,0-2, Musgrave 1,0,2,0-2, Eli 2,0,2,0-4, Morris 2,3,0,0-13,
G. Smith 1,1,8,4-9, Mobley 4,0,4,1-9.
Vail Christian
Ellsworth 0,0,2,0-0, Hernandez 3,2,8,7-19, Bowles 4,3,3,3-20, Wilson 3,1,8,4-13, Boselli 3,0,0,0-6, Linder 3,0,0,0-6, Currey 0,0,2,1-1
