Winter sports season gets underway

RBC I The high school winter sports schedules start tonight and middle school boys’ basketball champions will be crowned this Saturday.
Both Rio Blanco County girls’ basketball teams will open their seasons today in Meeker, competing in the White River Electric Cowboy Shootout. The Lady Panthers will take the court at 6 p.m., against the 3A Grand Valley Cardinals. The host team Lady Cowboys will follow, as they take on Cedaredge with a tip off scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
The 11th annual Cowboy Shootout, a three-day event, will feature eight varsity teams competing in Meeker High School’s main gym and a sub-varsity tournament will be played in the back gymnasium. Meeker will have two teams entered in the sub-varsity tournament.
The Meeker Masons provide a pancake breakfast for all the players Saturday morning before former Mesa State standout Tonya Stits speaks to the teams. A three-point contest will follow and games will start at 11 a.m., with the championship scheduled to be played at 3:30 p.m.
Both Rio Blanco County wrestling teams will open their seasons Saturday, competing in the annual Hotchkiss Invitational.
Rangely’s boys’ basketball team will take the court at the Cowboy Shootout, Dec. 9-11 and Meeker will play in a tournament in Aspen Friday and Saturday to start their season.
Rangely Middle School will host the annual district tournament for the middle school boys’ basketball teams. The Panthers, Barone Middle School Cowboys, the Steamboat Springs Sailors and Craig Bulldogs will play for seventh- and eighth-grade titles, starting at 9 a.m. Saturday at Rangely High School.