RMS finishes second, fourth

RANGELY I Traveling to Meeker for their tournament, the Rangely seventh-grade girls met up with Steamboat for their first game. The young Lady Panthers took an early lead and held it easily to win the game 17-9.
Scrappy defense and some great teamwork kept this team gaining the whole game. Katye Allred led the scoring with nine, Jacy Rouse added four and Carrie Goddard and Melissa Russell each tossed in a bucket. Rangley made a clean sweep against Steamboat on the weekend as the B team also came out on top in their game.
Winning their first game pitched Rangely into the championship game against the Bulldogs. The Panthers fired up five points in the first quarter to put them three behind. Soon Craig took the lead and the Panthers couldn’t catch them.
In this game Goddard scored six, Rouse added three and Sidney Shaffer and Allred each had a basket for the 33-14 loss.
The Rangely Panthers seventh-grade team took home second place in the tournament. Craig secured first place, Steamboat was third and Meeker came in fourth.
Rangely’s eighth-grade team may have placed fourth but the heart the girls demonstrated was first class. The Lady Panthers matched up against Craig to kick off the tournament. Playing with only five girls, Rangely took an early lead and held it through half 14-9. Craig used a full bench and a full court press to try to wear down the Panthers.
The third quarter was the turning point as Craig scored 11 while the lid was sealed for the Panthers. Micah Saunders came out and scored two quick buckets for Rangely in the fourth but a fifth personal foul on Dawn Stephans left the Panthers with only four players. Undaunted these girls fought through a rough game keeping the score within four points. This heart wrenching game ended with Craig in the lead.
Saunders scored nine, Aimee Hernandez finished with eight, Stephans had three and Desiree Coombs made a free throw. The Rangely girls displayed great spirit.
The Lady Panthers’ next game found them stepping on the floor against Steamboat. Rangely was four points behind by half time and couldn’t close the gap. They lost the game 18-12 with Stephans finishing with eight, Coombs adding two and Hernandez and Saunders making one each.
The Panthers may have come out in fourth place but there were very few dry eyes in the crowd as these five girls fought fearlessly through the day.
This tournament ended with Meeker winning the championship trophy, the Bulldogs holding second, Steamboat with third and the Panthers earning fourth.