Another win for the Lady Cowboys, record now 15-1

MEEKER I Meeker girls’ basketball earned another win for their season Feb. 8 when they met up with the Vail Christian Saints. In the first play of the game, post Kacey Collins nailed a jump shot to start the scoring for the lady Cowboys. With their signature tenacious full court press, Meeker caused six turnovers in the first quarter. Obviously back to her full potential after turning her ankle in the Hotchkiss game in January, six-foot post Katie Dinwiddie hit eight of her season high 16 points in the initial drive of the game. Teammate Piper Haney was on a roll with three of the steals she snagged turning into easy buckets for Deena Norell and Bailey Atwood. Haney also added a bucket. Taylor Neilson picked off a Saints pass and tossed it to Aly Ridings, who dumped in an easy layup. Meeker led 18-0 at the buzzer.
Out of the blocks for the second quarter, Haney snagged anther loose ball then dished in a shot. At three minutes into the quarter, the Saints hit two foul shots, but they could never touch the Cowboys. On the next possession, Kaysyn Chintala drained a three then Neilson and Dinwiddie each added a bucket. Vail Christian made a shot but Atwood swished a three and a jumper. At halftime Meeker led 32-4.
The lady Cowboys played a full bench of 11 girls and pulled their defense back, but still soundly trounced the Saints in a 72-14 victory. Dinwiddie sunk 16, Atwood added 12, Neilson made 10, Haney and Ridings each tossed in eight, Chintala hit two threes, Sydney Hughes and Norell had four apiece, and Collins and Megan Parker each nailed a shot.
Head coach Greg Chintala noted that the team is now “utilizing the posts and getting a good combination of post and guard play.” He feels that his team is “getting everything shaped up and ready to go for the big games ahead.” Chintala is referring to this weekend’s matches in which Meeker will host Hotchkiss and head to Paonia while Rangely also plays these teams. Currently there is a stalemate for first place in league play between Meeker, Rangely and Paonia.
“With every player on the team finding her own important role,” Chintala said, “I’m excited for them because they play like their team slogan: Together We Attack!”
The lady Cowboy junior varsity team also soundly defeated the Saints. The C team traveled to Moffat County and found some valuable floor time in a tournament on Saturday. Both teams hosted the Steamboat Sailors Monday night, and the JV will play the same teams as the varsity this coming weekend.