Special to the HT
MEEKER | The Meeker High School girls basketball team hosted the Olathe Pirates last week in a game that also marked their senior night. The Cowboys put on a dominant performance, securing a season-high 54-24 victory.
By halftime, Meeker had surged to a 34-6 lead, showing no signs of slowing down. Head coach Megan Shelton credited the team’s success to a newly implemented offensive strategy.
“The girls were able to pull off the win and try to execute a new offense that we struggled with at the beginning of the season,” Shelton said. “The girls have shown a lot of growth throughout the season and continue to surprise us.”
The evening was also dedicated to honoring the team’s lone graduating senior, Taylor Garcia. Shelton praised Garcia for her dedication and contributions.
“Congratulations to our only senior, Taylor Garcia, on her last basketball season as a Meeker Cowboy,” Shelton said. “Taylor has been a blast to coach this season and has worked tremendously hard. She is such an asset to the team, and we will miss her next year.”
Several players delivered impressive performances in the win. Sophomore Kayla Castillo led the team with 19 points, shooting 6-for-10 from the field, while also tallying five steals. Castillo has been a key defensive presence for the Cowboys all season. When she records five or more steals, Meeker has a 2-1 record, but when she does not, the team stands at 8-10.
“I tried my best to stay aggressive on defense and play more close up than usual,” Castillo said. “My teammates definitely helped me stay aggressive and set me up to be able to create those turnovers.”
Junior Rylee Sullivan also contributed significantly, finishing with 13 points and six rebounds.
“I would say that I finally got my spark back and was feeling more confident,” Sullivan said. “My team was working really well with each other and everyone was reading the court well. It always helps to have fun, keep a smile on your face, and laugh every once in a while!”
Meeker dominated in ball movement, finishing the night with 10 assists compared to Olathe’s one. The Cowboys also limited Olathe’s leading scorer, sophomore Jasmine Ramirez, to just 12 points.
With the win, Meeker improved to 10-11 on the season.
The following day, the Cowboys traveled to Hotchkiss to face the North Fork Miners. Coming off their season-high scoring performance, Meeker continued its momentum, securing a 76-73 victory in double overtime.
The Cowboys had previously defeated North Fork 51-43 on Jan. 31. This time, it took a dramatic game-tying three-pointer by Sullivan to send the game into overtime, and another hard-fought eight minutes to clinch the win.
“We were down by three points and had one last chance to score,” Shelton said. “We set up a play that allowed a three-point shot, and it was taken by Rylee Sullivan, who made it and got us into overtime. We battled eight minutes in double overtime to come out on top. It was a good learning experience for our team in close game situations.”
Sophomore Alyssa Lovelace played a key role, scoring 17 points on 6-for-14 shooting while adding eight assists and five rebounds. Freshman Meri Hollembeak also had a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
With the victory, Meeker evened its record at 11-11.
The Cowboys will finish their regular season on the road Friday against the De Beque Dragons. Meeker enters the game on a two-game win streak, aiming to finish above .500. The Dragons, coming off a dominant 57-12 victory over Vail Christian, will look to defend their home court.
“We are preparing for De Beque this week and are excited to see what the girls can do,” Shelton said. “We have had our ups and downs this season, but we are growing as a team and as a program. I want the girls to know how proud us coaches are of their abilities and to leave everything out on the court in their remaining games.”
The Cowboys will look to cap off their season on a high note before heading into the postseason.
