MEEKER | The Meeker High School boys basketball team hosted the Olathe Pirates last week on Senior Night, celebrating its graduating players with a dominant 78-52 victory. The win marked the Cowboys’ highest-scoring game of the season, surpassing their previous high in a 68-42 win over Cedaredge.
Head coach Klark Kindler credited the team’s offensive rhythm as the key to success.
“We got into a good offensive rhythm and shot the ball well,” Kindler said.
The victory was the Cowboys’ biggest since their Feb. 14 win against Cedaredge. Kindler reflected on the significance of securing a win on Senior Night and praised the departing players for their contributions over the past four years.
“It’s always fun to send the seniors out the right way,” Kindler said. “The seniors are hard-working, and we have enjoyed having them in the program. They will all be successful in life.”
Sophomore Said Rodriguez led the way for Meeker, recording a double-double with a career-high 16 points and nine rebounds. He credited his aggressive mindset for his offensive success.
“I came into the game with an aggressive mindset to get to the rim and finish,” Rodriguez said. “After that, I was able to find some shots in the midrange and from three. My speed also helped me get down the court faster.”
Senior Tyler Sanders also had a strong performance, finishing with 17 points. He took advantage of the defense’s struggles to contest outside shots.
“In the first half, they struggled to get out on shooters around the arc, so I took advantage and hit a lot of those outside shots,” Sanders said.
The Cowboys dominated the glass with 23 offensive rebounds, continuing their strong rebounding stretch. They have recorded at least 11 offensive boards in each of their last six games. With the win, Meeker improved to 6-14 on the season.
The Cowboys were back in action the next day, traveling to Hotchkiss to take on North Fork. Meeker entered the matchup with momentum, while the Miners were on a five-game losing streak. In their previous meeting on Jan. 31, North Fork secured a 58-41 road win over Meeker.
This time, the Cowboys pushed the game into overtime but fell just short, losing 59-55. Coach Kindler noted the team’s improved rebounding as a key adjustment that they made leading up to this game.
“We rebounded better, and that was what we felt hurt us the first time we played them,” Kindler said.
Despite the loss, several players had standout performances. Senior Drew Drake shot 7-for-10, scoring 14 points and grabbing five rebounds. Sanders added 13 points and three steals, while Rodriguez contributed nine points and five boards.
Meeker continued its rebounding dominance, securing 15 offensive rebounds. The Cowboys have recorded at least 11 offensive boards in seven consecutive games. The loss marked their fourth straight road defeat, dropping their record to 6-15.
“It was a one-possession game, and they made one or two more plays than us,” Kindler said. “Our players have given great effort all season long.”
Meeker returns to the road Friday to face De Beque, a team they are 3-3 against since 2017. The Dragons enter the contest with a 14-7 record after a 57-35 win over Vail Christian.
“We are going to go out and compete and play hard like we always do,” Kindler said.
The Cowboys will then conclude their regular season at home Saturday against Vail Christian. Kindler reflected on the team’s growth this season.
“I feel that we gave great effort all season,” Kindler said. “We had some adversity early in the season and battled through it, finding success once we got into league play.”
Fans are encouraged to attend Saturday’s home finale. The schedule includes the C team at 11 a.m., junior varsity at 12:30 p.m., and varsity tipping off at 2 p.m.
