MEEKER I The Meeker High School girls’ basketball team opened the 2016 portion of the season on the road, and will play three games this week, including a home game Friday against Caprock Academy.
Meeker lost 51-21 to the Cedaredge Bruins, who are currently ranked No. 2 in the state’s 2A standings by Maxpreps.com.
“They are a real good team, with an inside and outside game, and they play good defense,” Meeker head coach Greg Chintala said of the Bruins. “We are a work in progress, still trying to find our identity.”
Meeker fell behind by 10 after the first period and trailed by 22 at halftime. The lady Cowboys were only able to score four more in the third quarter, and they finished with 10 in the fourth.
“We have some things to work on, but I saw some good things too, like we never quit,” coach Chintala said. “We need to work on not turning the ball over so much, but we did a better job of boxing out.”
Meeker senior Jenna Walsh and junior Peyton Burke each scored five points for the Cowboys, while juniors Halle Ahrens and Anna Walsh each added four. Maggie Phelan added a basket and Sierra Williams made a free throw to round out the scoring.
Ahrens led the team with nine rebounds, Burke had six, Phelan and Anna Walsh each brought down four while Julia Eskelson pulled down three rebounds.
Meeker will play in Hayden tonight, then host Caprock Academy on Friday and play in Hotchkiss on Saturday.
“All three games are winnable,” coach Chintala said of this week’s schedule. “We have to play well and do a better job of taking care of the ball, but they are all winnable games.”
