MEEKER | The Meeker High School boys basketball team opened last week on the road Thursday, traveling to Colbran to face the Plateau Valley Cowboys.
The last meeting between the two teams came Feb. 6, 2025, when Plateau Valley handed Meeker a 50–39 loss in Meeker. This time, the Cowboys returned the favor, edging Plateau Valley 57–56 in a tightly contested road matchup.
Meeker relied on balanced scoring, control of the boards and late defensive stops to secure the one-point victory. Head coach Klark Kindler said close finishes have become familiar territory for his team this season.
“We have won a lot of close games,” Kindler said. “In our league most games come down to one or two possessions, and we’ve been able to get it done in those close games.”
Four Cowboys reached double figures, led by junior Trent Sanders, who finished with a team-high 16 points and 13 rebounds. Senior Sam Conrado added 10 points on efficient shooting, going 5-of-7 from the field, while junior Said Rodriguez chipped in 11 points and five assists to help guide the offense. Junior Cade Mills contributed nine points and six rebounds, providing steady production throughout the night.
Meeker shot 48 percent from the field and converted 11 of 18 free-throw attempts. The Cowboys also held a 33–26 rebounding advantage, limiting second-chance opportunities in a game that remained close until the final possession.
Kindler credited his team’s defensive effort down the stretch for the win.
“Plateau Valley was very scrappy and both teams played hard,” Kindler said. “We happened to get a key stop when we needed it. We were able to force turnovers, and I felt we were able to wear them down a little.”
Colter Ralston led Plateau Valley with 21 points, but Meeker’s interior defense and rebounding proved decisive in the one-point win.
The following night, Meeker returned home to face Gunnison for the second time this season. After earning a 55–43 road win on Jan. 17, the Cowboys completed the season sweep with a 55–34 victory.
Meeker set the tone early with defensive pressure and balanced scoring, holding Gunnison to just 34 points and controlling the glass with a 36–25 rebounding edge. Kindler emphasized the importance of being prepared for back-to-back contests.
“We have to be ready to play on back-to-back nights,” Kindler said. “We did not play well in the first game, and hopefully we can cut out unforced turnovers and defend the pick-and-roll better.”
Sanders led Meeker with 19 points, eight rebounds and three steals, while junior Andy Mondragon followed with 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting, adding four steals and three assists. Rodriguez finished with nine points and six assists, and Mills added six points, three assists and five steals. Junior Carlos Carrillo contributed six rebounds to help Meeker maintain control in the paint.
The Cowboys shot 44 percent from the field and forced 16 turnovers, turning defensive stops into scoring opportunities as they pulled away in the second half behind disciplined defense and unselfish ball movement.
As of this week, Meeker moved up to No. 18 in the CHSAA Selection and Seeding Index after sitting at No. 21 last week.
With the two wins, Meeker improved to 12–5 overall and 6–2 in league play, sitting in second place in the 3A Western Slope standings. The Cowboys return to the road Tuesday, Feb. 10, to face Roaring Fork, a team that defeated Meeker 62–43 on Jan. 24, before closing the weekend at home against Cedaredge. Meeker previously defeated Cedaredge 71–56 on the road Jan. 10.
“We won’t be complacent,” Kindler said. “We know Cedaredge will come here to compete, and we have to match their intensity. We need to be more consistent with our shooting.”
Both games are scheduled for 7 p.m. starts as the Cowboys continue their push through the league schedule.
Meeker looks to build on its momentum as it heads into a critical stretch of league play, relying on balanced scoring, defensive intensity, and leadership from its upperclassmen to stay in contention. With the team’s confidence growing after recent wins, the Cowboys are aiming to carry that energy into the remainder of the season and make a deep postseason push.
Junior Said Rodriguez drives the ball up court for the Meeker Cowboys, orchestrating the offense against Gunnison in their 55-34 home victory. JARED HENDERSON PHOTO