YUMA PIONEER PHOTOS
RBC | After a slow start to the season, the Cowboys ended their year with a 12-11 record, a bid to the regionals, and an improvement over the 2018-2019 season.
“We finished strong, struggled in the beginning, but did really well at the end,” said head coach Klark Kindler.
Meeker took on Yuma in a game that was supposed to have been played in Vail, but because of the COVID-19 virus in Summit County the game was played at Clear Creek.
Cole Rogers broke 20 points for the fourth game in a row; he scored 23 points for the team lead against the Indians, and had scored 26, 25 and 28 in the previous three games, a total of 102 points.
The Indians took the lead early, pulling further ahead by half time, the Cowboys were unable to recover. The game was within reaching distance for Meeker but as the quarters passed the score gap widened and the Cowboys were unable to recover.
“We played well but gave up too many unanswered runs,” commented Kindler. “They had two runs of eight points each, one at the end of the first half and the other in the beginning of the third quarter, that went unanswered, it was the difference that determined the game.”
The final score was 63-45 and for seniors Elijah Deming and Rogers it was their last basketball game as Meeker Cowboys.
For the year, Rogers led the team in scoring with 460 total points, Spud White had 275 points for the year, Deming 141, Ryan Phelan 110, and Lane Anderson 100; the five team members that broke 100 points.
For the season, the Cowboys made 96 three-point field goals, 60 of which were made by Rogers. Off the boards they had 693 total rebounds, led by White with 176.
“The seniors, Cole and Elijah, did a great job, they provided great leadership and will do well in life,” Kindler added.
Final rankings for the Cowboys will not be out until the state championship tournament has completed.
By Tiffany Jehorek | Special to the Herald Times
