The Cowboys completed the first of many big-league weekends facing some of the typical opponents as long with a new one this year, Roaring Fork.
“We have a consistently good league this year,” commented head coach Klark Kindler, “some years we know we will walk away with a 30 point victory, but this year we will need to compete, and compete well, each and every game.”
The Cowboys went 2-1 on the weekend, falling to Roaring Fork, 50-72.
“We thought we had a chance against this team,” said Kindler, “but turnovers killed us in the end.”
Scoring was led by Jace Mobley with 17 and Ryan Sullivan with 15 and Mobley also led off the boards with 10 rebounds.
“We get into these lulls or streaks in our play where we make a mistake and it begins to compound and will last for a few minutes, allowing our opponents to either pull ahead or begin to catch up,” commented Kindler. “We have to find a way out of those slumps quicker.”
The Cowboys will have another shot at Roaring Fork in the weeks to come as they play each opponent in their league twice.
Friday was the beginning of a win streak for Meeker, crushing Olathe 56-38.
“From the NFHS videos we watched on them, we didn’t think they would be as good as they were,” said Kindler, “but they were much more athletic than they looked.”
Meeker came out strong and was able to hold it, even when Olathe had a small run in the second. Nearly tied at the half, the Cowboys put up a strong 22 point run in the third and held them off the rest of the game.
Sullivan with another 15 point game, Casey Brink with 10 and Mobley with nine led the Cowboys to the victory.
Defensively, many of the Cowboys assisted: Jacob Simonsen with seven rebounds, Jonathan Fitzgibbons, Mobley and Brink each with six.
“We went back and forth trying to decide if we would spend the night or not for the next day’s games in Parachute,” said Kindler, “but the boys don’t get the rest they need like they do when they are in their own bed.”
Saturday at Grand Valley was another phenomenal win, 50-44. Three Cowboys broke into double digits, Sullivan and Mobley each with 13, and Brink with 10.
“When we walk onto the court our opponent cannot shut one player down and control the game,” commented Kindler, “we have six rotating throughout the game and all of them are major contributors depending on the evening.”
With no Saturdays off in the foreseeable future this weekend is another busy one with two more league games at home.
Friday Meeker hosts Gunnison and Saturday Cedaredge. Gunnison is currently 2-5 but Cedaredge is 7-3.
“There are a lot of athletes in Cedaredge,” said Kindler, “this game will be a challenge.”
Games on Friday will begin at 4 p.m. with JV and Saturday JV will begin at 1 p.m.
By TIFFANY JEHOREK – Special to the Herald Times
