MEEKER | Last Tuesday, the Meeker High School boys basketball team traveled to Rangely, Colorado, to take on the Rangely Panthers. The Cowboys entered the game with an 0-8 record, eager to notch their first win of the season. In a nail-biting contest, Meeker emerged victorious, snapping their losing streak with a 62-61 win.
“We have been close in a number of games. It was just a matter of getting over the hump. Kids have continued to work hard, so we knew it was just a matter of time,” said head coach Klark Kindler.
Senior Alex Garcia led the Cowboys with a career-high 16 points, shooting 5-of-8 from the field, while grabbing eight rebounds. Senior Drew Drake also made a significant impact, recording a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds.
Kindler credited improved shooting as a key factor in the team’s success. “We shot the ball much better offensively,” he said.
The win improved Meeker’s record to 1-8.
On Friday, the Cowboys traveled to Olathe to face the Pirates, whom they had defeated in their last meeting. Meeker repeated history, earning a hard-fought 59-57 victory to secure their second win of the season.
“It was a great league basketball game. We had some kids step up and make plays down the stretch,” Kindler said.
Drake led the team with another double-double, posting a career-high 18 points along with 10 rebounds. Kindler praised his team’s defensive effort, saying, “We did well against their leading scorer, holding him to eight points under his average. Their two freshmen hit some big shots, which we’ll need to address when we face them again.”
The victory improved Meeker’s overall record to 2-8 and their league record to 1-2.
The Cowboys continued their momentum on Saturday, defeating the Gunnison Cowboys 54-48. The six-point margin marked Meeker’s best of the season so far.
“We did some good things in transition and guarded much better in the second half,” Kindler said.
Senior Tyler Sanders led the offensive charge with a career-high 17 points, shooting 6-of-11 from the field. Sophomore Cade Mills contributed with eight points, eight rebounds, and five assists.
Kindler noted the impact of the team’s winning streak on morale. “Winning always builds confidence, and you can see it by the way we are playing right now. We had two fourth-quarter comebacks in the last two games,” he said.
The win improved Meeker’s record to 3-8. Over the three-game streak, the Cowboys have averaged 58.3 points per game.
The Cowboys will face a tough test on Tuesday night against Vail Mountain (6-4) on the road. “We’ll try to do what we do best. With only one day to prepare, we can’t change a whole lot,” Kindler said.
Meeker will then travel to Roaring Fork on Saturday, with JV tipping off at 1 p.m. and varsity at 4 p.m.
Good luck to the Meeker Cowboys as they look to extend their winning streak. Go Cowboys!
