MEEKER | Head coach Jamie Rogers is looking forward to a great season this year for lady Cowboy basketball.
“It has been a lot of fun in the gym for our first eight days of practice,” commented Rogers, “the girls have had a lot of energy and I am really looking forward to the season.”
Returning seniors to this year’s team are Jayden Overton, Brea Garcia, Maddie Mendenhall and Autumn Hobbs. | TIFFANY JEHOREK PHOTOS
Returning again alongside Rogers are assistant coaches Ivy Coryell and Marki Grant.
“Ivy, Marki, and myself have 25 girls this year; it is a lot, but with the three of us we can get a lot done,” Rogers said.
Returning this year as seniors are Brea Garcia, Autumn Hobbs, Jayden Overton and Maddie Mendenhall. Other returning varsity players include Ellie Hossack and Ainsley Selle.
“There are a lot of freshmen this year, with a lot of height, it is very exciting to have them in the gym this year,” commented Rogers.
The Cowboys open their season Thursday at 7:30 p.m., taking on Nucla in the opening round of the 22nd annual Cowboy Shootout.
Dale Dunbar of the White River Electric Association said that “the Meeker girls have won the tournament four times in our 22 years.”
“The girls get really excited for this tournament every year,” said Rogers, “they have a three-point contest Saturday morning right after the Masonic Lodge feeds them a great breakfast.”
“We invite the public to come out and watch the girls in this contest,” said Dunbar, “we also name the all-tournament team and MVP at that time, right before we play the final games.”
“We are so thankful for all of the volunteers that help us run this tournament,” said Rogers, “we have two gyms going, one for varsity and one for JV, with scorekeepers and bookkeepers, a hospitality room that will be run by Jewell Kindler and we are so thankful for all of those that help make this tournament possible.”
The JV tournament will be round robin and the varsity is double elimination.
“The shootout has so many partners,” said Dunbar, “White River Electric Association, Tri-State Generation, and of course the school.”
Attending the girls tournament this year are Soroco, Nucla, Meeker, Altamont, Mancos, Hayden, Lotus and Coal Ridge.
This year with the change of classifications, Colorado High School Sports Activities Association added a sixth classification, the Cowboys moved up to class 3A. This has created a few changes to the league, Rangely will no longer be on the schedule as a regular season game as they are not in the Cowboy’s league, and Roaring Fork and Aspen are now both in the league for the girls.
By TIFFANY JEHOREK – Special to the Herald Times
