RANGELY I The Rangely High School girls’ basketball team started its game in Paonia playing great defense, holding the Eagles to one point in the first three minutes.
However the defensive pressure became a factor as Rangely fell behind at quarter‘s end and could not convert offensively.
The Panthers continued to play good defense but lost sophomore guard Carrie Goddard due to broken bones in her hand. Senior post player Chelsea Ficken broke her fibula during the game.
Without two key players, Rangely was short-handed against one of the toughest teams in the league, and their efforts came up short.
The lady Panthers played Hotchkiss on Saturday, and coach Quinton Kent said, “We looked like an almost new team as far as personnel was concerned.”
The Panthers were not only missing the two starters from the previous night, but senior Tessa Slagle missed the game due to a scholarship presentation. Lone senior Aimee Hogan was combined with three juniors and four freshmen for the game.
“Considering our circumstances, we were pleased with how the girls played,” Kent said. The lady Panthers lost the game by a final score of 59-23.
The Panthers played Meeker on Tuesday night and hosts West Grand tonight before getting a break going into the following week.