MEEKER | The Meeker High School Girls Basketball team kicked off the 2024-2025 season by hosting the annual Meeker Cowboys Shootout Tournament, finishing with a 2-1 record over the weekend.
The Cowboys opened their season Thursday night against the Altamont Longhorns, securing a 32-23 victory. This marked the first meeting between the two teams since December 2023, when Meeker also came out on top.
Junior Rylee Sullivan led the charge with 20 points, seven rebounds, and four steals, shooting 9-for-22 from the field. Reflecting on the team’s defensive strategy, Sullivan said:
“Not having many bigs this year, we have learned that we have to be big and box out. Our defense starts our offense, and defense definitely wins games, so playing strong is important in that aspect,” Sullivan stated.
Junior Kayla Castillo also helped the team contributing six points and seven steals, she credited her teammates for her performance:
“They were the most important contributors to my steals and definitely made me more confident to go after the ball and stay in that aggressive mindset,” Castillo said.
The Cowboys faced the Battle Mountain Huskies on Friday, falling 38-37 in a tightly contested game. Meeker started strong, leading 15-9 after the first quarter. Junior Rylee Sullivan recorded a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds, while senior Taylor Garcia added six points and eight steals. The Cowboys dominated the offensive glass, pulling down 10 offensive rebounds, continuing a streak of 15 consecutive games with at least nine offensive boards.
Despite the loss, Head Coach Megan Shelton highlighted the team’s growth opportunities:
“As a young team and with a new program, we’ll always have room for growth and improvement. This year is full of firsts, and with that comes improvements and adjustments. I want to focus on the small victories throughout the season and continue to build the Meeker basketball program,” Shelton stated.
The Cowboys capped off the tournament with a 36-34 victory over the Middle Park Panthers, their closest win since February. Rylee Sullivan delivered another double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, her third consecutive game scoring at least a third of the team’s points.
Sullivan credited her teammates for helping her find her rhythm: “My team is really good at reading me and the court in general, and it helps to get in a good groove. Our offense allows for a lot of open shots that are typical shots taken by all,” Sullivan said.
Addie Knowles also made a significant impact with eight points and nine rebounds. The Cowboys grabbed 12 offensive rebounds, extending their streak to 16 consecutive games with at least nine offensive boards.
With a 2-1 record, Coach Shelton expressed optimism for the start of the young season.
“I feel like the team performed well this weekend, especially with it being our first games of the season. There is a lot of potential with this team, and we will continue to get better and better each day. I am excited to see where this season takes us,” Shelton said.
The lady Cowboys will take the upcoming weekend off before returning to action at home against Bishop Machebeuf on Saturday at 3 p.m.
The Meeker boys will host their Cowboy Shootout this weekend, starting at 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 12 and continuing through Saturday.
By JARED HENDERSON
