Special to the HT
RANGELY | The Rangely High School girls basketball team split a busy week, dropping a close non-league contest to Little Snake River before rolling past Vail Christian to remain unbeaten in league play.
Rangely fell 57-50 to Little Snake River on Thursday after digging an early hole. The Panthers trailed 36-11 at halftime but stormed back in the second half, outscoring Little Snake 39-21 to pull within striking distance late.
“It was a tale of two halves,” head coach Jimmie Mergelman said. “We struggled early, but the team showed a lot of heart in the second half and nearly completed the comeback.”
Freshman Tegan Behunin led Rangely with 13 points, while senior Aubrianna Tapia added 11 points and a team-high 15 rebounds. Sophomore RyLee Kenney finished with 11 points and six assists, and freshman Aubrey Yates contributed eight points and five steals.
The Panthers responded Friday with a decisive 77-22 league win over Vail Christian. Yates led all scorers with 21 points, while Tapia posted another double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Behunin added 13 points, and Rangely’s defense forced turnovers throughout the game.
“From the opening tip, our offense and defense were clicking,” Mergelman said. “Everyone contributed, and we executed our game plan.”
The win improved Rangely to 7-0 in league play and 11-4 overall. The Panthers will host West Grand on Saturday, Feb. 14, for a 2:30 p.m. senior day tipoff.
