Andy Bockelman/Craig Press
A busy week for Bulldog basketball had highs and lows for each of the Moffat County basketball teams, with both factors playing into how many extra weeks may be in store.
MCHS is staying alive in the 4A rankings, both boys and girls, with recent victories helping them toward postseason possibilities.
Never count them out
The past week was one which held quite a positive energy for Bulldog boys, with two wins and a loss.
The Dogs carried their mojo from a weekend victory over Rifle into a midweek home game Tuesday, Jan. 30 against Basalt, defeating the Longhorns 51-39, marking the second team they’ve bested the 4A Western Slope League opponents.
However, it was a few days later when the MoCo roster showed their true capabilities with an upset Friday night in Aspen. The Skiers went through the first half of conference play with no losses, but after 13 consecutive W’s this season, they had their streak stopped cold as the Dogs shut down their scoring with a 56-45 outing to hand them their first league loss.
The outcome validated the point coach Mark Carlson has made again and again to his athletes that they are capable of besting anyone.
“We put it all together, played really good on defense and moved the ball really well,” he said.
Unfortunately, the day after stunning Aspen, the Dogs fall 76-47 at home to Coal Ridge. A 14-all first quarter with the Titans was promising, but Coal Ridge kicked into full blast in the 43-22 second half against a depleted Bulldog group.
“We’ve got some guys battling sickness, and we just didn’t play very good today, didn’t move very good,” Carlson said. “It was kind of the tale of two games.”
Senior Ian Hafey led scoring in all three games — 19 points against Basalt, 22 in Aspen, 12 with Coal Ridge — and had a combined 31 rebounds across the week.
Keeping it close
MCHS girls took a pair of home wins during the past week against drastically different teams.
The first was exactly the breezy affair they expected against Basalt, the lowest ranked WSL team. After reading 31-5 at halftime, the scoreboard’s final result was 50-18 for the home team.
MoCo juniors led scoring with 12 points for Mena Tucker and 11 for Josefina Kuberry. Tucker had a well-rounded game with five assists, seven rebounds, two steals and two blocks against the Longhorns.
Saturday, the energy changed with Coal Ridge, although the first period was all about the Bulldogs with a 16-3 lead. Much like in their first meeting, the Titans caught up quickly with the total 21-16 at the break.
Coal Ridge girls clawed their way back in the second half and were within one bucket of the comeback with a 40-39 score with 16 seconds left. But, the Bulldog bunch didn’t back down as seniors Emma Tucker and Katie Jo Knez stayed cool at the free throw line to end it 43-39.
“At times we were composed and at time we weren’t, kind of went away from what was working, but we came away with the win,” said coach Dillon Hoselton.
Hoselton pointed out that shooting from the arc helped, especially as senior Teya Miller hit four three-pointers.
“She shot it really well,” he said. “She hit three in a row in the third (quarter), which was good to see that after missing a few that she can keep her composure.”
