Bulldogs fall to Fruita
Moffat County’s Eli Buckner goes up for a shot during Saturday’s game against visiting Rifle. Moffat County visited Fruita-Monument on Tuesday, losing, 60-55. Enlarge photo
January 16, 2008
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Game statistics
Moffat County 14 23 8 10 55
Fruita-Monument 18 12 12 18 60
Craig So close.
That is how Moffat County High School boys basketball coach Steve Maneotis describes his team’s efforts at netting another win.
In Tuesday’s nonleague game, the Bulldogs (1-10 overall, 0-3 in Western Slope League play) were two minutes shy of their second victory of the season.
They held a lead against Fruita-Monument until 1:58 remained in the game, when the score was tied, 53-53.
Three consecutive turnovers in the final minutes sealed the 60-55 loss.
“Down the stretch, we had all of our starters in foul trouble,” the coach said. “We got to playing tentative, and I told the kids that I thought we played tense and a little scared.”
Maneotis also credited Fruita for its late-game efforts.
“Fruita has tremendous pressure around the perimeter, and their posts did a great job,” he said. “They created some turnovers and got some layups. … We just didn’t handle the pressure well in the last couple of minutes.
“We’re close, so close. This is a good Fruita basketball team that we lost to tonight.”
For the Bulldogs, Eli Buckner scored 17 points; Mike Peters had 14; Blake Najera, 8; Thomas Noble, 6; Chayton Owens, 6; and Kelton Willbanks 4.
For Fruita, Beau Coit scored 14; Alex Mende, 13; and Brett Nankervis, 9.
Despite the loss, Maneotis said his team is headed in the right direction.
“It was a positive game,” he said. “We played without Colton Conrad, who stayed home sick, so we were one man short who is pretty good to us in the post. I think it is another good momentum builder for (weekend road games against) Palisade and Delta.”
The Bulldogs visit Western Slope foe Palisade on Friday. Tipoff is at 7:30 p.m. They visit Delta on Saturday. Game time is 6 p.m.
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Question of the week
Moffat County rancher Rodney Culverwell begins his jury trial Monday on charges of poaching elk on his property. He contends he was protecting his property. What do you believe the trial’s outcome should be?
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