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The Moffat County Bulldog Hockey Club let a three-goal lead slip Saturday, losing in an overtime shootout to visiting Kremmling, 6-5, in the first round of the Rocky Mountain Youth Hockey League playoffs.

Tied at two entering the second period, Bulldog center Colt Criswell recorded a hat trick in the frame's final seven minutes, putting the home team up, 5-2, heading in to the third.

But, the three-goal lead wasn't enough.

"We had everything going great for us," coach Gene Carson said. "Then we had a total mental lapse."

Kremmling's Jacob Hange recorded his second and third goals of the night, and a shorthanded goal by the Cattle Kings' Jake Motz tied the game with less than three minutes remaining.

The teams battled through a scoreless five-minute overtime period, forcing a shootout to decide the winner.

Louis Farrell scored on the Cattle Kings' second shootout opportunity, ending the game and completing the comeback.

The first round is a best two-out-of-three format.

"It's a tall order, but we have to come out and win these next two," Carson said.

Game 2 and 3 were scheduled for late Sunday evening.

For final first round results, see Tuesday's Craig Daily Press.

MCHS boys basketball team rolls past Rifle

Chayton Owens and Kelton Willbanks led the Bulldogs to a 14-point win Saturday in Rifle.

Moffat County bullied the Bears in the post, as Owens (29 points) and Willbanks (21 points) accounted for nearly two-thirds of the Bulldogs' points down low.

"Willbanks was definitely the difference maker out there," coach Steve Maneotis said. "We had a total team effort" Saturday.

MCHS senior Thomas Noble pitched in with nine points, all of which came from beyond the arc.

MCHS (13-8 overall, 9-3 Western Slope League) led by seven at the half and 14 entering the final frame.

The Bears (7-13 overall, 3-9 WSL) recorded their highest offensive output of the game in the fourth quarter with 19 points, but they couldn't close the gap, as the Bulldogs matched them with 19 of their own.

Moffat County hosts Steamboat Springs at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the second-to-last regular season game for both teams.

MCHS girls beat Rifle High School, 53-42

Moffat County shooting guard Courtney Edington scored a game-high 18 points (12 on 3-pointers) to lead the Bulldogs past the host Bears, 53-42, Saturday night in Rifle.

The Bulldogs (13-8 overall, 10-2 Western Slope League) stormed out to a 27-11 lead at the half and never looked back.

MCHS post player Danette Crofts finished with nine points, while guard Kylie Bauman pitched in with eight.

"We just played good, solid defense," MCHS coach Craig Mortensen said. "We did well in transition and hit some outside shots. The girls played really well."

Rifle (14-6 overall, 9-3 WSL) outscored the Bulldogs, 31-26, in the second half, but the comeback fell short.

MCHS hosts rival Steamboat at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.