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Late push gets Moffat County past Grand Valley

Nate Waggenspack

Boys varsity scoring

Joe Camilletti: 14 points

Tyler Davis: 12

Tyler Hildebrandt: 8

Matt Hamilton: 8

Taft Cleverly: 4

Wyatt Oberwitte: 2

Phillip Chadwick: 2

Javen Gumber: 1

Girls varsity scoring

Lisa Camilletti: 13 points

Kyleen Ellgen: 12

Kori Finneman: 11

Makayla Camilletti: 11

Jazmine Swindler: 6

Sassy Murray: 2

Bailey Hellander: 2

This time, it was the Moffat County boys basketball team’s turn to survive a tough test on the road.

The Bulldogs emerged victorious from a back-and-forth game with Grand Valley on Saturday in Parachute, 51-46. The boys had to step up in the final quarter to secure the win.

The Bulldogs trailed, 40-36, entering the fourth quarter and did not regain the lead until there were about two minutes left in the game. But after taking the lead, MCHS got clutch foul shooting from senior Tyler Hildebrandt, who hit four free throws down the stretch to help seal the game.



“It was a very physical, very rough game,” head coach Eric Hamilton said. “But it was a lot of fun. We had to grind it out in the fourth quarter.”

Despite Grand Valley’s 1-10 record entering the game, Hamilton knew the Cardinals would be a different team with several players returning from injury and transfer rules since the teams’ last meeting. The Grand Valley team Moffat County ran into turned out to be completely different.



“They’ve added a couple players that really change their team,” he said. “They were physical, they wanted to win, and they came out and played super hard. We didn’t shoot the ball really well today, but I attribute that to their defense.”

Many of the Bulldogs’ games this season have been characterized by Moffat County taking a big lead in the first half and then taking it easier in the second — often to be outscored by their opponents. This time, Moffat County could not afford that luxury and responded with a 15-6 fourth quarter to win.

We had to have our fourth quarter, and we got one today,” Hamilton said. “They had to dig deep for that one. That’s what we want to see. It was a fun game to play in and win.”

Girls take down Grand Valley

One close game was enough for the Moffat County girls this weekend.

After coming from behind to beat Coal Ridge on Friday in a close game, Moffat County took on Grand Valley on Saturday in Parachute. Grand Valley entered the game having won three straight and was just one game behind the Bulldogs in the Western Slope League standings.

This time, however, the Bulldogs came out focused and took the early lead. They would build a lead of 25 by the end of the third quarter and earn a 57-37 victory against the Cardinals (8-4, 6-3 WSL).

Moffat County (9-3, 8-1) started the game in a full-court press and built a lead quickly by creating turnovers, head coach Matt Ray said.

“We came out in the first quarter, and it was 15-5,” Ray said. “We put a press on them, and they didn’t handle it too well.”

The lead extended the next two quarters, highlighted by a 20-10 third quarter for Moffat County, which made it 52-27. The Bulldogs had four players score in double figures, and looked prepared from the beginning.

“They came out ready to play today,” Ray said. “You could see it in the locker room, they were focused and ready. I think yesterday, we came in taking (Coal Ridge) lightly, and they made a run on us. This time, it was a different mindset, and it was the right mindset.”

The Bulldogs go into every game expecting to play well and win, but Ray acknowledged the value of getting two league wins on the road.

“Two really good wins for us,” he said. “Two big wins. Next weekend, we’ve got another big one going to Olathe. We’ve got to win that one, too.”

Nate Waggenspack can be reached at 875-1795 or nwaggenspack@craigdailypress.com. Follow Craig Daily Press sports coverage on Twitter at @CDP_Sports.


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