Craig Middle School girls hoops teams start early with home games vs. Hayden
Andy Bockelman
It was a prompt test of skills for Craig Middle School girls basketball before the holiday break, but the results show it should be a promising season for the Bulldogs.
CMS hoops hosted its final sporting event of 2019 in a Thursday, Dec. 19 set of games against Hayden, which Craig won 2-1.
Coached by Alicia Townsend and Jorgiea Raftopoulos, the eighth-grade A-Team bunch of Bulldogs ended the night with a 39-25 win over the Tigers, following a 22-19 victory for CMS’s B squad.
The combined C- and D-Team began the evening, and though the Tigers led the majority of the game, a fourth-quarter rally started to come together for Craig athletes.
The Dogs got within one bucket of Hayden with 10 seconds, and a half-court steal by Nicole Moriel looked like the group might be going into overtime.
Moriel was fouled with the layup attempt at the buzzer, giving her two free throws, the first of which she sank, garnering a massive cheer from the stands.
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Craig Middle School’s Nicole Moriel takes over the ball against Hayden.
Andy Bockelman
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Craig Middle School’s Caitlyn Adams gets off a jump shot against Hayden.
Andy Bockelman
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Craig Middle School’s Mena Tucker gets back on offense against Hayden.
Andy Bockelman
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Craig Middle School’s Ariana Buchanan goes into motion for a shot against Hayden.
Andy Bockelman
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Craig Middle School’s Alyssa LeWarne is at the free throw line against Hayden.
Andy Bockelman
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Craig Middle School’s Jolene Rhyne readies for a free throw rebound against Hayden.
Andy Bockelman
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Craig Middle School’s Taylen Hume gets in under the basket against Hayden.
Andy Bockelman
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Craig Middle School’s Hannah Kilpatrick fires off a pass to teammates against Hayden.
Andy Bockelman
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Craig Middle School’s Taylen Hume fights for possession against Hayden.
Andy Bockelman
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Craig Middle School basketball players await their game against Hayden.
Andy Bockelman
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Craig Middle School’s Nicole Moriel goes into her shooting motion against Hayden.
Andy Bockelman
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Craig Middle School’s Keyara Bohrer looks to shoot against Hayden.
Andy Bockelman
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Craig Middle School’s Alexa Ibarra nabs a rebound against Hayden.
Andy Bockelman
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Craig Middle School’s Hannah Caperton pushes into the Hayden defense.
Andy Bockelman
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Craig Middle School’s Danaka Miller aims a shot against Hayden.
Andy Bockelman
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Craig Middle School’s Kenya Hernandez looks to pass against Hayden.
Andy Bockelman
However, the second shot didn’t make it in the net, ending the match 25-24 in favor of the Tigers.
Todd Trapp and Emily Bogue are the coaches for the CMS seventh-graders.
The round of home games made for a crash course in the sport for newer players, though quarter by quarter, Bogue said they were growing exponentially.
“There was a lot of improvement made throughout the course of the game. Really proud of them,” she said.
The Hayden games will likely be the only home events for CMS basketball, with Jan. 16 games in Craig against Rangely changed to a weekend triangular match on the road among the Panthers, Bulldogs and Vernal, Utah.
CMS girls’ next competitions will be Jan. 11 tournaments hosted by Kremmling and Granby.
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