Moffat County High School's Spencer Najera drives to the lane early in a C-Team game against RIfle. Andy Bockelman
After a lengthy wait for hoops fans, Moffat County High School basketball embarks on the latest stage of the season with 3A Western Slope League play beginning the weekend.
MCHS teams host Gunnison Friday and Olathe Saturday as the conference schedule tips off for the Bulldogs.
Friday night shootout
The Dogs’ games against Gunnison will be an unusual schedule to accommodate the Cowboys’ lengthy travel, with Craig and Gunnison the northern and southern extremes of 3A WSL schools and the Cowboys scheduled to meet Coal Ridge the following day.
Moffat County High School’s Alexis Jones fakes a pass against Battle Mountain. Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School’s Lisa Coublanc looks to start a play against Battle Mountain. Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School’s Macey Booco looks to pass away from the Battle Mountain defense. Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School’s Emma Jones steps up to the foul line against Battle Mountain. Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School’s Alexis Jones gets in under the basket against Battle Mountain. Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School coach Shay Steffan and the C-Team observe the action against Battle Mountain. Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School’s Alexis Herndon fights for a shot against Battle Mountain. Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School’s Kale Beckett gets the offense in motion against Battle Mountain. Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School’s Boden Reidhead looks for a teammate option against Battle Mountain. Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School’s Evan Atkin gets a shot loose against Battle Mountain. Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School’s Johnny Lopez looks to make a move against Battle Mountain. Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School’s poiunds down the court against Battle Mountain. Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School coaches and players huddle up during a timeout with Battle Mountain. Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School’s Easton Briggs looks to add points against Battle Mountain. Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School’s Kimber Wheeler battles for the ball against Rifle JV. Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School’s Kimber Wheeler goes for a free throw against Rifle JV. Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School’s Josh Ridgeway hooks a shot against Rifle JV. Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School’s Hector Salazar gets in for a shot against Rifle JV. Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School’s Spencer Najera dishes out to teammates against Rifle JV. Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School coaches and players get ready for more against Rifle JV. Andy Bockelman
The Moffat County High School student section sings the national anthem before varsity basketball games with Rifle. Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School girls basketball players and coaches stand at attention for the national anthem before varsity basketball games with Rifle. Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School’s Emaleigh Papierski considers her options against Rifle. Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School’s Halle Hamilton is steady on defense as Rifle moves the ball. Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School’s Bree Meats forces a travel call against Rifle. Andy Bockelman
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Moffat County High School’s Amber Salazar passes away from a Rifle defensive trap. Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School’s Bree Meats pushes into the Rifle defense. Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School’s Stephenie Swindler gets on a fastbreak against Rifle. Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School varsity basketball players observe the national anthem. Bulldog hoops sees its first 3A Western Slope League opponents this weekend. Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School’s Landen Najera tips off against Rifle. Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School’s Myles Simpson shoots a jumper against Rifle. Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School’s Logan Hafey readies for a rebound a free throw against Rifle. Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School’s Chris Maneotis gets into the lane against Rifle. Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School’s Jordan Carlson gets into motion against Rifle. Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School’s Logan Hafey aims a free throw against Rifle. Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School’s Myles Simpson hustles to make a steal count for a turnaround basket against Rifle. Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School’s Haylee Ludgate shoots against Rifle. Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School’s Cort Murphy goes into a jump shot against Rifle. Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School’s Halle Hamilton leaps for a jump shot against Rifle as teammate Emaleigh Papierski keeps the Bears’ defense at bay. Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School’s Johnny Lopez takes a flagrant foul free throw during a C-Team game against RIfle. Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School’s Alexis Jones approaches the rim during a C-Team game against RIfle. Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School’s Kimber Wheeler gets a jumper in gear during a C-Team game against RIfle. Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School’s Macey Booco takes a shot during a C-Team game against RIfle. Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School’s Lisa Coublanc boxes out opponents during a C-Team game against RIfle. Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School’s Macey Booco and Lizzy LeWarne leap for rebounds during a C-Team game against RIfle. Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School’s Alexis Herndon goes for a close shot during a C-Team game against RIfle. Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School’s Audriana Connolly keeps the ball in bounds under her own basket during a C-Team game against RIfle. Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School’s Alexis Herndon looks for one last score during a C-Team game against RIfle. Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School’s Spencer Najera drives to the lane early in a C-Team game against RIfle. Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School’s Easton Briggs seeks to pass during a C-Team game against RIfle. Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School’s Josh Ridgeway slows up after being fouled at mid-court during a C-Team game against RIfle. Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School’s Catcher Jackson searches for a teammate to pass to during a C-Team game against RIfle. Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School players cluster under the rim on foul shot during a C-Team game against RIfle. Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School’s Boden Reidhead rushes in for points on a Bulldog fastbreak during a C-Team game against RIfle. Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School’s Kale Beckett lofts a shot during a C-Team game against RIfle. Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School’s Spencer Najera keeps his distance from the defense during a C-Team game against RIfle. Andy Bockelman
Moffat County High School’s Easton Briggs is fouled on a shot attempt during a C-Team game against RIfle. Andy Bockelman
Games start with girls junior varsity at 4:30 p.m. in the MCHS gym, 900 Finley Lane, and boys JV will compete simultaneously in the Craig Middle School gym, 915 Yampa Ave.
Girls varsity gets going on the MoCo court at 6 p.m., while boys varsity starts at 7:30 p.m.
With snowy conditions expected most of Friday, games are weather-pending.
At 2-6, MCHS boys will have their work cut out for them against the 8-1 Cowboys, whose only loss this season was a 61-54 defeat in overtime against University.
With the best win percentage in the conference so far, the Cowboys came out strong in their first league game, trouncing Roaring Fork 74-49 on Jan. 10 in their biggest margin of victory so far.
Though the early season saw struggles for Bulldog boys, their 69-29 W against Sargent started the winter well for them, while a 58-55 heartbreaker against rival Steamboat Springs indicated their ability to keep it close.
MCHS girls are less likely to see pushback from Gunnison, a team yet to experience victory this season, with the 6-3 Lady Bulldogs currently third in the league in total win percentage.
Gunnison girls’ conference starter against Roaring Fork saw them fall 70-20, and the Lady Cowboys’ closest contest so far has been a 45-25 loss to Florence.
Bear River Young Life will host a Fifth Quarter event following Friday’s games, with skating and food for students at Moffat County Ice Arena at Loudy-Simpson Park, 600 S. Ranney St.
Admission is $5 with skate rental and $3 for those who bring their own gear.
Outlast Olathe
Saturday games begin at 11 a.m. with girls JV, boys JV at 12:30 p.m., girls varsity at 2 and boys varsity at 3:30 p.m.
Olathe teams will be coming off Friday evening road games against Grand Valley before seeing the Bulldogs, though both Pirate squads enter league play at 2-6 to rank lowly in the WSL.
Games this week against Rangely had mixed results for the two, with girls taking a narrow 42-38 loss to the Panthers and boys leading Rangely most of the night — including a 14-1 second quarter in their favor — on the way to a 58-34 triumph.
Though their Friday games against the Cardinals will be their first official conference events, Olathe had a preview of the league with a December matchup against Delta, with a sweep going against them as boys lost 71-29 and girls 57-16.
Solid C-Team results
For MCHS’s younger players, the second half of the season has already commenced this week.
Last week’s games against Middle Park were cancelled, but Wednesday saw Bulldog C-Teams each take a win against Rifle.
The Bears struck first against MoCo girls, but it was the last points they’d put up in the first half as Lady Bulldogs went on a 20-point run.
The home group ended the game 45-7, though coach Shay Steffan noted that Rifle had circumstances working against them with only five players able to suit up for the match.
“They had a strong week of practice and all of our girls are healthy right now, so that really helped their confidence,” she said.
Even when they have a clear advantage, Steffan said she and fellow coaches don’t want players to get too presumptuous.
“We don’t want girls going into it just expecting to win because you never know what will happen,” she said.
The competition was a contrast from Jan. 11’s game against Central as Moffat County C-Team played the Warriors’ JV group.
While the one-sided girls game went for two halfs with a running clock rather than the usual four quarters, the time format was back to normal for MCHS boys’ C game, which was far closer but still a Bulldog win at 44-39.
A highly physical effort by players especially came together in the final minutes as they pulled ahead of the Bears with play-making seeing success.
“They started off slow, but they came together once we started passing the ball and moving it around,” said coach Stefan Ridgeway. “The offense got it done, they played hard on defense, and it all worked out.”
Ridgeway said he expects the remainder of the season will be smoother for all levels after holiday break as preparation remains steady.
“Practices have been great. We’ve really been seeing a difference, and they’re not as worried about their grades now,” he said. “It’s a lot more fun for them now and they can focus on the rest of the season.”
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