Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — Katie Carter wasn't about to let Hayden's Natalie McDonald outdo her Tuesday night.

Carter, who plays for the Sailors' J.V. basketball team, matched a 31-point performance by McDonald to lead her team to a 61-54 victory over the varsity Tigers in Hayden.

The Tigers, who dropped to 3-4, were ahead for most of the game but ran out of gas at the end.

McDonald made 13 of 14 shots during the game including three three-pointers.

But Carter's 31 points led her team to the win, and to a 5-0 record.

The Tigers rattled the young Sailors by pressing them in the first half, causing them to make 21 turnovers. But the Sailors made the necessary adjustments at halftime and from then on committed just five turnovers.

Jennifer Weber scored eight points and Jessica Flores chipped in six points, including two three-pointers in the first half for Steamboat.

The Tigers led 42-40 at the end of the third period.

Sailors coach Dave Combs said McDonald gave a spectacular performance despite her team's loss.

"It's as good as shooting as I've ever seen against an opponent that we've played," Combs said. "She was unstoppable."

But Carter was unstoppable, too, as she outworked her opponents underneath the basket to score a season-high 31 points.

Combs said the Sailors won the game by their ability to dominate inside.

The Tigers next play the Grand Valley Cardinals at 6:30 p.m. Friday at home. Steamboat's junior varsity girls play at Rifle at 6 p.m. Friday. The girls varsity game follows at 7 p.m.