Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — The Steamboat Springs girls basketball team will attempt to pick up its second tournament title in as many tries at this weekend's Steamboat Shoot-out.

The Sailors won the Roaring Fork Tournament on Dec. 6-7 in Carbondale.

Steamboat defeated Green River, Wyo., handily in the first game on Dec. 6, 58-36, before pulling out a squeaker against host Roaring Fork on Dec. 7, 61-59.

Coach Steve Moos said he was pleased with how his team played, particularly in its first real competition of the 2002-03 season.

"It was a good way to start," the first-year coach said. "It was good to win the first game fairly easily. In the second, we stayed positive and gave up a lead, but that's going to happen against a good team. We talked about dealing with adversity, and the tide turned at the end and we probably caused it to turn by staying mentally positive."

Moos seemed equally thrilled about his team's narrow win as he did about its lopsided victory.

In the championship game against Roaring Fork, the Sailors maintained their lead through three quarters before the Rams pulled ahead in the fourth and actually started stalling with three minutes remaining in the game.

"We were poised and gradually cut into the lead and took the lead with 30 seconds left," Moos said. "It was nice to win a close game. We were very composed down the stretch. We acted very confident."

Senior Jen Weber had 15 points and six rebounds, senior Bayli Stillwell had 15 points and five rebounds and senior Tracy Lucas had 14 points and three steals. Senior Jannike Combs also had three steals.

In the opening game against Green River, Wyo., Weber was sizzling on the offensive end, while Lucas responded for her team defensively, Moos said.

Weber had a team-high 20 points, 18 came from behind the arc. Stillwell had 10 points.

Moos said one player from Green River had half of its total points. Lucas was given the order to defend her and Moos said the senior did a great job.

Off to a 2-0 start, the Steamboat girls look ahead to their Steamboat Shoot-out Tournament, which begins Thursday at the high school.

The Sailors open against Aspen at 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the high school's new gym. The old gym will also be used for portions of this JV/varsity tournament.

The format of the tournament is a modified round-robin guaranteeing each team three games. The team with the best overall record will be the winner. Steamboat will face Aspen, Basalt and Conifer during the tournament. It will not see Jefferson Academy or Roaring Fork, a team the Sailors just defeated.

"I assume all three will be even games," Moos said. "I like scheduling tough. I think it pays off in the long run. I think it helps us toward the end of the season, especially with Montrose and Cortez in regionals. I think the schedule will be great."

Admission to the Steamboat Shoot-out is $3 for students and $4 for adults. Kids under 6 and adults over 60 are free. Fans can purchase a three-day pass as well. Kids are $8, while adults are $10.

Athletic passes will be honored.