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Bob Johnson, coach of the Soroco girls basketball team, is sure the Rams are better than West Grand even if the scoreboard didn't reflect it Saturday.

The Mustangs, one night after losing to Hayden, upended the Rams, 31-29, in a game seemingly neither team wanted to win.

Soroco had its chances to even the score in the final two minutes of the game, but missed shots and turnovers prevented the Rams from regaining the lead they held for a majority of Saturday's contest.

In a span of 40 seconds, West Grand missed one layup and two free throws, but Soroco couldn't capitalize on either subsequent possession and still trailed by one point with 27 seconds left.

After a West Grand timeout, Soroco's Lindsay Ellis fouled Karin Schwarz, and the Mustangs junior only made one of two free throws, giving the Rams hope to at least even the score with two points or win with a 3-pointer with 20 seconds remaining

Soroco easily beat West Grand's full-court pressure and got two open looks at the basket, but neither fell.

"We didn't execute well," Johnson said. "We settled for too many perimeter shots. It would be OK if they went in, but they didn't. We'd pass cross-court when the post was open."

The Rams' acceptance on shooting short- to medium-range jumpers led to a lopsided free-throw advantage for the Mustangs, as well.

West Grand only shot 14-of-29 from the line, but Soroco shot just 1-of-5, which obviously factored heavily into the outcome Saturday.

The Rams handled the Mustangs' attempts to press relatively well and demonstrated great perimeter passing, but the reluctance to dribble penetrate, particularly when West Grand was in zone defense, allowed Soroco to become an easier offense to defend against.

Senior Kaleyne Gneiser led Soroco offensively with nine points. West Grand's leading scorer was senior Amber Motz, also with nine points.

Fortunately for the Rams, Saturday's loss doesn't count against their league record because it was a scheduled nonleague game.

The two teams will meet again Feb. 13 in Kremmling, and Johnson already knows what alterations he will make in the game plan.

"I'm going to change our half-court defense," he said.

Soroco did pick up an important league win Friday in Rangely. The Rams defeated the Panthers, 35-28, in overtime, coming from behind to tie the game in regulation and then taking control in overtime.

The Rams are 8-6 overall and 4-2 in league play with the weekend split.

Soroco's next game is at 5:30 p.m. Friday against Hayden in Oak Creek.

-- To reach Melinda Mawdsley call 871-4208

or e-mail mmawdsley@steamboatpilot.com