Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — There is no sense of urgency for the Steamboat Springs High School girls basketball team.

Although the Sailors lost all three of their games during the Steamboat Shootout this weekend and fell to 1-4 overall, they got off to a similarly slow 1-8 start last year before finishing 12-12 and third in the Western Slope League.

"It's a matter of forming team chemistry," Sailors coach Ashley Berggren said. "As the season progresses, they will find a way to put the ball in the basket."

Missing easy shots in the post and giving up too many second- and third-chance opportunities cost Steamboat against Aspen on Saturday. The Sailors lost, 53-45.

"We can control how we play defense and rebounding," Berggren said. "Rebounding is about heart and desire."

The Sailors showed both at the start of Saturday's game, despite an 8 a.m. tipoff. They came out and attacked the basket, forcing Aspen into early foul trouble.

The teams remained close through most of the first half, with Steamboat playing better than it had during its first two Steamboat Shootout losses. The Sailors moved without the ball and passed well.

"I'm trying to figure out what offense works best with this group," Berggren said.

Jessica Peters' foul with 2 minutes, 5 seconds left sparked both teams. Aspen coach Dave Conarroe wanted officials to call an intentional foul on Peters, who ran into Julia Hassall while the Skier was attempting to set a screen. Hassall left the game but returned in the second half.

Meanwhile, the Sailors went on a mini-run led by 3-pointers from junior Shannon King and senior Liz Johnson. Johnson and senior Ann Barney also converted one free throw each.

Aspen went into the locker room at the half losing by 6 points and with four players in foul trouble, including top scorers Carly Rosen and Brittany Fortier. But the Sailors did not go after those players in the second half.

Fortier, a senior, finished with 17 points and helped spark the Skiers' comeback in the second half.

Steamboat built its six-point halftime lead to nine points with 6:36 left in the third quarter after a 3-pointer from Peters and a basket from Johnson.

At the 5:55 mark, however, Aspen began to creep back into the game and took the lead for good at the start of the fourth quarter after a basket from Fortier.

Rosen finished with eight points for the Skiers, and junior Reghan Mahaffey had six -- all in the second half.

Peters, Barney and senior Tara King had 10 points for the Sailors. Johnson added seven points. Junior Erin Gleason had four points.

"I want them to have a more aggressive mentality," Berggren said.

Steamboat played without senior point guard Missy Chotvacs, who was taking the ACT on Saturday morning.

Up next for the Sailors is the three-day Flaming Gorge Tournament in Green River, Wyo., from Thursday to Saturday. It will be Steamboat's first appearance in the tournament.

-- To reach Melinda Mawdsley, call 871-4208 or e-mail mmawdsley@steamboatpilot.com