Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — In reality, all the pressure was on the Steamboat Springs boys basketball team.

Montrose had just cut a double-digit deficit down to six points with less than six minutes left in the fourth quarter.

"Instead of playing to score and win, we just played to hold on," point guard Michael Vandahl said.

Instead of panicking, the Sailors - after a quick huddle with coach Kelly Meek - came out and turned that six-point lead into 11 points in a matter of minutes.

"I was proud of the way our kids responded," Meek said. "Boy, was I proud of the way we responded."

With the lead at 54-48, Meek said junior guard Aaron Calkins called for the ball. Calkins - who scored 19 of his game-high 31 points in the second half - came around a screen at the top of the key and drained a 3-pointer. After Montrose answered with a bucket to make it 57-50, Meek found a matchup he liked and posted up Calkins on

three consecutive possess-

ions.

Calkins scored two easy buckets and Cameron Petet followed a Calkins miss to put the Sailors up, 65-54, with 2:17 left in the game.

"We were able to get him inside," Meek said of Calkins. "He can jump and he takes it strong."

When the game got close, Meek said Petet played his best basketball of the night. Going into the fourth quarter, Petet had eight points and two rebounds.

In the fourth quarter, Petet added two free throws to his tip in and grabbed three consecutive rebounds - including one on the offensive end - to lead the Sailors to a 70-59 victory.

"Cameron Petet ripped down some huge rebounds tonight," Meek said. "He was huge in the fourth quarter."

Meek said the fourth quarter performance - while not the Sailors' best of the year - confirmed what he already knew.

"That's a lot of composure," Meek said. "That's a lot of believing in yourself."

- To reach Luke Graham, call 871-4229

or e-mail lgraham@steamboatpilot.com