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Steamboat Springs — Just as fast as the Steamboat Springs boys basketball team gave Palisade an opportunity to take control of Saturday's game, it took it away.

Despite eventually winning the game 70-60, the Sailors looked to be on the ropes at the end of the third quarter.

With several players battling sicknesses and injuries - and with the team playing with only six players for most of the night, the Sailors (9-3 overall, 4-0 in league play) did the one thing head coach Kelly Meek didn't want. They got in foul trouble.

Cameron Petet picked up his third foul less than two minutes into the third quarter. Then Colby Costur picked up his fourth foul 30 seconds later.

And what was a 43-32 Steamboat lead early in the third quarter quickly dwindled to a three-point lead - 49-46 - to begin the fourth quarter.

But just as Steamboat has done all year, it tightened down the defense and remained patient on offense.

Steamboat scored 16 of the next 18 points, held Palisade (8-4, 3-2) scoreless for more than four minutes and turned a close game into a relatively easy win.

"That was big. We got a lot of great stops and our kids really locked up on our defensive rules during that time," Meek said. "It made them have to take tougher, contested shots that were deeper. On offense, our kids really were patient running our stuff until we got a real good look."

The two teams battled back and forth early in the game. Palisade jumped out to a 6-2 lead before the Sailors started to find their range. The teams exchanged baskets and headed into the second quarter tied at 16.

Palisade took a 24-21 lead on a T.J. Gomez 3-pointer with 4:31 left in the second quarter before Steamboat ended the half on an 18-6 run to take a 39-30 lead into halftime.

Then the Sailors got into foul trouble. But with Petet and Costur on the bench, sophomore Alex Wood scored six points and grabbed three rebounds to help Steamboat maintain its lead.

"Alex was huge because he struggled in the first half and he knew it," Meek said. "So we challenged him hard. I challenged him hard because he wasn't working our system. In that third quarter he was huge."

By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, the Sailors' patience on offense wore down the Bulldogs. Steamboat outscored Palisade 21-14 in the fourth quarter.

"It just seems like every game we get a little better," Petet said. "That's the way it's just been going."

Aaron Calkins led the Sailors with 26 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Michael Vandahl added 14 points, five rebounds and 10 assists. Petet had 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Sailors next play Friday at 7:30 p.m. against Eagle Valley at home.