Soroco, Hayden basketball teams meet tonight for second time this season

Hayden High School's Murphy Smartt tries to grab a rebound last week as the team lost at home to Meeker. Hayden went on to win Saturday against Vail Christian and will attempt to build on that momentum tonight as they travel to Soroco. The Tigers beat the Rams, 63-54, in December.

By Joel Reichenberger

Friday, February 13, 2009

Share this Email, Facebook, Twitter
Discuss Comment

Hayden girls basketball, 2008-09

Dec. 2, Hayden 54, Vail Christian 23; (1-0, 1-0)
Dec. 4, Hayden 58, Grand Valley 33 at Meeker Tournament; (2-0, 1-0)
Dec. 5, Hayden 49, Rangely 40 at Meeker Tournament; (3-0, 1-0)
Dec. 6, Hayden 59, North Park 37 at Meeker Tournament; (4-0)
Dec. 12, Hayden 73, Soroco 42; (5-0)
Dec. 13, Hayden 62, Rangely 44; (6-0)
Dec. 20, Hayden 48, Snake River 38; (7-0)
Jan. 9, Hayden 68, West Grand 43; (8-0)
Jan. 10 Hayden 66, Plateau Valley 44; (9-0)
Jan. 20, Hayden 53, Meeker 42; (10-0)
Jan. 23, Paonia 54, Hayden 49;(10-1)
Jan. 27, Hayden 66, Baggs 51;(11-1)
Jan. 30, Hayden 48, North Park 37;(12-1)
Jan. 31, Hayden 45, Rangely 42;(13-1)
Feb. 6, Hayden 50, Meeker 47;(14-1)
Feb. 7, Hayden 59, Vail Christian 22;(15-1)
Feb. 13, Hayden 55, Soroco 39;(16-1)
Feb. 14, Hayden 48, North Park 41;(17-1)

Soroco boys basketball, 2008-09

Dec. 2, Soroco 73, Moffat County J.V. 53; (1-0, 0-0)
Dec. 5, Soroco 72, Clear Creek 36 at West Grand Tournament; (2-0)
Dec. 6, Soroco 51, West Grand 32 at West Grand Tournament; (3-0)
Dec. 9, Soroco 46, Steamboat J.V. 41; (4-0)
Dec. 13, Soroco 58, Vail Christian 45; (5-0)
Dec. 18, Hayden 63, Soroco 54; (5-1)
4 p.m. Dec. 20 vs. North Park
Jan. 10, Soroco 74, Rangely 71; (7-1)
Jan. 15, Soroco 64, Moffat County J.V. 46; (8-1)
Jan. 16, Soroco58, North Park 21;(9-1)
Jan. 23, Soroco 74, De Beque 59;(10-1)
Jan. 24, Meeker 69, Soroco 54;(10-2)
Jan. 30, Plateau Valley 60, Soroco 44; (10-3)
Feb. 6, Soroco 49, West Grand 30;(11-3)
Feb. 7, Soroco 79, Paonia 66;(12-3)
Feb. 13, Hayden 47, Soroco 42;(13-3)
Feb. 14, Soroco 62, Vail Christian 42;(14-3)
Feb. 21 district play begins
Feb. 27-28 districts at Meeker

Hayden boys basketball, 2008-09

Dec. 2, Hayden 53, Vail Christian 51; (1-0, 1-0)
Dec. 5, Rangely 55, Hayden 52; (1-1, 1-0)
Dec. 11, Hayden 64, Altamont 55 at Meeker Tournament; (2-1, 1-0)
Dec. 12, Meeker 64, Hayden 46 at Meeker Tournament; (2-2)
Dec. 13, Hayden 57, Rangely 46 at Meeker Tournament; (3-2)(
Dec. 18, Hayden 63, Soroco 54; (4-2)
Dec. 20, Baggs, Wyo. 64, Hayden 43; (4-3)
Jan. 9, Hayden 59, West Grand 53; (5-3)
Jan. 10, Plateau Valley 59, Hayden 35; (5-4)
Jan. 17, Hayden 80, De Beque 50;(6-4)
Jan. 20, Meeker 56, Hayden 46;(6-5)
Jan. 23, Hayden 65, Paonia 33;(7-5)
Jan. 27, Hayden 64, Baggs 43;(8-5)
Jan. 30, Hayden 76, North Park 27;(9-5)
Jan. 31, Rangely 58, Hayden 53;(9-6)
Feb. 6, Meeker 73, Hayden 45;(9-7)
Feb 7, Hayden 43, Vail Christian 30;(10-7)
Feb. 13, Hayden 47, Soroco 42;(11-7)
Feb. 14, Hayden 76, North Park 42;(12-7)

There are major reasons the Soroco and Hayden high school boys basketball teams are labeling today's 7:30 p.m. showdown in Oak Creek as one of the most important games of the year.

The duel could have huge playoff implications for both Routt County squads, the loser potentially falling from a lofty No. 3 seed and the accompanying home playoff game to an ugly No. 5 slot and an unwanted district road trip.

That's far from the only thing motivating the opponents, however.

"No one is going to have any problems getting Hayden or Soroco kids excited to play basketball this week," Soroco coach Sam McLeod said. "This is a big game."

The Rams will be seeking revenge as they welcome the Tigers. Hayden upset a then-undefeated Soroco squad in December.

Hayden took control of that game in the first half by causing a flurry of turnovers and racking up a lead that stretched as wide as 20 by blowing past Soroco with an effective transition game.

It was exactly the kind of style the Rams have used to build a 12-3 record this season. Still, for one night they couldn't handle their own medicine.

"The entire game comes down to ball control," McLeod said. "Last time, we were sloppy in transition and we let them control the tempo of the game. We have to do a whole lot better job with that this time."

Hayden, meanwhile, could be comfortable no matter the style. A powerful, experienced pair of forwards gives the Tigers a chance to play well in half-court sets. Junior Murphy Smartt led his team with 26 points, and senior Zach Barnes added 15 in the previous meeting.

"We need to play good defense and clear the boards," Hayden coach Mike Luppes said. "Soroco likes to push the ball, but if we play good defense again against them and rebound well, we can slow that down."

Tigers girls to avoid upset

Soroco girls basketball coach David Bruner said there's one psychological element his team can count on as it heads into the 6 p.m. game today against Hayden.

"When they beat (us) by 30 points the first time, it's probably tough to get their kids not to overlook us," Bruner said.

The No. 4-ranked Tigers beat Soroco, 73-42, in December.

The Rams have played better basketball since that game, a disastrous affair in which they turned the ball over 42 times in the face of Hayden's stifling full-court press.

In fact, their 64-41 loss to Paonia last weekend was enough to catch Hayden coach Eric Hamilton's eye.

Paonia accounts for Hayden's only loss this season, and it didn't go unnoticed that Soroco senior Sarajane Rossi hung 25 points on the league leaders.

"She's a great player and has a lot of offensive skills," Hamilton said about Rossi. "They're really putting some points on the board and have improved a great deal over the season."

Hayden senior Caitlin Mahanna likely will be assigned to guarding Rossi.

"She's the best defender in the league, and her job will be shutting Sarajane down," Hamilton said.

The key for Soroco will be surviving that defense.

"We have to break the press and not turn the ball over," Bruner said. "If we do that, we'll be all right."

Steamboat Pilot & Today