Steamboat Today: Steamboat basketball looks to finish strong

Archive for Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Sailors defense will be key in showdown with Moffat County Bulldogs

By Joel Reichenberger Tuesday, February 17, 2009

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Steamboat Springs boys basketball, 2008-09

Dec. 5, Steamboat 48, Roaring Fork 34 at Roaring Fork Tournament; (1-0)
Dec. 6, Steamboat 53, Basalt 36 at Roaring Fork Tournament; (2-0)
Dec. 11, Castle View 57, Steamboat 38 at Steamboat ShootOut tournament; (2-1)
Dec. 12, Steamboat 70, Summit 41 at Steamboat ShootOut tournament; (3-1)
Dec. 13, Green River, Wyo., 68, Steamboat 41 at Steamboat ShootOut tournament; (3-2)
Dec. 18, at Flaming Gorge Classic basketball tournament; (3-3)

Dec. 19, Evanston, Wyo. 49, Steamboat 37 at Flaming Gorge Classic basketball tournament; (3-4)
Dec. 20, Cheyenne East 41, Steamboat 38 at Flaming Gorge Classic basketball tournament; (3-5)
Jan. 9, Steamboat 46, Battle Mountain 23; (4-5)
Jan. 10, Steamboat 55, Eagle Valley 30; (5-5)
Jan. 16, Steamboat 78, Palisade 46; (6-5)
Jan. 17, Steamboat 66, Delta 37; (7-5)
Jan. 23, Steamboat 65, Rifle 38; (8-5)
Jan. 24, Steamboat 47, Glenwood Springs 45; (9-5)
Jan. 27, Steamboat 44, Moffat County 32;(10-5)
Jan. 30, Steamboat 63, Eagle Valley 41;(11-5)
Feb. 6, Steamboat 50, Palisade 44;(12-5)
Feb. 7, Steamboat 54, Delta 43;(13-5)
Feb. 13, Steamboat 54, Rifle 45;(14-5)
Feb. 14, Glenwood Springs 61, Steamboat 51;(14-6)
Feb. 17 vs. Moffat County, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 20 at Battle Mountain, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 25 state playoffs begin

Steamboat Springs girls basketball, 2008-09

Dec. 5, Steamboat 57, Roaring Fork 40 at Roaring Fork Tournament; (1-0)
Dec. 6, Steamboat 63, Basalt 38 at Roaring Fork Tournament; (2-0)
Dec. 11, Steamboat 45, Summit 25 at Steamboat ShootOut tournament; (3-0)
Dec. 12,D'Evelyn 74, Steamboat 37 at Steamboat ShootOut tournament; (3-1)
Dec. 13, Green River, Wyo., 63, Steamboat 33 at Steamboat ShootOut tournament; (3-2)
Dec. 18, Star Valley, Wyo. 49, Steamboat 45 at Flaming Gorge Classic basketball tournament; (3-3)
Dec. 19, Green River, Wyo. 72, Steamboat 52 at Flaming Gorge Classic basketball tournament; (3-4)
Dec. 20, Rock Springs, Wyo. 69, Steamboat 29 at Flaming Gorge Classic basketball tournament; (3-5)
Jan. 9, Steamboat 47, Battle Mountain 27; (4-5, 1-0))
Jan. 10, Eagle Valley 41, Steamboat 39; (4-6, 1-1)
Jan. 16, Palisade 41, Steamboat 37; (4-7, 1-2)
Jan. 17, Steamboat 51, Delta 42; (5-7, 2-2)
Jan. 23, Rifle 57, Steamboat 53;(5-8, 2-3)
Jan. 24, Glenwood 57, Steamboat 48;(5-9, 2-4)
Jan. 27, Moffat County 55, Steamboat 48;(5-10, 2-5)
Feb. 6, Palisade 55, Steamboat 48;(5-11, 2-6)
Feb. 7, Delta 70, Steamboat 61;(5-12, 2-7)
Feb. 10, Steamboat 63, Eagle Valley 39;(6-12, 3-7)
Feb. 13, Rifle 53, Steamboat 45;(6-13, 3-8)
Feb. 14, Glenwood Springs 76, Steamboat 40;(6-14, 3-9)
Feb. 17 vs. Moffat County, 6 p.m.
Feb. 20 at Battle Mountain, 6 p.m.
Feb. 24 state playoffs begin

If you go

What: Steamboat basketball at Moffat County

When: Girls play at 6 p.m. today; boys play at 7:30 p.m.

Where: Moffat County High School in Craig

Steamboat Springs — There will be a lot on the line when the Steamboat Springs High School boys basketball team strolls into Moffat County High School today.

A win would help the Sailors clinch a first-place tie in the Western Slope League. A win would go a long way toward helping Steamboat get a favorable seed in the upcoming postseason tournament. And a win would help close out the regular season on a high note, particularly important after a weekend loss to Glenwood Springs.

And all that is just icing on the cake, Sailors coach Luke DeWolfe said.

His team won't have to consult any of those reasons to find motivation for playing in a sure-to-be-rowdy gymnasium against the rival Bulldogs at 7:30 p.m. today in Craig.

"This is what high school basketball is all about," DeWolfe said. "You want to play good teams this time of year, and we really hope it makes us a better team. We enjoy the rivalry."

Steamboat (14-6) beat Moffat County (13-8) late last month in Kelly Meek Gymnasium, 44-32.

It was defense that paved the way for that result, and DeWolfe said slowing Moffat County's fast-break style will be key again.

Steamboat held the Bulldogs to just 25 percent shooting and restricted their best player, forward Chayton Owens, to eight points, well below his average of 22.

"They like to run, so we really need to make sure they don't transition," said DeWolfe, who is preparing for his first game at Moffat County as the Steamboat head coach. "If we can slow them down and make it a half-court game, that really plays into our hands."

Steamboat has just one regular season game remaining after the trip to Moffat County. The Sailors must travel Friday to Battle Mountain, which they also defeated in January, 55-30.

If they're able to pull a win out against the Bulldogs, then hold serve Friday, the Sailors likely will play a home game in the first round of the playoffs.

"The seeding issue is big," DeWolfe said. "It's always nice to play at home and create that great atmosphere at your place instead of having to go somewhere else.

"It will be a dogfight against Moffat County, for sure. Hopefully if we can do the things that have really helped us this season - shoot the ball well and defend well - and we should be in good shape. Hopefully."

The Steamboat girls basketball team plays at Moffat County at 6 p.m. today. The Bulldogs pulled out a close win when the two teams played earlier this season.

Steamboat led by nine points in the first half, but couldn't hang on and fell, 55-48. The Sailors girls will try to improve on their 6-14 record.