Steamboat Today: Hayden hoops return to action Friday

Archive for Thursday, January 8, 2009

Thursday, January 8, 2009

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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)

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)

If you go

What: Hayden boys and girls basketball vs. West Grand

When: Girls play at 7 p.m. Friday, boys play at 8:30 p.m. Friday

Where: Hayden High School

Schedule change

The Hayden High School girls and boys basketball games scheduled for Tuesday at home against Baggs, Wyo., have been changed to Jan. 27. With the schools in the throes of final exams, Hayden Athletics Director Mike Luppes said they agreed to change the game. The girls game will begin at 4:30 p.m. with the boys to follow at 6 p.m.

Steamboat Springs — Hayden High School girls basketball coach Eric Hamilton talks about his team as though it didn't win a game before the holiday break.

He says the team must improve its play against pressure defenses, must take better care of the ball and must play better on defense.

Nevertheless, Hayden enters its 7 p.m. contest Friday at home against West Grand with a perfect 7-0 record. The Tigers also play at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Plateau Valley.

It's not that Hamilton is upset with the hot start. It's that if this team wants to get to where the first-year coach thinks it can, things have to improve with 12 games against league opponents left on the schedule.

"We're 7-0, but I don't think we played any outstanding games before the break," Hamilton said. "We played good enough to win. There are a lot of things we can improve on in the next six weeks, and we'll have to."

Hamilton said he was pleased with the way the Tigers came back from the holiday break. Like most coaches, Hamilton was worried what toll the big layoff would take - especially on a team that was the hottest in the county.

He said the team came back with a newfound energy and work ethic.

"We looked at the first part as a preseason or season in itself," he said. "The second half we're looking at as a whole new season. We're starting off 0-0 and have got 12 games ahead."

Hayden boys reach for top

Hayden High School boys basketball coach Mike Luppes concedes his team is perceived as a middle-of-the-pack league opponent.

But beginning with their 8:30 p.m. Friday game against West Grand, the Tigers boys can show they belong in the upper echelon of the league. The team also plays at 4 p.m. Saturday in Plateau Valley.

"It's really for us a tone-setting weekend," Luppes said. "If we can come out with two victories, that will say we're one of the teams to be reckoned with."

Luppes said the first two games especially are important, considering the opponents. West Grand traditionally gives Hayden a tough time, and Plateau Valley might be the favorite to win the league title.

The opponents, coupled with an inconsistent Hayden team - one that has looked good at times and struggled at others - and getting off to a fast start to the post holiday schedule is imperative, Luppes said.

"We've spent a lot of time talking, and we're hoping to do well," Luppes said. "We think we belong in that upper echelon of teams. We think we should be battling for those top positions."

- To reach Luke Graham, call 871-4229

or e-mail lgraham@steamboatpilot.com