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Steamboat Springs — Results in June don't mean a whole lot come November and December, but the work the Steamboat Springs High School girls basketball team has put in this summer certainly should help.

During June, the team attended four camps and played more than 20 games. The camps were held in Moffat County, Aspen, Greeley and Wyoming.

"Depending on availability of players, some kids played 20 games in June," coach John Ameen said. "Essentially, that's another season."

Ameen said it was the most games the team has played in the summer since he took over the program three years ago. He said that although the outcomes of the games don't mean a lot, the experience his get players is essential.

Considering Steamboat's strong group of returning players, including forward Colleen King and guards Hannah Moore, Megan Rae and Matthia Duryea, Ameen said the camps allow the team to get a jump on the season.

"The more game experience that we have as players, the better we're able to handle numerous types of situations that come up in games," he said. "It's, 'How do we handle being down 10 at halftime or up four with a minute to go?'"

One game in particular gave Ameen a glimpse of the Sailors' potential.

Having a propensity to build leads and let them slip away in past seasons, a game this summer against Estes Park showed Ameen the possibilities the upcoming season holds.

The Bobcats - Class 3A state runner-ups last season - took a lead into halftime only to see the Sailors come back and win.

"We played some great teams at all the camps," Ameen said. "But that's the game that stuck out to me as far as where we're headed. We beat them, and they only lost one senior."

Although Ameen admits there will be a lot of competition for spots, he said the camp season does little to clear that picture up. He said he'll start to get a better idea of his rotation as the season approaches.

"It doesn't start sorting itself out until Thanksgiving," he said. "At least for me, it doesn't. In November, what it comes down to - and what we're trying to build - is, it's not so much a skill-level thing as it's desire and mentality on the court."

The team will continue to hold open gyms throughout the summer and hold a weight lifting and conditioning camp starting in the fall.