Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — The Steamboat Springs High School girls basketball team struggled to match the early intensity of Rock Springs, Wyo., falling, 57-40, in the opening round of the Flaming Gorge Classic 2010 invitational basketball tournament.

“We don’t start intense, and they capitalized,” Steamboat coach John Ameen said.

Steamboat, 4-3, struggled early on with Rock Springs’ defensive intensity but still were in the game.

The Sailors started to play well and cut the lead to 17-15 but couldn’t get any closer.

“Our all-around game was just not there,” Ameen said. “Plus, we didn’t shoot well. We didn’t shoot well from the free-throw line, and we didn’t execute well.”

Hannah Moore led the way for Steamboat with 19 points. Tara Spitellie added 10.

Despite the loss, Ameen said Steamboat’s defense had some bright spots, and the team never quit throughout the game.

“They want to win badly,” he said. “But we have to start games like we want to. That’s the big piece.”

The girls continue tournament play at 11:45 a.m. today against Star Valley.

Boys team loses, 68-35

The Steamboat Springs boys basketball team knew what it was getting into against Wyoming’s second-ranked team.

What they may not have known was just how good Rock Springs is.

Playing against what coach Luke DeWolfe called the best team he has “seen in a long time,” Steamboat lost, 68-35, on Thursday in the first round of the Flaming Gorge Classic 2010 invitational basketball tournament.

“I don’t know if there is a team in Colorado, regardless of classification, that is this talented or deep,” DeWolfe said. “The only thing they don’t have is a real traditional big kid. But they’re so athletic and jump so well, it didn’t matter.”

Rock Springs jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead in the first few minutes and never had any problems with Steamboat.

To the Sailors’ (4-4) credit, DeWolfe said, the team consistently battled for four quarters despite being outmatched. 

Randall Nelson started getting good looks in the second half and led the Sailors with 12 points. Isiah Mendoza-Forsyth had 10, and Charles Wood had five.

“It’s one of those things that will make us better when we play our league schedule,” DeWolfe said.

Steamboat resumes play at 1:30 p.m. today against Star Valley.