Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — The Hayden girls basketball team’s 52-35 home victory against Meeker was dominant, the Tigers controlled the action after taking a 5-point first-quarter lead.

Still, in that game the Tigers saw room for improvement, ad­­justments they’ll need to make if they’re to realize their goal of a Western Slope League championship.

“We wanted to come out strong and show that we’re going to be league champs,” senior Kyra Rolando said. “We can do that this year. I believe we can. Everyone on the team believes we can.”

Hayden’s next game won’t be a hurdle toward that goal, but it could show the Tigers just how good they really are. As soon as the game was over, coach Eric Hamilton’s eyes were focused on perennially tough Little Snake River, who the Tigers will travel to face Tuesday.

The Tigers won a clash earlier this season, but that was against a Rattlers team without some of its top players.

“They’re very good. Going into that snake pit up there, that will be the toughest game of the year so far,” Hamilton said. “There are some things we need to clean up, like turnovers and making easy shots.”

Despite a few post-game complaints, they were pretty good Friday. Erin Koehler was the only scorer in double figures, with 12, but she was joined on the scoreboard by eight teammates.

Hayden’s tough defense — as fierce now as it has been since the team drove a third-place finish at state in 2009 — led the way. The team held Meeker to 6 second-quarter points, blowing the game open before halftime.

“We’re really focusing on defense this year,” Rolando said. “We need to focus on that every night. We really want it.”

HAYDEN GIRLS 52, MEEKER 35
 


Meeker                  10-6-10-9 — 35


Hayden                 15-15-9-13 — 52
 


Meeker — Elissa McLaughlin 2 0-0 4, Kaysyn Chintala 2 2-3 6, Kathryn Doll 2 0-5 4, Aubrey Walsh 1 1-2 3, Taylor Neilson 4 0-0 9, Aly Ridings 2 0-0 4, Kaylyn Edwards 0 1-4 1, Becca DeVergie 2 0-0 4. Totals 15 4-14 35.
 


Hayden — Sierra Ehlers 2 0-0 4, Cassidy Bush 1 1-2 3, Kyra Rolando 3 1-2 7, Morgan Bell 2 1-3 5, Lindsay Parrott 1 0-0 2, Delanie VeDepo 3 0-0 8, Brette Frentress 3 0-0 7, Aubree Haskins 2 0-0 4, Erin Koehler 5 2-4 12. Totals 22 5-11 52.
 


3-pointers: Meeker (1) — Neilson. Hayden (3) — VeDepo 2, Frentress.