Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — It seems like every time the Steamboat Springs and Glenwood Springs boys basketball teams tangle, it ends up like this.

Basketball transitions to scraps, low-scoring affairs ensue and eventually, one team does just enough to get the win.

Round 1 went to Glenwood on Saturday, as the Demons out-toughed the Sailors, scraping away with a 47-45 win.

“Every time we come here, it’s a fight,” Glenwood coach Cory Hitchcock said. “It always goes 12 rounds. I love my team this year. We’re scrappy, and we work on the defensive end.”

Although it might have gone 12 rounds, all judge's cards had it for Glenwood. The Demons, void of a go-to scorer, scraped and beat on a young Steamboat team. The Demons (2-5) led from wire to wire, withstanding any sort of Sailors (5-2) run.

But the game was for the taking. Glenwood’s biggest lead was nine at 17-8 midway through the second. Steamboat struggled again on the offensive end, struggling to find any sort of consistency.

“I don’t know if there is any great excuse for it,” Steamboat coach Luke DeWolfe said about the offense. “We just need to get better. We need to get more consistent on the offensive end. We still have to work on developing a true point guard. That’s part of our issue.”

The Sailors, however, lingered for most of the game. The team cut Glenwood’s lead to two four times late in the fourth quarter but never could capitalize.

Glenwood did a good job on Steamboat guards Carter Kounovsky and Brody King, limiting the pair to 12 points.

Steamboat forward Garrett Bye couldn’t take advantage, scoring just nine points.

“If Garrett scored, he scored,” Hitchcock said. “We weren’t going to lose by 3-pointers tonight.”

The Demons got a balanced effort. Jared Gambrel led all scorers with 14 points. Chris Thomas had nine, and Brian Burbidge had all eight of his points in the deciding fourth quarter.

“Of course, I’d want to win this game,” DeWolfe said. “But in some ways, it’s probably good we lost this game early on. We have to learn we have to come hard every single night no matter who our opponent is.”

Glenwood girls outlast Steamboat, 46-39

Glenwood Springs girls basketball coach Jody Jordan was incredibly complimentary of the defense the Steamboat Springs girls basketball team played.

Of course, Steamboat spent a large portion of Saturday’s 46-39 loss on defense after Glenwood devastated the Sailors on the glass.

Glenwood (6-1) out-rebounded Steamboat 24-5 in the first half and 44-23 in the game while picking up a key early league win.

“We were able to get some of those boards,” Jordan said sheepishly.

Steamboat had every right to the game early on. The Sailors jumped out to an 8-3 first-quarter lead and seemingly were in control.

That’s when the Demons took over on the glass. Glenwood outscored Steamboat 17-7 in the second quarter — most on second, third, fourth and even sometimes fifth chances — in taking a 20-15 lead at half.

“That second quarter just killed us,” Steamboat coach John Ameen said.

Steamboat (4-3) still was in it, though. The Sailors stayed within striking distance throughout the third and were down just 41-39 with 47 seconds left in the game.

Steamboat forward Maggie Crouch was at the line for a 1-and-1. After initially making the first one, a lane violation was called and the basket was waved off. From there, Glenwood scored five straight points, including 3-of-4 at the free-throw line to seal the win.

Crouch led all scorers with 19 points. Madi Spence and Kenzie Nelson-Buehler had nine each for Glenwood.

“I don’t know. They do believe we’ll win every game we play,” Jordan said. “Whether that’s realistic or not, they believe they’ll win. With women’s basketball a lot of it’s in the head.”

To reach Luke Graham, call 970-871-4229 or email lgraham@SteamboatToday.com