Photo by Joel Reichenberger
Soroco sophomore Jessica Rossi puts back up an offensive rebound for a bucket in the midst of Meeker traffic Friday. The Rams played three solid quarters, but their lapses in the remaining quarter kept the game from being close. Meeker won, 54-37.
Soroco girls basketball can't overcome 2nd-quarter slump
Friday, February 1, 2013
2012-13 Rams girls basketball schedule
- Nov. 29: Little Snake River 38, Soroco 27 at Meeker Cowboy Shootout
- Nov. 30: Soroco 39, Nucla 38 at Meeker Cowboy Shootout
- Dec. 1: Soroco 48, Hayden 28 at Meeker Cowboy Shootout
- Dec. 7: Soroco 51, Longmont Christian 15
- Dec. 11: Soroco 39, North Park 29
- Dec. 15: Soroco 64, Beth Eden 48
- Jan. 12: Soroco 47, West Grand 27
- Jan. 15: Soroco 43, Denver Eagles 31
- Jan. 18: Paonia 74, Soroco 36
- Jan. 19: Hotchkiss 62, Soroco 36
- Jan. 24: Soroco 50, Hayden 29
- Jan. 26: Soroco 46, Vail Christian 37
- Feb. 1: Meeker 54, Soroco 37
- Feb. 2: Rangely 36, Soroco 29
- Feb. 8: Soroco 49, North Park 48
- Feb. 9: Soroco 55, West Grand 47
- Feb. 12: Soroco 59, Vail Christian 28
- Feb. 16: Soroco 46, Plateau Valley 26
- Feb. 22: Soroco 55, Hayden 32
- Feb. 26: District tournament at home sites
- March 1 and 2: District tournament at Paonia: Rangely 48, Soroco 42
Oak Creek — A team can shoot the ball well, handle a full-court press and play solid defense. But it can’t score two points in a quarter and expect to beat this season’s Meeker High School girls basketball team.
The Rams may well have lost no matter what they did Friday night. Meeker outscored Soroco by four points even in the Rams’ three best quarters.
It was the second quarter, when they were outscored by 13, that truly did them in. Meeker, the No. 8 team in the state according to a Denver Post poll, went on to a 54-37 win in Oak Creek.
“Against good teams, if you have a quarter where you shoot 1 for 12, you’re going to lose,” Soroco coach David Bruner said. “We just didn’t hit shots in the second quarter. We had three decent quarters, but in the second we couldn’t buy a basket.”
Soroco's effectiveness in those other quarters gave the team plenty to build upon. At their best, the Rams shot the ball well and slashed to the basket. Jessica Rossi had one of her best games of the season, scoring 13 points. She hit a pair of 3-point shots in the third quarter and Briana Peterson hit another, one of two she nailed in the game en route to an eight-point performance.
“Our girls know if they put a full game together, they can play with a team like that,” Bruner said. “And that’s a very good team. “
Even in the third quarter it was too little, too late. Meeker’s second-quarter surge sank Soroco for good before the teams broke for halftime. Kaysyn Chintala scored 15 to lead Meeker, now 13-1. Piper Haney had 12.
“It was one of my best nights on offense, but I could have blocked out better,” Rossi said. “We all could have.”
The Rams, 9-4, return to the court Saturday for a trip to Rangely. Meeker plays at home against Hayden.
“We never enjoy losing, but we aren’t going to worry about it,” Rossi said. “We have to get ready to play at Rangely. We will play our hardest.”
To reach Joel Reichenberger, call 970-871-4253 or email jreichenberger@SteamboatToday.com
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