The GHS girls basketball team fell to league rival Roaring Fork in the final regular season game of the year on March 1.
Despite the late-season defeat, the girls still secured a No. 17 state seed, and will face the No. 16 Platte Valley Broncos in the upcoming regional tournament on March 7. The loss moved the girls to a 15-8 overall record, and a third-place, 10-4 record in the 3A Western Slope League.
“It was really important for us to face a tough opponent before regionals,” said Head Coach Chad Terry. “The girls honestly had moments where they could have rolled over, but they battled hard until the very end.”
Redemption was on the forefront of the Cowboys’ mind ahead of the Roaring Fork matchup on Saturday. After falling by a narrow, 54-46 margin in early February, the girls were eager to hit back at the Rams with home court advantage, and enter the postseason riding a five-game win streak.
But Roaring Fork boasted a 20-2 overall record, and sat second in the league, proving the game would be a tough task for the Cowboys. Still, seniors Kylee McDougal and Sienna Gomez opened the first quarter with swashbuckling performances on both ends of the court.
McDougal —who ended the night with 10 points and five assists — paved the way for the Cowboy offense, scoring twice from behind the arc. Gomez maintained her reputation as a rebounding machine, and led with 10 total boards.
The Rams took advantage in transition in the second quarter, and bolstered their lead to double digits into halftime. Still, the Cowboys came into the third quarter with a newfound energy, and attempted to scrape back into the contest. Maria Sabas added a pair of 3-pointers, while junior Ashlyn Cowan led from inside the paint. The Cowboys outscored the Rams after halftime, but the second-quarter scoring flurry made the difference. Roaring Fork sealed the victory, 55-42.
“We fell apart for only about three or four minutes in the second quarter, but we were facing a team that can put points up in a hurry,” Terry said. “The other factor is we went six for 18 from the free throw line. Those two things really hurt us. Still, we had moments where we played really well, and we won the second half.”
Now, officially entering the postseason as No. 17, the Cowboys will face Platte Valley, which holds a 15-8 overall record. GHS will take on the Broncos at Resurrection Christian on March 7. If the Cowboys win, the team will face the winner of Forge Christian and the No. 1 Resurrection Christian Cougars in the regional championship.
(Alex McCrindle can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or alex@gunnisontimes.com.)
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