Steamboat Today: Soroco hoops teams fall in Plateau Valley

Sunday, February 1, 2009

7:30 p.m. Dec. 2 at Moffat County JV
Dec. 5, Soroco 65, Clear Creek 24 at West Grand Tournament; (2-0)
Dec. 6, West Grand 47, Soroco 27 at West Grand Tournament; (2-1)
Dec. 9, Soroco 58, Steamboat JV 38; (3-1)
Dec. 12, Hayden 73, Soroco 42; (3-2)
Dec. 13, Soroco 51, Vail Christian 37; (4-2)
Dec. 20 North Park 53, Soroco 46; (4-3)
Jan. 10, Rangely 63, Soroco 36; (4-4)
Jan. 15, Soroco 36, Moffat County J.V. 31; (5-4)
Jan. 16, North Park 49, Soroco 40; (5-5)
Jan. 23, Soroco 60, De Beque 29; (6-5)
Jan. 24, Meeker 59, Soroco 39;(6-6)
Jan. 30, Plateau 60, Soroco 49;(6-7)
Feb. 6, West Grand 56, Soroco 50;(6-8)
Feb. 7, Paonia 64, Soroco 51;(6-9)
Feb. 13, Hayden 55, Soroco 39;(6-10)
Feb. 14, Soroco 58, Vail Christian 37;(7-10)
Feb. 21 district play at home sites
Feb. 27-28 districts at Meeker

Dec. 2, Soroco 73, Moffat County J.V. 53; (1-0, 0-0)
Dec. 5, Soroco 72, Clear Creek 36 at West Grand Tournament; (2-0)
Dec. 6, Soroco 51, West Grand 32 at West Grand Tournament; (3-0)
Dec. 9, Soroco 46, Steamboat J.V. 41; (4-0)
Dec. 13, Soroco 58, Vail Christian 45; (5-0)
Dec. 18, Hayden 63, Soroco 54; (5-1)
4 p.m. Dec. 20 vs. North Park
Jan. 10, Soroco 74, Rangely 71; (7-1)
Jan. 15, Soroco 64, Moffat County J.V. 46; (8-1)
Jan. 16, Soroco58, North Park 21;(9-1)
Jan. 23, Soroco 74, De Beque 59;(10-1)
Jan. 24, Meeker 69, Soroco 54;(10-2)
Jan. 30, Plateau Valley 60, Soroco 44; (10-3)
Feb. 6, Soroco 49, West Grand 30;(11-3)
Feb. 7, Soroco 79, Paonia 66;(12-3)
Feb. 13, Hayden 47, Soroco 42;(13-3)
Feb. 14, Soroco 62, Vail Christian 42;(14-3)
Feb. 21 district play begins
Feb. 27-28 districts at Meeker

Steamboat Springs — The Soroco High School girls basketball team couldn't overcome a slow start and distinct disadvantage at the free-throw line Friday at Plateau Valley. The girls lost, 60-49.

"But we played well," Soroco coach David Bruner said. "I was pleased with the way we played. They have a player, her name is Kromarek, who is the best player I've seen in 10 years."

Kromarek led the Cowboys with a game-high 26 points. Bruner said she helped catapult Plateau Valley to a 16-point first-half lead, before Soroco changed up its defense.

In the second half, Bruner put senior Traci Schlegel on Kromarek, and Soroco closed within seven at the end of three quarters.

A back-and-forth fourth quarter saw the Rams (5-8 overall) never get closer than seven because of the Cowboys' advantage at the free-throw line.

In the game, Plateau Valley made 24 of 32 its free throws, while Soroco hit just 7 of 20.

"We did a lot of things well. I was happy with the way we played," Bruner said. "We shot 35 percent. That's a lot better than where we were at. Our freshmen are learning some things. It gives us a jump going into the West Grand game. That's going to be a dog fight for sure."

Madison George led the Rams with 18 points, while Sarajane Rossi chipped in 16.

Soroco next plays at 5:30 p.m. Friday at West Grand.

Boys drop 2nd straight

For the second time in a week, the Soroco High School boys basketball team couldn't contain a lead against a top 10 Class 2A team, falling Friday in Plateau Valley, 60-44.

Last week, Soroco (10-3 overall) lost a first-half lead to No. 3 Meeker.

On Friday against No. 6 Plateau Valley, Soroco led 12-9 after one quarter and trailed just 27-25 at halftime.

But again, it was a third quarter to forget.

After getting outscored by Meeker, 26-10, last week, Plateau Valley outscored Soroco 19-7 in the third quarter Friday to take control of the game.

Ryan Tibbetts led Soroco with 12 points. Alex Estes chipped in 11.

Soroco next plays at 7 p.m. Friday at West Grand.

- To reach Luke Graham, call 871-4229 or e-mail lgraham@steamboatpilot.com