Steamboat Today: Rams pick up pair of wins against Saints

Archive for Sunday, February 15, 2009

By Luke Graham Sunday, February 15, 2009

Photo by Matt Stensland

Soroco High School senior Bobby Mason goes up for a layup during Saturday's game against Vail Christian. Soroco won, 62-42.

Photo by Matt Stensland

Soroco High School junior Cody Miles looks at going up for a shot during Saturday's game against Vail Christian.

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

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

Steamboat Springs — Soroco boys basketball coach Sam McLeod knows how tough the district can be.

So even with his team's 62-42 win against Vail Christian on Saturday, McLeod knows with the regular season done, just about anything can happen.

"I feel like the top five teams in this league, on any given night, any of us can beat each other," McLeod said. "Rangely, us, Paonia, Meeker and Hayden are five good basketball teams."

Still, McLeod has to be feeling pretty good after Saturday's performance.

After falling behind, 15-14, in the first quarter, the Rams took off. Soroco doubled up Vail Christian in each of the second and third quarters to take a 52-34 lead into the fourth quarter.

"In the middle frames, we put the hammer down and pulled away," McLeod said. "That's a very, very competitive team. With that kind of disappointment from Hayden on (Friday), I'm proud of the kids."

Ryan Tibbetts led Soroco with 21 points. Cody Miles and Bobby Mason each chipped in 14.

The win leaves Soroco tied for third in the district with Hayden and Rangely. Although McLeod wasn't sure where Soroco would open up the District tournament at or who they would play, he said he's confident in his team.

"Our season starts now," said McLeod, whose team improved to 13-4 this year after finishing last year 3-15. "The regular season put us in a position to win one game. It's who is going to show up. The Soroco that can play with anyone in the state, or the other Soroco team."

Girls win, prep for Hayden

Soroco girls basketball coach David Bruner was right.

At each point this season, the first-year coach has said his young Rams team would improve, culminating in Saturday's 58-37 win against Vail Christian.

The game was never in doubt, as Soroco started to impose its will early. The Rams - behind three quarters of strong defense - built their lead up to 27 points late in the game before the Saints started to chip away.

Sarajane Rossi continued her hot hand, leading the way for Soroco with 27 points.

Now, Hayden prepares to play cross-county rival Hayden in the opening round of the district tournament for the third time this season. Bruner said with his team playing with confidence, anything can happen.

"They beat us by 31 earlier and 15" Friday, Bruner said. "Hopefully we can go out and not turn the ball over as many times. We'll see what happens, but the kids are getting more confident and are starting to understand the system."