Steamboat hockey

Steamboat Springs — 8:30 p.m. Friday: Steamboat (0-4) at Dakota Ridge (2-0)

5 p.m. Saturday: Steamboat at Regis Jesuit (2-0)

The first win of the season has only narrowly eluded the Sailors in their first four games, and they'll have two chances to grab it this weekend.

Neither will be an easy win to get as both opponents are coming off trips to the state tournament.

To be fair, Steamboat also made last year's playoffs.

Friday's opponent, Dakota Ridge, is 2-0 and has scored 14 goals in those six periods as season after it drove to the state semifinals.

Regis Jesuit has had its own 2-0 start, though the action has been closer, with wins 5-3 and 4-3.

Soroco boys basketball

3 p.m. Thursday: Soroco (1-1) vs. Fruita Junior Varsity at Meeker Cowboy Shootout

Friday: Soroco at Meeker Cowboy Shootout

Saturday: Soroco at Meeker Cowboy Shootout

The Rams split in a pair of games last weekend in a South Park tournament and came away pleased with the progress they saw. They'll look to take more steps this weekend at another tournament in Meeker, and they'll get a chance for a win right off the bat, against Fruita's junior varsity squad.

It's early, but in South Park the team, which has just one senior, showed it has a few threats to score the ball. Warren Hayes averaged 12.5 points to lead the team, but he was one of three on the squad to average double figures, with Eric Logan and Chance Beaty. Storm Veilleux averaged nine points in those two games.

Playing three days in a row in Meeker will tax the whole team's roster and it will need any depth it can summon.

Hayden boys basketball

7:30 p.m. Thursday: Hayden (0-3) vs. Meeker at Meeker Cowboy Shootout

Friday: Hayden at Meeker Cowboy Shootout

Saturday: Hayden at Meeker Cowboy Shootout

It was a rough start to the season as the Hayden boys team was handed three consecutive lopsided losses in a tournament at Adams State University last weekend. The road doesn't appear much easier to start the team's stint in this weekend's tournament in Meeker, either.

The Tigers open up play at 7:30 p.m. Thursday against the event's hosts, Meeker, who haven't played but are coming off another strong season.

For Hayden, it's going to be about finding ways to improve every night. Last year's squad didn't start any better than this year's has and by February it was turning heads.

There were highlights last weekend and Carlos Valdez was named to the all-tournament team. The team needs to build on those positives this weekend.

Hayden girls basketball

Friday: Hayden (1-2) at Carbon County Classic, Wyoming

Saturday: Hayden at Carbon County Classic, Wyoming

The Tigers started 1-2, but coach Michelle Wilkie saw real ups and downs in those performances.

She's hoping for more ups as the team heads north for a weekend of play in the Carbon County Classic in Wyoming.

What does that mean? It means the team needs better control of the ball as turnovers at times hamstrung Hayden. It means the team needs better shooting as shot percentage both from the floor and from the free-throw line were major factors. Finally, it means continued solid effort throughout and focus on defense.

To reach Joel Reichenberger, call 970-871-4253, email jreichenberger@SteamboatToday.com or follow him on Twitter @JReich9