Double the pleasure, double the wins
GHS girls sweep weekend home stand
Times Staff Writer
Originally published 2013-01-31



When the Gunnison High (GHS) girls win, they win big.

The Cowboys doubled up on their opponents in back-to-back home games over the weekend to finally notch some marks in the win column. In doing so, the resilient team put an end to the nine-game slide that began their 2012-13 campaign.

After scoring a scrappy 26-13 win over the Aspen Skiers on Friday night, GHS used the momentum to roll over the Basalt Longhorns on Saturday afternoon, 52-26.

A 31-26 loss to Cedaredge on Tuesday moved the Cowboys to 2-10 on the season and 2-7 in the Western Slope League (WSL).  

The confidence gained from finally ending up on the heavy side of the scoreboard, not only once but twice, is something that the Cowboys hope will pay off in the second half of the WSL season.

“I think it’s really fed our confidence and gives us more fuel for the future,” senior Bobby Corn said after Saturday’s victory. “We know how well we can play at times, we just have to do it more often.”

The Aspen Skiers came in with the plan to shut down GHS inside the paint on Friday, at times double and triple teaming junior Jordan Wallin. And while they held Wallin to a game high 11 points, five other Cowboys contributed points to the effort.

“It was hard because there’s usually no one on me that much,” said Wallin. “Everyone was making outside shots and being a threat, which really helped.”

A little defense didn’t hurt either. The Cowboys held the Skiers to just one field goal in the first half in claiming a 13-4 lead at halftime.

Senior Savannah Nelson and junior Josie Blackwell joined Corn with four points in the game. Juniors Sarah Shamblin and Leanne Schliesman chipped in a basket and a free throw, respectively.

It was apparent on Saturday that the Basalt Longhorns didn’t get the scouting report that said to guard Wallin tight. She scored 12 of her game high 21 points in the first half to help her team to a 21-17 lead at halftime.

Corn and Shamblin then poured in five points apiece during a 14-3 third quarter run. A 17-point GHS fourth quarter provided the knockout punch.

Shamblin scored eight in the final period to finish with 15 points. Josie Blackwell ended the game with eight points, while Corn had five and Nelson contributed three.

“I think that we learned that we have to take outside shots so (Jordan) can be open more,” Corn said following the win. “We just need to run our offense better, take the shots that are there and get it to Jordan when she’s open.”

Despite Tuesday’s setback in Cedaredge, the Cowboys have two more chances for revenge this coming weekend. GHS travels to play Coal Ridge at 5:30 p.m. on Friday in New Castle, before making the journey to Craig for a 2:30 p.m. showdown with Moffat County on Saturday.

 

GHS boys fall twice but bounce back

 

After suffering back-to-back losses on their home court over the weekend, the GHS boys basketball team captured their fourth WSL win of the season on Tuesday in Cedaredge, bouncing the Bruins 61-53.

The Cowboys improved to 4-8 overall and 4-5 in the WSL.

Senior Caleb Wilson led all scorers in Tuesday’s win over the Bruins with 23 points, including an 8-of-11 performance at the free throw line. Junior TJ Curry followed suit with 22 points to aid the effort.

The GHS boys will play Coal Ridge at 7 p.m. in New Castle on Friday, before taking on Moffat County at 4 p.m. on Saturday in Craig.  

 

(Matt Smith can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or mattsmith@gunnisontimes.com)