Basketball Recap: Rifle Comes Up Short

Rifle was not able to break out of their rough patch on Friday as the team picked up their eighth straight loss. They were outmatched by the Steamboat Springs Sailors and fell 85-43. The Bears were not able to make up for their defeat to the Sailors from their previous meeting back in January of 2024.

It was another big night for Jeffrey Sturges, who went 13 of 19 en route to 33 points in addition to eight boards and five assists for Steamboat Springs. That makes it nine consecutive games in which Sturges has scored at least a third of Steamboat Springs' points. Reece Hoy was another key player, going 7 for 12 on his way to 17 points and four steals.

Rifle's loss dropped their record down to 2-12. As for Steamboat Springs, their victory ended a five-game drought at home and bumped them up to 4-10.

Rifle has already played their next game, a 60-53 defeat against Coal Ridge on the 25th. As for Steamboat Springs, they also wasted no time getting back out on the court and have already played their next match, a 50-48 win against Moffat County on the 25th.