Basketball Recap: Rifle Sets Scoring Season-High Against Steamboat Springs

Bears

Team Score (Highest)

02/22/25 vs Steamboat Springs	50
02/15/25 vs Basalt	49
02/11/25 @ Eagle Valley	49
02/21/25 vs Moffat County	47
12/06/24 vs Basalt	47

Rifle's game on Saturday was all tied up 22-22 at the half, but sadly for them it didn't stay that way. They fell just short of the Steamboat Springs Sailors by a score of 52-50. One positive for the Bears, at least, is that this was the most points they've scored all season.

When it comes to explaining why Rifle lost, don't look at Avery Ward. Despite the final result, she en route to 21 points and four steals. Ward continues to improve, besting her previous point total in each of the last three games she's played. Another player making a difference was Sadie Bergener, who posted 13 points.

Steamboat Springs had a senior duo take command as Hailey Bender on her way to 22 points in addition to six boards and three steals and Mahlet Vanblarcum to rack up 19 points and four steals. Steamboat Springs is 3-1 when Bender posts 15 or more points, but 4-14 otherwise.

This is the second loss in a row for Rifle and nudges their season record down to 3-20. Their recent woes sure aren't a result of their performance when it comes to offensive boards: they averaged an imposing 16.5 offensive rebounds in those games compared to only 7.9 in the others. As for Steamboat Springs, their win ended a five-game drought on the road and puts them at 7-15.

Rifle does not have any more games scheduled as of now. As for Steamboat Springs, they will venture away from home to square off against Basalt at 5:30 p.m. on Friday.