Early Win for Fourteeners Basketball in Gunnison Boys’ Season Opener

Lake City Fourteeners high school varsity and junior varsity basketball teams got off to a fast start with season opener games against their counterpart Gunnison ‘Team C’ teams in Gunnison last Thursday afternoon, November 30, followed by a long day’s travel to Sargent in the San Luis Valley for junior varsity and varsity tournament play against Centauri, Moffat Mountain Valley, and Monte Vista junior varsity.
SILVER WORLD drilled boys’ basketball coach Dan Scroggins on his views on the local talent and enthusiasm marking the new team’s inaugural season and he is effervescent. “Both the boys and girls’ teams did an outstanding job.”
“We are looking forward to improving throughout the season and to come together. The Fourteeners are representing Lake City Community School and the community of Lake City well when out and about.”
“We are proud of the hard work the kids are putting in,” he adds, “and look forward to a great season.”
In their inaugural on-the-road game against Team C in Gunnison last Thursday, Fourteener girls Miranda Hall, Skylar Painter, Meredith Ogden, Paige Thompson, Jacee Lawrence, and Felicity Mullen led in scoring throughout the game, although Gunnison finally squeaked out a one point win: final score 18-19.
Thompson and Hall each scored eight points during the game, with play marked by aggressive dives as the team repeatedly sought to connect with loose balls. Sneaky plays by Paige Thompson also kept Gunnison from scoring.
Lake City boys also played Team C in Gunnison on Thursday, ending score 37 to 28 in Fourteeners’ favor.
Taking the court for the first game of the season were Riley Moore, Parker Tuttle, Anthony Preston, Isaac Whiddon, Adrian Ruiz, Gabe Murphy, and Ian Hall. Leadership by Moore was a key in the win Thursday, as well as the leaping ability of Gabe Murphy. The team was led in scoring by Moore, Murphy and Ruiz, Preston providing excitement with his three-pointer, while the crowd roared its approval in reaction to Ian Hall’s first basket of the season.
On the heels of their fine showing in Gunnison last Thursday, Fourteeners headed out on a long day — starting off 7 a.m., returning home elated at 11 p.m. — Friday, December 1, as they took part in the JV and V Tournament at Sargent in the San Luis Valley.
Boys played a succession of games against Centauri, Moffat and Monte Vista, triumphing against Centauri and losing close games against their Moffat and Monte Vista counterparts.
Lake City girls were pitted against the very tough Cenauri junior varsity team, and Moffat/Mountain Valley varsity team.
Jacee Lawrence served as point guard and was repeatedly called to the foul line, and fouled at least twice, as the opposing team kept pushing her. The Fourteeners struggled to get the ball down the floor and have an offensive play set up.
“Fourteeners did get some shots off,” according to Coach Scroggins, “but, ultimately, not as many as the other team.” Overall, he says, “it was a great beginning weekend for the lady Fourteeners.”
Lake City practice sessions are held in the Armory by Coaches Scroggins and Janel Warren on a daily basis starting at 3 p.m. and concluding 4:30 p.m.
Upcoming games for the Lake City boys and girls’ Fourteeners are 5 p.m. next Friday, December 15, against Mountain Valley in Saguache. The basketball schedule then resumes in January next year with games in Cotopaxi and Del Norte on January 13 and 19.
Local residents may support Fourteeners’ inaugural season by purchasing sports-related gear emblazoned with the Fourteeners logo which appears on sweat shirts, t-shirts, beanies, hats and warm-up trousers.