Without senior guard Omar Chavez, the Rifle Bears boys basketball team rolled to a 58-24 win Tuesday night inside Jack Smith Gymnasium, thanks to a career-high 20 points from junior guard Carter Pressler.
The junior hit two 3-pointers in the second quarter to pace the Bears offensively, adding 10 second-half points in the 34-point win.
Along with Pressler, junior Tanner Cotner added 12 points for the Bears off the bench.Junior guard Trey Lujan added 9 points in the win, while senior Joel Lopez added 7 points. Rifle held a 22-14 lead at the half before outscoring Basalt 36-10 in the second half to cruise to the win.
The Bears (11-6, 2-4 4A WSL) travel to Steamboat Springs Thursday for a league matchup with the Sailors, before then hosting the rival Glenwood Springs Demons Friday night.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Basalt 53, Rifle 32
A 19-point second quarter sparked the Basalt Longhorns to a 51-32 win Tuesday night on the road at Rifle High School.
Rifle led the Longhorns 18-15 after one quarter of play, thanks in part to 6 first-quarter points from senior Masi Smith and junior Delaney Phillips, but the well dried up after the first quarter for the Bears as Rifle was able to muster just 14 points after the first eight minutes of action.
In the loss to Basalt, freshman Jamie Caron continued her strong stretch of play in her first varsity season, leading the Bears with 12 points, hitting three 3-pointers. Smith added 9 points.
The Bears (4-12, 4-2 4A WSL) travel to Steamboat Springs Thursday for a matchup with the Sailors, before then hosting the rival Glenwood Springs Demons Friday night in a 4A WSL clash.