FRUITA – In their final non-league game of the 2002-03 season, the Rifle boys basketball team fell 55-36 to the Class 5A Wildcats here Tuesday.

Ryan Shideler scored 17 points in the losing effort, determined by halftime after the Bears hit for just six points in the second quarter.

Fruita, who took a 13-8 lead at the end of the first quarter, widened the gap to 18 at intermission.

The Wildcats got balanced scoring, and were by Kellen Walter’s 15 points and Sean Claffey, who added 14.

Other than Shideler, the rest of the Bears couldn’t locate their shooting touch. The rest of the team scored 19 points among the eight Bears who logged playing time.

The loss drops the Bears to 4-5 on the season. The rest of the year will consist of Western Slope League games.

They return to the floor at home Saturday against Battle Mountain, where they put a two-game WSaL winning strreak on the line against the visiting Huskies.

Fruita Monument 55, Rifle 36

Rifle 8 6 10 12 – 36

Fruita Monument 13 19 15 8 – 55

Rifle – Ryan Muldoon 0 0-0 0, Troy Weiss 0 0-1 0, Adam Krick 0 0-2 0, Jim Owens 1 0-0 2, Ryan Shidedler 5 5-10 17, Chris Black 1 2-2 5, Jason Enewold 0 0-0 0, Aaron Jewell 1 1-3 4, Zack Akin 2 2-2 6, Thad Porter 1 0-0 2, Totals – 11 10-20 36.

Fruita Monument – Jimmer Comerford 0 0-0 0, Riar Geer 1 0-0 2, Brian Rice 3 0-0 8, Garrett Tonozzie 1 1-2 3, Chris Long 0 0-0 0, Scott Van Landingham 1 2-2 4, Aaron Harper 1 0-1 2, Daven Harmeling 3 0-0 7, Dana Johnson 0 0-0 0, Sean Chaffey 7 0-0 14, Kellen Walter 25 2-3 15. Totals – 22 5-8 55.

3-Pointers – R – Shideler 2, Black, Jewell. FM – Walter 3, Harmeling. Fouled Out – FM – Walter, Geer. Technicals – None.