The Rifle High girls basketball team is playing itself right back into contention for a top spot in the 4A Western Slope League and a possible postseason berth with two weeks remaining in the regular season.

Tuesday night, the Lady Bears raced out to a 10-2 lead at home over the visiting Summit Tigers, and held on in the fourth quarter behind the hot hand of sophomore Jamie Caron for the 37-30 win.

Caron finished with a game-high 15 points, including a pair of 3-pointers to lead Rifle to a 5-2 league record and a solid hold on the second spot in the current league standings behind undefeated Glenwood Springs.

The Demons and Bears square off in a rescheduled game Wednesday night in Glenwood that was originally to have been played Friday before being called for weather. Game time for the varsity girls is 6 p.m., followed by the boys at 7:30 p.m.

“It was a good team win, with a balanced attack,” Rifle coach Eric Caro said of the Summit win. “Jamie scored the ball well, and the girls were patient most of the game.”

After the hot start, the Tigers did manage to chip away at the Bears’ lead with a 14-11 fourth quarter, before Rifle shut it down.

Delaney Phillips added 8 points toward the winning effort, and Mackenzie Elizardo had 7. After a rough first half of the season, the Bears have battled back to 7-11 on the season. Summit stands at 7-10 and 3-6 in league.

“They just continue to claw for a playoff spot and want to overachieve. I’m proud of them,” Caro said.

Coal Ridge girls top Devils, 55-39

Meanwhile, up the road in New Castle Tuesday night, the 3A Coal Ridge Lady Titans downed 4A Eagle Valley, 55-39, in a nonleague matchup.

The Titans held a 29-27 advantage at the half, before going on a 12-4 run in the third and outscored the Lady Devils 14-8 in the final quarter for the win.

Junior Taylor Wiescamp led the team with 19 points, and freshman phenom Jackie Camunez had 14 for the Titans, who improve to 9-7 overall and stand at 3-3 headed into a key league game at home against Aspen on Friday. Eagle Valley falls to 2-13 on the season.

Rifle, coal ridge boys earn wins

In the Tuesday nightcaps, the Rifle boys also earned a key 4A WSL win, 50-40, over Summit to improve to 9-5 overall, and 2-5 in league play.

The Bears were down 12-11 after the first quarter, but opened up an 8-point lead at halftime, keeping the Tigers (9-11, 4-6) at bay in the second half for the 10-point win.

Coal Ridge also won its nonleague affair with Eagle Valley, 64-53, to improve to 12-4 overall. At 5-1 in the 3A league, the Titans will be looking for another win against Aspen on Friday to stay in the chase with Gunnison for the league championship.

Games stats for the two boys games were not available.

jstroud@postindependent.com