The Niwot girls basketball team has finally hit the wall. After losing several key veterans to injury, Coach Terri Ward is down to her last seven full-time varsity players, and the added minutes are taking their toll.

After surprising everyone with two short-handed wins the week before, the Cougars were clearly feeling the strain in the second full week of conference play. On Jan. 17, Niwot fell to the Thompson Valley Eagles 52-43, after being blown-out 17-6 in the final quarter.

“It’s just hard,” said Ward. “If you don’t have bodies, then if you get into foul trouble, it hurts...