CREEDE— Less is more? Addition by subtraction? Sometimes.

The Creede Miners had two district games postponed last weekend due to the big snow that came in Thursday and gained a game in the district standings.

Sierra Grande, the team that was due to visit the Miners on Friday, could not make it to Creede. But the Panthers did host district leader Primero Saturday night while the Miners were off again, and dealt the Bulldogs their first loss of the season, 66-63. Sierra Grande’s win threw the District 6 race into a three way tie—the Panthers, Primero and Creede now have one loss each heading into the last half of the season. Due to Friday’s postponement, the Miners have yet to play Sierra Grande and lost to Primero 52-46 in December.

The Miners' scheduled game against Aguilar Saturday was also postponed.

This weekend Creede is at Crested Butte Friday, the second place team in the district at 4-4, and then will host winless Holy Trinity Saturday.

Although the games with Sierra and the one left with Primero later this season appear to be shaping up as the ones that will decide the seeding for the district in the post-season, Friday’s game with Crested Butte looms large.

“We have not won there in two years,” said coach Aaron Christensen. “They are a dangerous team, especially at their place.”

Crested Butte went all the way to the State Championship game last year and are a well coached team. The Miners handled them here this season in their district opener, 46-32.

But by the time the Miners tip off against Butte, it will have been two weeks since they played a game. “It is a fine line,” Christensen said, “about that hurting or helping. Missing those games gave us a chance to get over some bumps and bruises physically, but then we have to be sure to be up to game speed after the layoff. We will work on some things in practice this week to address that. I really think we will be ready to play.”

A good bit of that readiness that Christensen expects is rooted in the Miner’s demeanor right now. “This team knows that we are entering the stretch run that will define our season. I believe that they are eager to get back on the court and give a great effort. That is what it will take to get where we want to be at the end of the regular season.”

Last Friday’s game against Sierra Grande has been rescheduled for Feb. 3 at 4 p.m. The Aguilar game had not been rescheduled at press time. Both games will be in Creede.