If the Bayfield High School boys basketball team wants a turnabout today, it’ll need to turnaround its turnovers.

The Wolverines play Monte Vista tonight at 5 p.m. in Bayfield in a pigtail game that will either land them in the Bayfield-hosted Intermountain League district tournament or leave them watching from the sidelines in their own gym.

And after losing to the Pirates by a single point in overtime, 58-57, on Thursday, the Wolverines would definitely savor a turnabout.

“I think that is an exciting challenge; I think our kids are up to it,” BHS head coach Bill Hesford said. “The thought of hosting (the district tournament) and not being in it is a little scary.”

The key to revenge, Hesford said, will be putting the kibosh on turnovers. On Thursday, the Wolverines turned over the ball a “killer” 28 times while the Pirates converted their shots into points.

“I think it’s extremely important to limit turnovers,” Hesford said. “When we limit turnovers, we’ve had good results. When we make lazy passes and don’t take care of the basketball ... we haven’t gotten a lot of wins.”

A lot of that responsibility, will fall on the shoulders of the Bayfield guards: Zach Stone and Joey Webb.

Hesford said the duo will need to really take care of the ball, demanding it back when the shot looks aren’t there and demanding accountability for shots taken when they are.

“The guards need to step up big,” Hesford said.

Another key will be Bayfield big man Derek Hillyer.

Hillyer was one of a handful of Wolverines who played through sickness in Bayfield’s Thursday loss. Although he played well in the loss and gave the game everything he had, Hesford said he “just (didn’t) think everything he had is quite as much as he has normally.”

Now recovering, Hesford said Hillyer, who scored 19 points on Thursday, has to have a good game, especially in the absence of Trey Lange, who will miss the pigtail game due to illness.

“Derek, inside, is huge,” Hesford said.

And, of course, leading scorer Cody Rose, who’s averaging about 17 points a game, will have to find plenty of net, Hesford said.

On defense, Hesford said it’s critical that his Wolverines keep Monte Vista’s Keith Romero from raiding their basket.

In the first matchup between the two teams, Romero racked up a team-high 24 points even though the Wovlerines clinched the win 80-77.

On Thursday, Hesford said a couple of his guys stepped up to keep Romero from getting open looks. The Wolverines would rather force Romero to find penetration or his teammates instead of letting him take jump shots.

“We can’t let him catch the ball with his feet set,” Hesford said. “He’s dangerous that way.”

If Bayfield (9-10, 3-5 IML) wins the game, the Wolverines secure a spot in the district tournament at home next weekend. If they take another loss, they’ll be watching from the stands.

jsojourner@durangoherald.com