It’s been 56 days since the Ignacio High School boys basketball team took over the No. 1 ranking in Class 2A from CHSAANow.com.
The Bobcats hardly think about it anymore.
They’ll be the No. 1 seed in the Great Eight of the Class 2A State Boys Basketball Championship later this week, but that news barely registered a blip.
“We’re satisfied with it,” IHS head coach Chris Valdez said. “We think we’ve worked hard enough and had big enough wins.”
IHS (23-0) is one of only five undefeated teams left in the state and one of only two unblemished boys teams.
This is the first year the Bobcats have had the top seed since 2010 when current Fort Lewis College center Alex Herrera led them to the state championship game.
The Bobcats will play No. 8 Sedgwick County at 10:15 a.m. Thursday at Massari Arena on the campus of CSU-Pueblo.
The Cougars won the Region 7 tournament by beating Liberty Common 59-35.
“They start three sophomores. They’re not an entirely huge team,” Valdez said. “They’ve got some good shooters. We’ll have a good scouting report so we can figure out where we can key on slowing down their best that they have.”
IHS will counter with a lineup that includes three seniors who have played in the state tournament before plus a junior in Adison Jones who has played a lot of minutes over the last three years.
“It’s great to have them because they have been there,” Valdez said. “At this point, these kids look up to their seniors. They see a face that is confident and not get scared.”
Should the Bobcats advance, they will play the winner of No. 4 Sanford vs. No. 5 Simla.
Lutheran received the No. 2 seed, and will play No. 7 Holyoke.
“If anyone could have taken (the No. 1 seed) from us, it’s Lutheran,” Valdez said. “They played a tougher schedule but had six losses in that schedule.”
That game’s winner will face either No. 3 Akron or No. 6 Meeker.
“Monumentally, it’s a more physical game at the state tournament. It seems we can get away with a little more,” Valdez said. “If you’re not prepared to play physical, be prepared to go home.”
kgrabowski@durangoherald.com
