Having suffered a 65-point loss their previous outing, which ended their stay at the Shannon Johnson Classic in Vernal, Utah, the San Juan Lady Broncos had to count themselves fortunate to have two weeks’ rest and practice before facing another opponent.
Most fortunately, that opponent – Bayfield – came to them Saturday.
Seeking to recover somewhat from their own harsh setback, the previous night’s 57-16 home loss to Ignacio, first-year BHS head coach Lauren Moran mentioned her squad played better than against the voracious Lady Bobcats, despite falling short in Blanding, Utah, 55-27.
“I definitely think our inside game is our strength,” she said, “and we weren’t able to take advantage of that as much as I’d have hoped. We struggled, obviously, with their pressure, but tomorrow’s a new day. Hopefully we’ll try to keep playing at our strengths, keep trying to improve our weaknesses.”
“It’s definitely a learning experience for me too, having never been a head coach before,” Moran added. “But I think I have really good support from (assistant coaches) Jamie (Wursten) and Tiarra (Christensen), and the girls are buying in. So I feel pretty good about it.”
“We’re all pretty close and … communicate well, but we’ve got to work out the kinks,” said senior Abby Tate. “I think we’re doing pretty well. ... But it’s definitely going to be a learning process this year.”
“It’s always a tough game,” senior Jordan Martindale said of traveling to SJHS. “I’m just hoping that once we bring it together more and trust each other, we’ll be able to get better as a team.”
In constructing a nine-point lead, 14-5, after one quarter and increasing it to 15, 29-14, by halftime, fourth-year skipper Laura Stearns’ side played stingy defense, restricting BHS (0-6 overall, 0-0 CHSAA 3A Intermountain) to single-digit scoring in each stanza while distributing their own offensive production.
Junior Kaeahliyah Howard racked up a game-high 21 points. Junior Serina Yanito booked 11, senior Halli Palmer added 10, and sophomore Shaylin Nez contributed seven for UHSAA Class 2A San Juan, which improved to 2-5 overall.
Held to seven points by IHS (3-3, 0-0 2A/1A San Juan Basin), Tate scored 12 against the Lady Broncos, including four free throws in seven tries. Martindale booked five points, and sophomore Michelle Kirk and junior Abria Thayer each logged four.
“We just need to get to know each other better,” Martindale said, “so that we can execute all of our plays … on the court.”
Blasted 25-8 during the first eight minutes in Blanding, Bayfield would go into halftime trailing SJHS 48-19 and really were never close in a 54-point road loss.
Denied by four points in last winter’s UHSAA/Mountain America Class 3A Boys Basketball State Championship in finishing 18-8 overall, the hungry and talented Broncos – reclassified this year down to 2A – improved to 6-1 with the win.
Draining four of at least 14 total three-pointers, senior guard Ladd Ivins reportedly totaled 19 points for SJHS with senior forward Jace Palmer (18) and senior guard Cooper Black (17) offering excellent support.
Figures for Bayfield (1-5, 0-0 3A Intermountain) were unavailable at press time.
