BAYFIELD – Finding fresh legs and a renewed sense of purpose during halftime Saturday, Eppie Quintana strung together four unanswered baskets beginning the third quarter of the 2022 Four Corners Southwest Classic’s de facto championship contest, helping Ignacio expand a two-point halftime lead into a double-digit advantage that defending champion Bayfield couldn’t erase.
“Honestly I think it was just the adrenaline; I was just so excited, having a good time out there with all my buddies, listening to coach Chris yelling – it’s just a good time,” said Quintana, who polished off the 56-42 victory over host Bayfield with five free throws in six attempts during the final 15 seconds. “When that adrenaline kicked in, I was just ready to go.”
“First half, I was kind of upset at Eppie; he wasn’t doing as well as he could. Then he came out and scored eight straight points in that third quarter … until I had to sit him down for foul trouble,” head coach Chris Valdez said, his side having led at intermission by a slim 22-20 margin. “He really stepped up, and I was happy because it takes the pressure off of Gabe.”
Having booked 30 points in a 67-49 home 2A/1A San Juan Basin League win over Dove Creek on Jan. 6 and then 18 in IHS’ 59-48 defeat of 3A Montezuma-Cortez on Friday at the classic, standout Gabe Tucson was held to just three first-half points and five through three quarters by the Wolverines, energized by a 52-51 upset of 4A Durango on Day 1. But down the stretch, Tucson chipped in eight fourth-quarter points to finish with 13.
Quintana, meanwhile, happily assumed the senior’s leadership mantle. Having supported Tucson well against Dove Creek with 17 points, but then held to seven by M-CHS, the junior guard erupted for 24 points against Bayfield – which went 2-0 at last season’s tourney in Durango – including impressive 9-of-10 at the foul line.
“Gabe Tucson does so great in everything. Like, that kid … if he’s having a bad game, he makes everyone look amazing,” said Quintana. “He just brings everyone up to the level he’s at. It’s great to have that kind of player on our team.”
Quintana’s point total was third-highest during the Classic, bettered by only Montezuma-Cortez senior J.T. Carver’s 32 booked during an 84-74 overtime win over Durango in the preceding game, and DHS junior Luke Wesley’s 26 in the same showdown.
Pumping in 12 fourth-quarter points for the Wolverines, senior guard Isaac Ross finished with a team-high 19 points in defeat. Going 7-of-19 from the foul line, junior post Caden Wood totaled 15 before fouling out on a technical foul with 0:05 remaining.
“I thought they played really good all weekend,” Bayfield head coach Klint Chandler said of his bunch. “Today … our shots just didn’t fall, and I told them some days you have that. I thought our defense was a little sluggish, but that’s something we can learn from and move on.”
“I think we can only get better from this, to be honest,” said Wood, who finished the Classic with 12-of-34 free throws. “Our chemistry’s definitely coming together better, and it’s going to start making us play better. We’re going to be playing as a team more from now on.”
Ignacio posts Gabe Cox and Dylan McCaw, meanwhile, turned in crucial efforts. Cox, a sophomore, came off the bench to score eight points, while McCaw, a junior starter, contributed six. Against Montezuma-Cortez, McCaw had managed eight –and Cox zero – before he fouled out with 3:57 left in the game.
“Those big guys in the post helped us with tips, rebounds inside. They did the blue-collar work,” Valdez said. “Didn’t get a lot of points for it, a lot of glory, but we don’t win without their hustle; those bigs really helped us win this.”
Another sterling individual performance came from sophomore Phillip Quintana, who equaled Tucson’s 18 points against M-CHS on Day 1, also matching Tucson’s two second-quarter threes and one in the third. Sophomore Devante Montoya (8 points; 3 versus BHS) also knocked down a triple in the second and third quarters – giving IHS eight total threes and helping the ’Cats outscore the Panthers 31-21 during the game’s middle quarters.
Up next, Ignacio will host 1A Ouray on Friday, beginning with junior varsity at 4:30 p.m. The Bobcats will then travel to 2A Ridgway on Saturday. Results from the Bobcats’ Tuesday test versus 2A Mancos (6-2 overall; Ignacio came in 5-2) were unavailable at press time.
“We know they’re more athletic, but we’re going to do whatever we have to do to get into ’em – change the lineup maybe if we have to – and play our hardest like we have in the past,” Valdez said.
The Wolverines (2-6 overall, 0-0 3A Intermountain), meanwhile, will next host 2A Monte Vista (2-5) on Friday, then start IML work Saturday at Pagosa Springs.
