Ignacio wrestled its way to second place at the league dual championships Thursday in Nucla.
Ignacio beat Dolores 36-18 and Mancos 30-15 but fell to the combined team of Norwood and Nucla 42-24 to fall a little short of a league championship. But regionals matter more in wrestling, as that meet will determine the state qualifiers.
IHS had league champions in Ethan Appenzeller, Lorenzo Peña and Stocker Robbins.
Appenzeller went 3-0 at 145 pounds with two pin victories and one via forfeit.
Peña also went 3-0 at 160 pounds but only had to wrestle one actual match, winning the other two via forfeit. He beat Kaleb Hargraves of Mancos with a pin 35 seconds into the second period.
Robbins wrestled all three matches and won all three via pin at 132 pounds. He was aiming to pin all of his opponents in 1 minute or less, but his final match against a Norwood wrestler took until the third period to secure the pin. His other two victories came in 32 and 44 seconds.
Dustin Sanchez went 2-1 at 138 pounds. He lost a 4-2 decision to Mancos and pinned an opponent from Norwood and won another match via forfeit.
Dalton Mickey was 2-1 at 152 pounds but won two via forfeit. He lost to top-ranked Hayden Harris of Norwood.
Cesar Pedragon and Hunter Robbins each went 1-2 with a forfeit victory.
In Pagosa Springs, the Bayfield High School team lost a dual-meet to the Pirates, 34-24.
Girls Basketball
Girls BasketballAfter trailing 24-13 at halftime, the Bobcats stormed back to bounce the Bears in overtime.
Ignacio High School was led by a sizzling performance by Avionne Gomez, who made numerous 3-pointers in the second half to will the Bobcats back. Her 3-pointer from the wing with 20 seconds remaining in overtime was the difference.
Tatum Majors played a big role for Dolores, as she made two free throws with 3 seconds to play in regulation to tie the game at 39 and send it to overtime. She also made a free throw to tie the game at 43 before Gomez’s dramatic big shot.
It all started with a group head coach Shane Seibel likes to call his “blue team.” They brought energy when IHS struggled and helped will the Bobcats back into the game.
“Dolores was ready for us,” Seibel said. “We couldn’t buy a layup in a strange first half. I started my blue team and challenged them to bring some energy on the floor and work hard, and they brought it.”
Gomez finished with 22 points to continue a streak of 20-plus point games. Kiana Valdez added seven points, and Seibel was thrilled with two crucial fourth-quarter free throws by senior Sharmaine Price.
IHS (9-3, 6-0 San Juan Basin League) will face Norwood in a key matchup Saturday in on the road. League title ramifications are at stake.
Boys Basketball
Boys BasketballWith players still battling illness and eligibility issues, the Bobcats still found a way to hold off the Bears and remain unbeaten in league play.
“We barely snuck by them,” IHS head coach Chris Valdez said. “We turned the ball over far too much.”
IHS was led by Johnny Valdez’s 15 points on five made 3s. The Bobcats made only one other 3 all game, and it came from Lawrence Valdez.
Freshman Ocean Hunter had 12 points in the starting lineup for the Bobcats. Coach Valdez was thrilled with his play in the post.
Coach Valdez also said Kai Roubideaux played a big role with double-digit rebounds and seven points.
IHS (9-3, 7-0 SJBL) will have a big road game Saturday at Norwood.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
