A 7-0 run by Telluride to open the game didn’t scare the Ignacio High School boys basketball team Saturday. Especially in the Bobcats’ home gym.
The Bobcats would respond and get within 13-12 after one quarter. It was a 17-11 second quarter in favor of the Bobcats that got the home team in front for good at 29-24 going into the locker room. IHS (10-1, 6-0 2A/1A San Juan Basin League) would stretch a 12-point lead going to the fourth quarter into a 20-point win at 67-47 to remain unbeaten in league play.
Telluride (4-8, 2-2 SJBL), fell to 0-5 on the road with the loss.
Next up for the Bobcats is a lot of rest before a Feb. 4 home game against Class 4A Durango (8-8).
It was a tough weekend to open the league schedule for the Durango boys basketball team.
A day after a 77-33 loss to Fruita Monument, the Demons didn’t recover and fell 53-45 to Grand Junction.
The Tigers (2-13, 1-1 5A/4A Southwestern League) claimed a 21-14 lead at halftime, and a 20-point fourth helped the visitors hold off a second-half charge from DHS (8-8, 0-2 SWL.)
“We need to play harder and better as a team,” DHS head coach Alan Batiste said. “We are in a slump and have taken a step back.”
Sam Johnson and Jordan Woolverton led DHS in scoring with 10 points each.
DHS will get a week to recover and prepare for a key league rivalry game at home at 6 p.m. against Montrose (13-3, 1-0 SWL).
“We need to get ready for another big game Saturday against Montrose. Aggressiveness is key to our success.”
The second and third quarters got away from the Wolverines on Saturday in Monte Vista.
Bayfield (1-12, 0-4 3A Intermountain League) was outscored 36-21 in the middle two quarters to fall 49-32 to the host Pirates (5-7, 1-3 IML).
Stats were not available.
With the losing streak now at 10 games, Bayfield will try to bounce back at 7 p.m. Friday at home against Pagosa Springs.
Girls Basketball
Girls BasketballThere was no hangover for the Durango High School girls basketball team Saturday.
Less than 24 hours after the Demons pulled off a big upset of Class 5A No. 8 Fruita Monument to hand the Wildcats only their second loss of the season, the Demons (10-6, 2-0 SWL) came back with a 32-24 win against Grand Junction (5-10, 0-2 SWL).
“Great team effort defensively, and they showed a lot of mental toughness today after expending a ton of energy last night,” DHS head coach Tim Fitzpatrick said.
Mason Rowland led DHS in scoring with 14 points.
DHS will get ready for a big rivalry week with a 6 p.m. Tuesday game at Bayfield before a home game at 4 p.m. Saturday against league rival Montrose (13-3, 1-0 SWL). Durango handed Montrose one of its three losses of the season earlier this season in the championship game of the Aztec tournament.
“A weekend like this builds our confidence,” Fitzpatrick said. “We just have to keep improving and focus on the next game.”
Ignacio 77, Telluride 9
If the Bobcats were rusty at all Friday against Ridgway, they were a polished machine Saturday against Telluride.
The Ignacio High girls basketball team thumped Telluride 77-9.
IHS (7-5, 5-0 SJBL) led 19-0 before the Miners (4-6, 3-1 SJBL) made a basket and held a 21-2 lead after one quarter. It was 35-2 Bobcats before the Miners would make another shot, and the Bobcats led 40-6 at halftime. The Bobcats outscored Telluride 18-0 in the third quarter before closing out the fourth.
IHS head coach Justa Whitt knows her team won’t be challenged much in the league. The goal is to not play down to opponents, as the Bobcats have high hopes to playing at a high level going into this year’s state tournament.
“We know it’s going to be a struggle keeping us up, playing like we’re playing a Del Norte or an Alamosa when we’re playing these kinds of teams,” Whitt said.
Earlier in the week, Mancos had to forfeit to IHS because it didn’t have enough healthy players. When league teams do get on the floor, it has yet to be close.
“It is a little bummer that we don’t have that competition in our league, but we go out and play our hardest every single time,” IHS junior guard Charlize Valdez said.
Next for IHS is a home game Saturday against Nucla (2-10, 1-3 SJBL).
After three tough losses in league play, the Wolverines earned their first win in the IML on Saturday in Monte Vista.
The Bayfield girls (4-6, 1-3 IML) picked up a 46-24 win with dominant defense. Monte Vista (2-9, 0-4 IML) could not slow the Wolverines’ offense, either.
Stats were not available.
BHS will host Durango at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
