After a competitive first half at Bayfield, the Aztec Tigers ripped the game wide-open with a 28-1 third-quarter run en route to a 54-13 victory on Dec. 21 at BHS Gymnasium.
Aztec opened the third quarter on a 13-0 run and didn’t look back.
By the time the fourth and final quarter commenced, the visiting Lady Tigers held a dictatorial 44-11 advantage.
“I thought the ball was live; I asked the official to check it, just to see if it had a little more bounce,” Aztec coach Bill McLaughlin said. “But it was just a good effort. I’m proud of the girls. We’re really young and I’m excited for the future.”
The tqo squads were tied 4-4 after the first quarter – a definite morale boost for Bayfield (2-4).
Aztec sophomore Jazzlyn Gomez then started the second stanza with a 3-pointer, and would total a vital seven points in the frame as the visitors went into halftime up 16-10.
Aztec freshman Khloe Schmidt began the Lady Tigers’ explosive third quarter with a corner 3-pointer, and senior Nika McKenzie added three made free throws to increase the guests’ growing lead to 24-10. Eighteen ticks later, sophomore super-sub Camila Dominquez cashed her first of two treys, putting Aztec (3-2) up 27-10 and concretely on course to record a devastating eight-minute output.
All told, Aztec held Bayfield to just three field goals – all logged by junior Renae Foutz, with one being a first quarter 3-ball. The junior scored nine points, while senior Genesis Barrera booked three points.
“All in all, I think it was a good team challenge,” Bayfield coach Scott Key said. “I compliment the girls; they tried hard all the time, and they played until the end. That’s all I can ask.”
Gomez (5-10 FT) scored a game-high 19 points for Aztec, and Schmidt tallied 10 points. Dominquez ended up with nine points, including eight during the third quarter.
“We calmed down in the second half. We came out of the locker room with a little more purpose, not really wanting to rush our stuff, and did a little better taking care of the ball,” McLaughlin said. “And we rotate about every two minutes; we were fresher and it really showed.”
The Lady Wolverines will host Durango JV on Jan. 5. Aztec will host the Rumble in The Jungle tournament Wednesday through Friday.
