Every missed free throw was crucial Friday night in Bayfield.
The Bayfield High School Wolverines’ boys basketball team went only 14-of-26 from the foul line in a 63-60 loss to San Juan High School of Blanding, Utah.
The Wolverines (1-4) were tied with the Broncos (2-2) at 39 after three quarters, and a late 3-point attempt at the buzzer by sophomore Ryan Phelps wouldn’t drop to force overtime.
Phelps finished with a team-high 15 points. He was matched by San Juan’s Caleb Pugh, who also had 15 points before fouling out with 4 minutes, 28 seconds to play.
Bayfield received 13 points from Taed Heydinger, and Hunter Killough added another 12. Freshman Keyon Pror had six points, and Fred Edwards, Hayden Farmer and Brian Mashak all scored four points.
San Juan had four players score in double-digits, including Jaden Torgerson’s 14 points and another 13 from Jordan Blake.
The Broncos went only 9-of-18 from the free-throw line.
San Juan was able to break Bayfield’s press defense throughout the game, and that proved to be key.
The Wolverines will try to find a win at 5 p.m. Saturday in Utah against Monticello before taking a two-week break.
Meanwhile, in Bloomfield, the Bayfield girls (2-3) fell 47-24 to the Bloomfield Bobcats of New Mexico. The girls will be off until a Jan. 7 trip to play Piedra Vista in Farmington.
heraldsports@durangoherald.com
