Though facing last season’s UHSAA Class 2A state champion San Juan Broncos, Bayfield’s players didn’t care.
Going into their last preholiday game Saturday, the Wolverines had one goal in mind and knew that to accomplish it they’d have to get through the boys from Blanding, Utah – no matter their returning talent level.
“We all said before the game that we’re going into break with a winning record,” senior post Caden Wood recalled afterward. “We called that out first, and we did it.”
And did so in authoritative fashion. Behind the energetic Wood’s 15 points and a controlling 14-point, 14-rebound double-double from senior Jackson Queen, BHS backed up their wild 61-57 win at Aztec (New Mexico) on Friday with a 55-40 home victory Saturday.
“Yesterday was a big, big momentum boost; we knew we needed to go down to Aztec, take care of business. We didn’t, but the fourth quarter ended up being phenomenal – we carried that momentum straight into this game,” said head coach Scott Key. “And, really, I think we put the gas pedal down in the first quarter and never (let) off.”
Showing increased confidence in their passing, producing numerous quality looks near the hoop, the Wolverines (4-3, 0-0 3A/4A Intermountain) brought the fight to SJHS (3-5, 0-0 UHSAA Region 19) from the outset. Leading 9-6 after the first quarter, Bayfield got three points apiece from senior Max Meyers and sophomore Lincoln Williams during the second as their advantage grew to 21-11 by halftime.
Queen then booked seven points in the third and Wood four, helping further inflate BHS’ cushion to an impressive 37-18 going into the fourth quarter – when the Broncos at last came alive in a desperate comeback attempt.
San Juan junior Anthony Done got free for multiple transition layups and totaled eight of his 10 points during the closing eight minutes. Senior Ian Johnson drained the last two of his five three-pointers en route to a game-high 18 points. But other than senior Collin Baker (6 points), SJHS – coming off a winning 88-point effort three days before – had little in terms of support.
Starters Dakota Long and Garrett Young, both seniors, were held to a combined four points, and junior Justice Black came off the bench to score two as the Wolverines sought to limit their opponent’s opportunities.
“The big thing was ‘One and Done,’” Key said. “We’ve been preaching that since the beginning: ‘One and Done,’ meaning they get one shot and then they’re done – we’re getting the rebound and going the other direction.”
“We told the guys they’ve got to fly around,” Key continued. “We were going to stay tight and not let any of their bigs beat us, and when they did want to spot up on a three we were going to get a hand in their face and contest that shot.”
“That’s what we’ve been working on,” Wood said, “and … our biggest improvements so far in practice. It’s paying off.”
In what Key emphatically labeled a “team win,” senior Lance Mazur finished with nine points while Williams ended up with seven and Meyers three. Bench players Kord Tideman (2 points), Devin Cundiff (2) and Silas Wilbourn (3) combined to outscore San Juan’s reserves 7 to 2. Bayfield also went 13-of-20 from the charity stripe while San Juan finished 2-of-6 – a disparity factoring into Bronco boss Jeff Johnson receiving a technical foul during the second half.
“At the start of the season when we started off slow, we knew that we needed to get back on track. Quickly,” said Key. “We’ve really been trying to work on finishing games, playing well in the third quarter – we struggle in the third sometimes – but today they came out firing. We’re on top of the world right now; this is exactly where we wanted to be going into the break.”
