Patience while breaking the opposing team's press is usually advantageous.
Except for when the opposing team-let's say Bloomfield, for the sake of argument-figures it out and begins anticipating the ball's movement two passes ahead.
So it went Tuesday night at home for Bayfield.
With the Bobcats bringing full-court heat from the outset, just getting across midcourt to set up an offense was an accomplishment as regular steals yielded breakaway layups and ultimately a lead of 68-29 when the game was finally finished.
Bloomfield high-scorer Halle Payne set the tempo early for the visitors, scoring eight points in the first quarter as Bloomfield (4-1, 0-0 NMAA Dist. 1-5A) broke away to a 16-4 lead after eight minutes. The freshman-and the squad's only underclassman-would finish with 16 points, and sank an impressive 10 free throws in 11 chances.
But despite all 12 of his varsity players booking at least one point in the rout, Tom Adair's 'Cats struggled mightily as a whole from the charity stripe, making just 19 of a painful 41. Helped by six quick third-quarter points, further inflating what had been a 34-10 halftime cushion, senior Destiny Walther would total 12, and junior reserve Kimberlyn Morgan scored seven.
Taken down a notch from last Saturday's season-opening 38-24 win over 2A Mancos, Lana Killough's Wolverines (1-1, 0-0 3A Intermountain League) were slowed against the more talented foe by 30 total fouls. Junior Savannah Kaufmann, whose six points equaled junior Courtney Bayles' for the team lead, would foul out with 5:48 left in the final frame, and senior Taylor Morris (three points) would do likewise with 2:56 remaining.
Bayles finished with four fouls, as did junior Tiarra Christensen and senior newcomer Chloe Weybright (four points), while seniors Kyle Baker (four) and Jade Sanders (four) finished with three apiece.
Up next, Bayfield will travel to this weekend's two-day Buena Vista Invitational and first face Broomfield Jefferson Academy this evening at about 5:30 p.m. BHS will then face Denver-based Colorado Academy tomorrow at 10 a.m.
BOYS ALSO BOUND FOR BV: After two tough losses up in Englewood last weekend at Kent Denver's 7th annual Herman Schayes Memorial Tournament, 75-61 to KD and 69-48 to Federal Heights The Pinnacle, Jeff Lehnus' Wolverine boys (0-2, 0-0 IML) will also travel to this weekend's Demon Invite.
The boys will play at 4 p.m. today, then go against Gunnison tomorrow with tipoff scheduled for 1 p.m.
Junior forward/center Ryan Phelps totaled 43 points for the Bayfield boys in the season-opening action.
