Making a welcome return to action, senior Genesis Barrera netted all 10 of her points during the fourth quarter on Tuesday to help the Bayfield girls basketball team separate from Dolores and lock up a 32-21 road win.
Sinking one three-pointer, sophomore Renae Foutz totaled a game-high 11 points as BHS – which finished 1-19 last winter – improved to 2-0 (0-0 3A/4A Intermountain) to start the 2022-23 season. Junior Madison Mead contributed six points, senior Abria Thayer three, and junior Michelle Kirk two as the guests led 7-5 after one quarter, 10-9 at halftime and 18-13 through three.
Senior Chandler Smith booked 10 points for the 2A Bears (1-3 overall), and junior Ashlyn Mikkelson scored five.
Bayfield, however, will have its toughest challenge yet on Friday when the team travels to Monte Vista for a slated 5 p.m. start.
Completely off the radar in the preseason CHSAANow.com Class 2A poll, the 3-0 Pirates shot up to the third-highest “Others Receiving Votes” team in this week’s poll after a first-place showing at the Rye Invitational. Monte Vista scored wins over now-3A Rocky Ford, 4A Pueblo Central and 2A Swink to win the title.
Dolores, meanwhile, will venture north to the Rangely Shoot-Out on Friday and Saturday. Dolores will first face 3A Aspen at 6 p.m. Friday. Coming into the tournament 0-2 overall – after two seasons spent rebuilding as a JV-level program – the Skiers will have already squared off against 1A De Beque (1-0) earlier in the day.
