After pulling off a first-round shocker Tuesday night against Montezuma-Cortez, the Bayfield High School boys basketball team was unable to keep momentum going Thursday night.
The Wolverines lost a tough Class 3A Intermountain League Tournament semifinal against Centauri at Monte Vista High School, as the Falcons outscored the Wolverines 31-9 to close out the game to pull off a 61-31 win.
Bayfield’s Crosby Edwards led the Wolverines (4-17) with nine points, all of which came in the first half, while Quintan Hunter and Kacey Chandler each finished with six. Zack McSweeney finished with four points. After leading the Wolverines on Tuesday, sophomore Landon Kennedy was held to just two points.
Centauri (18-2), No. 10 in Class 3A according to the latest CHSAANow.com poll, had balanced scoring across the board, as 11 different players scored in the win. The Falcons were led by Baron Holman and Cody Bagwell, who both finished with 10 points. Levi Ruybal came off of the bench and scored eight in the fourth quarter, while Mason Claunch scored six.
The Wolverines led once in the game after Edwards hit his second 3-pointer of the game to give the Wolverines a 22-20 led with 4:20 remaining in the first half. It came after the Wolverines rebounded from a 13-2 deficit to start the game. They ended the first quarter strong on 10-2 run and trailed 15-12.
After the Wolverines took the lead in the second quarter, they were unable to sustain it. Centauri closed the half on a 10-0 run to take a 30-22 lead.
The Wolverines were outscored 15-5 in the third and trailed 45-25 after three quarters. Centauri’s bench delivered the knockout punch in the fourth with Ruyball hitting back-to-back 3-pointers to seal the win. Centauri’s bench outscored Bayfield 25-6, and the Wolverines were just 1-of-8 from the free-throw line in the loss.
In the first semifinal game of the night, top-seeded Alamosa beat Pagosa Springs 45-34. Alamosa will play Centauri for the Intermountain League championship at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. The Falcons will look for revenge, after the Mean Moose, ranked No. 7 in 3A, handed Centauri its only two losses of the season.
Bayfield will have one last game to close out the season against the Pagosa Springs Pirates (10-11) in the third-place game at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Monte Vista.
The BHS girls (9-11) will play an IML semifinal game against Pagosa Springs (15-4) at 6 p.m. Friday in Monte Vista.
bploen @durangoherald.com
