Foul trouble couldn’t stop a deep Ignacio team Thursday in Telluride.
The Bobcats opened San Juan League play with a 57-39 win over the Miners.
IHS (5-1) led by eight at halftime despite most of its team playing with “three or four fouls,” according to head coach Chris Valdez.
“It was pretty rugged,” he said.
Adison Jones posted a double-double of 14 points and 15 rebounds, while Kelton Richmond and Bo Ward joined him in double figures with 10 each.
“He’s been starting for us lately,” Valdez said of Ward. “It’s nice to see him come in and step up.”
Wyatt Hayes added eight points and Clayton Jefferson seven to round out the Bobcats’ starting five.
Valdez wasn’t thrilled with his team’s defense, which allowed Telluride (1-2) to penetrate and shoot 34 free throws in the game.
Telluride only made 18 of those attempts from the charity stripe.
Connor Courter scored 14 points on 37.5-percent shooting for the Miners, who shot 23 percent from the floor as a team.
The Bobcats played a 10-man rotation for most of the night, and that depth helped them maintain their lead.
IHS led 27-19 at the half and never allowed more than 12 points in a quarter.
“That’s going to be the key to our success – our depth,” Valdez said. “I thought our whole team played well against probably the second best team in our league.”
IHS bounced back from its first loss of the season Tuesday at Shiprock Northwest and will continue league play against Sargent at 2 p.m. Saturday in Monte Vista.
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