CONEJOS COUNTY – Before hosting Ignacio in 3A/4A Intermountain League action Jan. 28, Alamosa head coach Myles Baker knew not to underestimate the mostly-undersized Bobcats – who had everything to gain against his Mean Moose, at the time ranked No. 6 in the CHSAANow.com Class 4A Boys’ Basketball poll.
“Ignacio … they’re coming to play every time they step on the floor,” Baker said following AHS’ win at Bayfield the night before. “It’s an IML battle, you’ve got to show up ready to play or you’re going to have problems.”
On Saturday, that statement rang true for Chris Valdez’s crew, fighting to keep their 2022-23 season alive. Pit against Montezuma-Cortez in the Centauri-hosted IML District Tournament’s third-place game, IHS most emphatically displayed preparedness too potent for the Panthers to match.
Ignacio raced out to a 19-6 lead through one quarter and then, powered by a 12-0 run featuring two three-pointers by freshman Ambrose Valdez, increased its advantage to 31-16 at halftime. The ’Cats never let M-CHS get closer than eight points during the second half en route to leaving La Jara with a 49-37 victory.
Junior guard Phillip Quintana racked up a game-high 15 points, with his last three coming with 46.1 left in the fourth frame, via a long-distance corner jumper assisted by senior Eppie Quintana. Junior center/forward Gabe Cox provided near-perfect balance inside, totaling 14 points. Valdez finished with three treys and 10 points.
Given a start with some players unavailable, including senior forward/center Dylan McCaw and junior guard Devante Montoya, sophomore forward Charlie Pargin chipped in five points and grabbed 14 rebounds. Coming off the bench, sophomore guard Coty Webb booked three points – via a triple punctuating IHS’ first quarter outburst – and the elder Quintana two.
Down 37-26 beginning the fourth quarter, Montezuma-Cortez (7-14 overall) approached as close as 39-31 with about 5:30 remaining, via the last of senior Isaak Lewis’ three threes. One of seven Panthers to score in the contest, Lewis finished with a team-high 11 points. Held to just one trey, senior Austin Wood scored four fourth-quarter points to bump his count up to seven. Sophomore Tay Wheat ended with seven.
Junior center/forward Miles Frost scored his five points during the first quarter. Junior Easton Hartsoe contributed his four during the third. Senior Elijah Lee logged two points in defeat and senior Gabe Crowley one. Ignacio (7-15) held proven perimeter problem Caidin Leonard, just a sophomore, scoreless.
Led by Phillip Quintana’s 5-of-6 accuracy, IHS ended up 9-of-12 from the charity stripe. M-CHS finished 3-of-13.
Though having posted a sixth-place 1-9 mark in regular-season IML play, the 3A/4A league’s strength-of-schedule aspect ultimately benefited IHS when the state tournament’s round-of-32 qualifiers were determined.
Given the No. 26 seed for the 3A tournament, the Bobcats will travel to Region VII-hosting Peyton for a 4:30 p.m. tipoff Friday. The No. 7 Panthers stand 13-8 overall after defeating the Thomas MacLaren School of Colorado Springs in the Black Forest/Santa Fe League District Tournament’s finale.
The winner will then square off against the winner of No. 10 The Vanguard School (19-3 overall going in), also based in Colorado Springs, and No. 23 Federal Heights The Pinnacle (14-8) in the championship at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.
