Exploding for 21 fourth-quarter points Tuesday night in what had been a slow-brewing battle out in Dolores County, the Ignacio Bobcats allowed hosting Dove Creek to score only four in reply to earn a 49-24 road victory over the No. 4 squad in the CHSAANow.com Class 1A boys’ basketball rankings.
Helped by a 3-pointer from junior reserve Trajan Garcia, IHS (4-12 overall, 0-7 3A/4A Intermountain) took a 9-6 lead into the second quarter. Senior guard Eppie Quintana’s first six points helped increase it to 19-11 at halftime.
He then cashed two more 3s during the third quarter, and junior guard Phillip Quintana sunk one as the visitors led 28-20 beginning the final frame.
The younger brother then sank his second trey en route to posting five points in the quarter and totaling 12 for the nonleague game. Eppie Quintana booked his last two points and ended up with a game-high 14 inside ‘The Dawg House,’ while junior center/forward Gabe Cox doubled his first-half output and finished with eight.
Garcia also registered four points during the last eight minutes and totaled seven. Junior guard Devante Montoya logged four of his six during the closing offensive rush. Seeing more varsity minutes recently, sophomore reserve guard D.J. Hendren chipped in two points as Ignacio built up momentum to resume IML work Friday at home versus 3A Montezuma-Cortez (6-9, 2-5).
Playing without senior guard Kade Hankins, the Bulldogs (12-4, 5-0 2A/1A San Juan Basin, 3-0 1A SJBL) got seven points from senior guard Tanner Williams, who went 3-of-4 from the free-throw line. Also 3-of-4 from the stripe, sophomore center Sheldon Gardner logged five points, with senior forwards Asher Nye and Kendall Gardner each contributing four.
Dove Creek is slated to see its next action Saturday at 2A SJBL foe Dolores.
