Leading Del Norte 6-2 after a slow first quarter, the Ignacio Bobcats increased their advantage to 14-3 via sophomore reserve Coty Webb’s three-pointer with 3:24 left in the second, and more or less cruised to a 40-20 nonleague victory Saturday inside IHS Gymnasium.
Able to coast into halftime ahead 15-7, having held Tiger senior standout Ben Parra to just three points of his six total, IHS (2-3, 0-0 3A/4A Intermountain) effectively pulled away by winning the third quarter 14-6. IHS was helped by what was essentially a five-point play when, after junior center/forward Gabe Cox missed an and-one free throw, senior guard Eppie Quintana (16 points) converted Ignacio’s offensive rebound into a three-pointer with 1:01 left, upping the hosts’ lead to 29-13 going into the final frame.
“They’ve got good shooters – all those kids there can shoot – but our quickness is … our strength defensively,” said IHS head coach Chris Valdez. “Even with our big guys; they’re bony, but they can get out there and guard the three-pointer – it kept their other kids from scoring when we were box-and-one on Parra. You can’t let Parra get loose for more than 10, 12 points; when he’s over 12 you’re going to lose. We kept him down, and that’s why we won.”
Cox totaled eight points, with Webb and junior guard Devante Montoya each totaling five. Junior guard Phillip Quintana contributed four points, while senior forward/center Dylan McCaw and sophomore forward Charlie Pargin each booked one.
Senior post Michael Laymon led 2A DNHS (2-1 overall) with eight points, despite 2-of-7 shooting from the free-throw line.
The Bobcats will next travel to 2A Mancos (2-4 overall) on Thursday, then return to welcome 2A Sargent (2-2) – Tiger head coach Austin Dillon’s alma mater, on Friday to wrap up the pre-holiday portion of their schedule.
Holding Del Norte to only three baskets after intermission while outscoring the Tigers 25-8 during the same time span, Ignacio’s girls basketball team had little difficulty erasing a small halftime deficit to win 43-30.
“We had a good inside game; Soly and Harmony were able to post up and look for options – it showed with Soly in the first half, and in the second with Harmony,” IHS head coach Trae Seibel said, referring to posts Solymar Cosio and Harmony Reynolds, who each tallied 15 points. “And I saw some of the guards hit threes, and have good penetration. Looking inside and looking outside … our plan today was to have a balanced attack.”
Cosio, a junior, booked 11 first-quarter points as Ignacio (4-1, 0-0 3A/4A Intermountain) held a 13-11 advantage after eight minutes. DNHS (0-3) responded, swiping a 22-18 halftime lead, but after IHS senior guard Laci Brunson (5 points) put the ’Cats up 23-22 with a clutch trey, Ignacio would enter the fourth quarter leading 28-24.
Junior guard Darlyn Mendoza-Lechuga (5 points) would later sink a three increasing the advantage to 37-28. Junior reserve Maci Barnes put the last point up on the scoreboard for IHS with a free throw after Del Norte senior Shelby Vanzalinge’s disqualifying fifth personal foul with 7.7 seconds left.
And whereas Cosio controlled the paint before intermission, Reynolds did so after and booked 10 second-half points – two via an uncontested layup before the officials paused play so IHS’ trainers could aid Mendoza-Lechuga, who had been face-planted near the scorer’s table during the breakaway sequence.
Winning their own 2022-23 home opener, the ’Cats also got two points from sophomore guard Marissa Olguin.
“Our goal was to break through the mental and emotional challenges that come with having an emotional win the night before, and giving everything you’ve got,” said Seibel, alluding to a 45-31 triumph at Sanford, at the time No. 3 in Class 2A (SHS’ third-ranked boys prevailed over IHS 49-24). “Our girls were able to do that in the second half … and were able to grind out a win.”
Senior Abigail Rivera totaled 12 points to lead DNHS, with Vanzalinge and senior Kelci Madrid each registering five.
The IHS girls will also visit 2A Mancos (also 4-1) Thursday and host 2A Sargent (1-3) on Friday.
