Never has a losing record looked so good.
Well, at least as far as qualifying for the postseason is concerned.
Thanks in large part to the strength of their 2024-25 schedule, featuring a powerhouse Class 3A team (Centauri) and two strong 4As (Pagosa Springs, Alamosa) all in their league, Ignacio Bobcats girls basketball not only tasted enough success this winter to crack the CHSAA Selection & Seeding Index’s top 32, but finished higher up in those calculations than perhaps expected.
“I was very surprised,” head coach Travis Nanaeto said, following Monday evening’s practice. “For being a first-time head coach, it’s awesome. I was happy.”
Given the No. 29 seed in the bracket, the Bobcats (8-14 overall, 4-8 3A/4A Intermountain) may face their toughest opponent in No. 4 seed Cedaredge. First place in the Western Slope League this winter with a 14-0 mark and standing 23-0 overall, CHS – which went 14-10 overall last season – promises to be one of the top contenders for the classification’s crown.
“We’ve played them many times,” said Nanaeto, alluding to IHS-CHS battles in seasons past, “so we kind of know their style of playing. That’s a big plus; I’m actually glad we landed in that spot.”
Tipoff time is set for 5:30 p.m. on Friday at Cedaredge.
“As soon as I walked in (to practice on Monday) the girls were wanting to watch (film of) Cedaredge, and then we got to playing some offense and defense,” he said. “Everybody was in a happy mood; they were excited to be playing again. And I knew the girls could (qualify) toward the end (of regular-season play); they’re peaking at the right moment.”
IHS boys facing supreme challenge against top-seeded Resurrection Christian
For nearly a week, all Trae Seibel and his players could do was wait and pray.
Turns out someone was listening.
The Bobcats boys basketball 2024-25 season will continue, with Ignacio being one of 32 teams taking part in the CHSAA Class 3A Boys Basketball State Tournament.
Sneaking in just ahead of 33rd-ranked Estes Park and 34th-ranked Parachute Grand Valley, Ignacio was given the No. 32 seed and will next travel north to Loveland to face top-seeded Resurrection Christian at 4 p.m. Friday. First place in the Patriot League this winter with a 10-0 mark, the Cougars stand 23-0 overall and are riding a 37-game winning streak since a 10-point loss to nonleague 4A Riverdale Ridge in January of 2023.
“There’s a big group of teams that are turning in their uniforms today to their head coach … and we weren’t one of them!” said Seibel. “We’re blessed to have another week to play, and we took that with gratitude. We’re in the tournament, so let’s go prepare to take on the number one team in the state, and give them everything that we can give them.”
Included in Resurrection Christian’s winning streak is a 76-61 victory over Kent Denver in last season’s 4A state championship – after RC had lost the ’23 grand finale to Broomfield Holy Family.
Now-seniors Ty Yoder, Cade Crutcher and Graham Riggs are all back for the Cougars and will be looked-to leaders.
“Today was our ‘shooting’ practice where we just put up at least a thousand shots and turned music up …. I wanted the boys to feel loose,” Seibel said. “We want to be disciplined – that’s going to be a big part of our game plan going in on Friday; to beat a number one team you have to be ultra-disciplined – but I also wanted the boys to understand that in order to even compete with these guys, we’ve got to knock some shots down.”
