BAYFIELD – As Sky Cotton goes, so does the Ignacio High School girls basketball team.

The Bobcats’ senior point guard was in top gear in a 49-24 win Tuesday at Bayfield High School.

“When we get on the fast break, we want to push it,” said Cotton, daughter of Fred and Jennifer Cotton.

She scored 15 points and grabbed five rebounds while operating the focal point of Ignacio’s offense and defense.

No Wolverine defender could stay in front of her.

When they backed off she was quick on the jumper, finishing with two 3-pointers.

She helped orchestrate a 15-1 run in the second quarter to give the Bobcats all the separation they needed.

“We had too many turnovers and too many missed free throws,” BHS head coach Bri Simbeck said. “That was pretty much our problem (Tuesday).”

Defense again spearheaded Ignacio’s gameplan.

The Bobcats forced 28 BHS (0-15) turnovers and held the Wolverines to 22.8 percent shooting from the floor.

“It was paramount for us to really clamp down defensively and execute,” IHS head coach Shane Seibel said. “With our offense, the ball finds the shooters’ hands. Everyone gets an opportunity to catch the ball.”

Freshman Hilda Garcia benefitted from the corner and the paint.

She hit three 3-pointers as part of a team-high 18 points on the evening.

The Wolverines didn’t even attempt a 3-pointer.

Senior Jessie Roukema carried their offense in the paint with 13 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for the double-double.

She did struggle from the foul line along with the rest of her team.

BHS went 8-of-27 from the line.

“We’re a perfect example of how much it hurts a team,” Simbeck said. “As a coach, that’s kind of a dagger to the heart that a free basket, uncontested, can keep you from being in the game.”

The only drama at the end of the game was a scene straight from Chris Webber and Michigan’s famed “Fab Five.”

Simbeck called a timeout when she didn’t have any left with .1 seconds remaining on the clock. That resulted in a technical foul and a chance for Ignacio to tack on one more point before the buzzer.

“My bench coach told me we had one left,” Simbeck said.

IHS (12-3) will look to extend its eight-game winning streak at 5:30 p.m. Friday against Ridgway, while the Bobcats will try to break a 15-game losing streak at 5:30 p.m. Friday against Monte Vista.

kgrabowski@durangoherald.com