Though not inside the venue they'd like to have taken their revenge, Bayfield still will get a shot at Manitou Springs-who authoritatively ousted them from last season's Class 3A state Ccampionships inside the Denver Coliseum-when the squads collide at Saturday's 3A-Region VIII tournament.
And though MSHS, Tri-Peaks League champions and 8-seed in the postseason's initial Round of 32, will be hosting #17 BHS (and #29 Brush), the Wolverines can go into the event not only having practically memorized the route to El Paso County, but also knowing they can perform well upon arrival.
Case in point: Last weekend's Palmer Ridge Invitational out in Monument.
Playing in their second tournament held north of Colorado Springs-the Lewis-Palmer Invite was the first-the Wolverines handled business against foes they'd be favored against on paper, smacking 5A Thornton Horizon 25-20, 25-14, and 4A Denver Mullen 25-14, 25-16, 25-16.
And against far stiffer resistance Bayfield remained competitive, though beaten 19-25, 22-25 by 5A Colorado Springs Coronado and 15-25, 15-25, 25-27 by fourth-ranked 4A Montrose.
No surprises there, really; after a 10-0 romp through the 4A/5A Southwestern League, Montrose left Monument having improved to 20-3 overall, and CHS to 17-6. Mullen, meanwhile, finished their season standing 6-16 and HHS 0-22-and now on a 25-match skid begun with a loss to Bayfield and two subsequent defeats at last year's PRHS Invite.
Full statistics still hadn't been totaled by Wednesday morning, but based on dig totals reported by both Montrose's and Coronado's coaches-MHS with 67 total digs, CHS with 42-it's fair to assume Bayfield (now 12-11 overall) not only brought the heat in their wins but plenty of it in their losses.
Expect the Wolverines to crank it up again tomorrow, with a state berth up available for the taking.
Having ended the regular season #4 in the statewide Class 3A poll, Manitou Springs (17-6, 12-0 TPL) will get the regional underway at 10 a.m. tomorrow versus Patriot Leaguers Brush (6-17), with road-ready Bayfield then facing the Beetdiggers before going toe-to-toe with the Mustangs.
