Playing a slower-paced game didn’t slow down the Ignacio High School boys basketball team against Ridgway on Friday at the SunUte Community Center.
The Bobcats won 44-27 while primarily pounding the ball into the post.
“It ended up being a slow game – kind of boring,” IHS head coach Chris Valdez said. “Their coach, they threw him out a couple weeks ago. They don’t do the run-and-gun and shoot the 3 like they usually do. They have good guards, and they’re pretty meticulous about it.”
IHS (14-2, 9-0 San Juan League) built a 20-point lead like it usually does in a pressing, trapping, fast-break game.
Adison Jones led the team with 15 points, eight rebounds and three blocks.
Wyatt Hayes scored seven points and had 10 steals and eight assists.
“He didn’t score in the second half – became more of a distributor,” Valdez said.
Tucker Ward passed the eye test for the Bobcats coaches.
He scored nine points but regularly outhustled the Demons and caused problems with his driving penetration.
“When you looked out there, he seemed to be the guy all over the floor,” Valdez said.
The Bobcats’ boys team won’t play at Nucla on Saturday because the Mustangs aren’t playing varsity basketball this year. Instead. their next game is at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Monticello, the defending Class 1A state champions in Utah.
“We’re looking for a tough game. They’re a team that ain’t going to slow anything down,” Valdez said. “They’re a fun team to play against. That’s where our focus has got to turn immediately.”
heraldsports@durangoherald.com
