The Ignacio High School girls basketball team got a good test in its final game of the regular season, but came up short against Pagosa Springs, the No. 3 team in Class 3A, 58-28.
Four Pagosa Springs players recorded double-digit point totals in a win, and while Ignacio head coach Justa Whitt said the defense was solid, its offense could not keep up the pace.
“Certainly we were looking to give them a good game and we started out better in a while against a really good team,” Whitt said. “It just comes down to our scoring ability, and doing so on a consistent, nightly basis. We’ve got some things to work on at districts, and I know we can fix our problems by the time regionals rolls around.”
The Bobcats (13-7, 7-0 2A/1A San Juan Basin League) were led by Shelcie Gosney and Makayla Howell, who each scored nine points. The Pirates (17-2, 10-0 3A Intermountain League) took a 25-11 lead into halftime and would only build upon it, as they outscored IHS 22-9 in the third quarter to put the game out of reach.
“Before the game, I told them that we need a couple of scores right off of the bat, and I told them to take the ball to the paint and drive it, and we settled,” Whitt said. “Avalaeena Nanaeto was really aggressive for us and pretty much drove every chance she got. Our post players were working their buts off, as well, but the buckets weren’t falling.”
The Pirates were led by Adelyn Dozier, who scored 14 points, Teagan Stretton had 12 and Hailey Griego had 11.
Ignacio will be the No. 1 seed in the 2A District 3 tournament, which begins Tuesday at Durango High School. The Bobcats will play Friday at 4 p.m. with the team to be determined.
bploen@durangoherald.com
