Ignacio went to Gunnison looking for its share of history. The Bobcats found it in the land of Mountaineers.
Playing in the regional championship game on the campus of Western State Colorado University, the Bobcats roared past Rangely 47-31 to qualify for the Great 8 of the CHSAA Class 2A state tournament for only the third time in team history.
“Unbelievable,” IHS head coach Shane Seibel said. “I talked to our three captains, and they really just came out and played their game. We sealed it at the free-throw line. I was tearing up in the fourth quarter. Emotional game. Just amazing.”
It was the first regional win for Seibel as head coach of the girls. The team hasn’t qualified for state since 2013, when Seibel had two daughters on the team.
Senior Alejandra Lujan had a huge game with 12 points. She went 10-of-10 from the free-throw line, including 8-of-8 in the fourth quarter. Junior sharpshooter Avionne Gomez finished with a game-high 14 points. She made two 3-pointers in the third quarter that gave the team a 24-20 lead, and IHS put the game away from there. Freshman Morgan Herrera, the team’s third captain with Gomez and Lujan, added 11 points and double-digit rebounds. Another freshman star, Makayla Howell, scored nine points for IHS (16-6).
IHS led 9-8 after one quarter and didn’t lead until the final 20 seconds of the quarter thanks to two Lujan free throws. The game was tied at 14 at halftime, but the Bobcats went on a big run in the third quarter to claim a 30-24 advantage.
“I asked the girls, ‘Do you want to make history?’ Nothing was going to be given. We had to go and take it,” Seibel said. “They went out and took it. It was awesome to see and be part of.”
IHS is guaranteed two games at the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland next week. Seibel is hoping to earn a six-seed to avoid likely No. 1 Paonia and expected No. 2 Del Norte in the opening round. But, because the Bobcats haven’t been to state in four years, he thinks the team is more likely to be seeded seventh or eighth.
“We’re going up with the idea of not backing down from what we do,” Seibel said. “We will press, be real aggressive offensively and not hold anything back. We’re dialed in with our shooters, and we will continue to be an inside team. I like what we have.”
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
